Termites and Mulch

• Conventional wisdom has long held that wood mulches harvested from trees that are infested with termites will carry the termite infestation to wherever the mulch is used. Donald Lewis, extension entomologist at Iowa State University, is skeptical of this. It is highly unlikely, Lewis notes, that a termite population in a tree would survive the chipping process that turns lumber into mulch. Even if some of the termites did survive, their chances for survival drop significantly when separated from the rest of the colony. Therefore there is no need to avoid purchasing wood-based mulches whether you plan to use the mulch around a child's playset or anywhere else around your home.