Hi Len,

Termites are everywhere, obviously those of us who do a lot of gardening
find them more than those who don't. I must admit when I first found some I
did panic. After all we are paying the bank a large part of our income for
25 yrs for this place - and the thought of termites is pretty scary.

Its hard to tell whether to keep a food source around the perimeter of the
yard or remove most of it - I'm in 2 minds myself, however my opinion is if
there is a lot of food for them, by the sheer numbers that visit the yard
whats to say a few won't wander over to the house......

Our Sentricon system has been in place for 6 months and we have been hit in
one of them - since it is within 20cm of the house, its pretty scary to
think they were so close. Chances are the house would have been its target
if not for the sentricon - but then again, considering their only path into
the wood of the house is up the brick supports, why would they come up from
their cosy undergound hideout - they are just as likey to keep going and
maybe attack something out in the garden (or with any luck our d*ickhead
neighbours!).

When we purchased, we knew there was previous damage to the unattached
garage and old paling fences but there was so activity. I think in
hindsight considering how many there are here around the yard, even though
it is still no gaurantee, I don't think we would consider another home that
has had obvious previous moderate termite damage.

A steel framed home might be a good idea. Who cares if they eat the
skirting boards really!!!

Just one more point - our pest inspector said that in rural areas termite
damage in homes is so low due to the surrounding food source......his
company recently inspected a 30 yr old entirely wooden home in a fairly
bushy area (with around about 10 acres cleared from the house) and there was
no termite activity in the home at all. Plenty of rot, but no termites.

Martin

"len gardener" wrote in message
...
i've met quiet a few people like myself who reckon if you create an
area in your garden and put old tree branches even unwanted pieces of
timber the white ants find this as a food source and stay away from
the house, i've never had termites in my houses despite using app' 30
or 40 cu/mtrs of chipped tree mulch over the years.

after all the termites are there all the time we mostly don't see them
when they are seen, some panic and pest controllers make a killing.
plus as one pest man who seemed more down to earth that others said
there is nothing that says the ones you see are of the sort that will
attack your home.

seems to me like a lot of work has been done for at best a dubious
result. with my gardens full of tree mulch i also had centricon
installed in the 2 years i used the system there was never any
evidience that the house was at risk. in the end it all comes back to
a common sense approach to the whole subject, proaction instead of
reaction.

happy new year

len

snipped
--
happy gardening
'it works for me it could work for you,'

"in the end ya' gotta do what ya' gotta do" but consider others and the
environment
http://home.dnet.aunz.com/gardnlen/