Some of the all-natural methods used to prevent termites include orange oil, cardboard traps, diatomaceous earth and boric acid. All of these may be effective in repelling termites, but they will not be effective in controlling an active termite problem. Nematodes are parasitic worms that love to bite termites. You can buy these small worms online or in specialized stores.
You can then release them in the area where you know (or suspect) the termites have settled, and they will go to work for lunch. Nematodes will reproduce and continue to search for termites until they disappear. They are very efficient at getting rid of termites if enough are introduced into the colony. Sodium borate, commonly sold as borax powder, can kill termites, as well as wash clothes.
You can spray the powder around the affected area, or you can mix it with water and spray it on an area that you think is infested. As with vinegar, you'll need to reapply the solution to make sure you get to a larger part of the cologne. In fact, they can die if exposed to too much sunlight and heat. If you have a piece of furniture that you suspect is infested with termites, you can drag it to the patio to bake for a while in the Arizona sun.
In the summer months, it shouldn't be too long for all those unwanted pests to be released from your furniture. If you have termites in your house structure, you can't exactly drag the beams onto the patio. But you can configure UV lamps to shine in the area and get the same results. Ideally, your home would have been protected with a perimeter barrier while it was being built.
But if it wasn't, you can still install one, even if it's a little laborious. You'll need to dig a small ditch around your house to put the barrier on the ground. When the right materials are installed, the barrier can prevent underground termites from heading to your Arizona home. If you can stop the problem before it starts, there's no need to worry about using chemical treatments.
However, if you have an active termite infestation, treatment should be handled by a professional who can use the most effective products available, including bait systems and termiticides. Orange oil, sunlight, nematodes, and other natural methods of prevention simply won't hold up when you're dealing with a full-blown infestation. Another successful method to kill termites is the use of white vinegar. All you have to do is combine the juice of two lemons with half a cup of vinegar.
Pour this mixture into a spray bottle. Doing this will be the easiest method of spreading it over infected areas. Spray this combination on the mud holes that are the entrances or on the actual mounds you see. Catnip contains a compound called nepetalactone, which is a natural insect repellent.
Gardeners use catnip around their gardens to protect themselves from many common pests that damage plants, and evidence shows that termites also stay away from catnip. Catnip oil repels underground termites living in soil, according to study by USDA Forest Service researchers. Because oil is a concentrate taken from the plant, this research supports live catnip plants as effective termite repellents. Vetiver grass is a cluster native to Asia and grows well in tropical or temperate climates.
Vetiver has a built-in insect repellent called nootkatone. Researchers at the Agricultural Center at Louisiana State University found that nootkatone works well to repel termites. Because vetiver grass establishes a deep root system that gives off nootkatone, it's perfect for deterring underground termites that nest and tunnel underground. Those deep roots also protect the soil from erosion, so vetiver grass is good for planting on slopes.
There is no official scientific research on marigolds as insect repellents (until now), but many gardeners rely on these brightly colored annual flowers. The fragrance of marigolds is said to repel many lawn and garden pests, one of which is termites. Because scent is what keeps termites away, it's best to plant an especially fragrant variety of marigolds. French marigolds and African marigolds are good choices.
Have you heard of citronella? It is a popular insect repellent and is found naturally in lemongrass. Lemongrass's strong citronella scent can deter termites along with many other lawn and garden pests. The scent of live mint plants is strong even for humans. What could be a refreshing smell for us is overwhelming and painful for termites.
Scientists have yet to study the effect of mint on termites, but gardeners have used mint to ward off pests for decades. Keep in mind that mint spreads quickly and aggressively, so you should plant it alone, away from other flower beds and gardens. Mint may lose its strong scent over time. Reduce peppermint plants several times a year to encourage new, fragrant growth that continues to repel termites.
Garlic isn't just for vampires, it can also repel termites. Garlic is more fragrant and effective as a termite repellent when teeth are crushed. Keep in mind that the live plant itself is not as potent as crushed garlic cloves or extracts like the one described above. Vetiver grass, as an ornamental plant, could keep termites off your property.
Vetiver grass contains a chemical compound called “Nootkatone”, which could act to protect termites, as well as a wide range of other pests naturally. You can plant vetiver grass around termite-infested areas on your property, and when planted, termites will find those areas to be unfavorable. Catnip is another plant that has a natural insect repellent, which could work successfully to prevent termite infestation. There are many different ways to use catnip for termite control.
One of the most common ways is to plant catnip around infested areas of your property. Another effective way is to apply catnip essential oils to affected areas. Common DIY or natural termite prevention methods include orange oil, cardboard traps, diatomaceous earth, and boric acid. While some of these methods can repel termites, they are insufficient when it comes to controlling an active infestation.
These simple traps consist of wet paper or cardboard, tied with a slow-acting termite poison, placed in a plastic container. Also, remove stumps from nearby trees, because although termites rarely infest live trees, they won't hesitate to feast on a stump. This ultimately prevents egg-laying, which prevents termites from spreading because older termites die. Instead, we've detailed some natural ways you can kill small termite infestations in your home, furniture, or garden.
Various types of plants repel termites with their strong aromas or scare away termites by attracting predators. Termites are usually scary for antique collectors, but these wood-destroying pests can be a real concern for any homeowner. The more termite predators you have hanging around your home, the smaller the termite population in your garden. Some plants keep termites out of your home, not by directly repelling them, but by attracting other termite-eating insects.
Although scented geraniums don't directly repel termites, they attract predators such as spiders, praying mantis, ladybugs, centipedes, and others that can feed on termites. Creating a bait system with natural means can be an excellent option to eliminate the termite problem. Keep in mind that natural methods may not do much against larger termite colonies, especially if they have existed for a while. .
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