Are Termites Attracted To Wooden Garden Mulch? Nobody wants to make their home a haven for termites, but many gardeners are attracted to the idea of using decorative wooden mulch in order to spruce up their gardens. Of course, wooden mulch is not used solely for gardens. Mulch can also be used to obscure unsightly concrete that borders the bottoms of many houses. Since garden mulch is nothing more than wood chips, it is understandable that some homeowners avoid laying wood chips so as to keep termites away from their homes. If termites find their way into the mulch located within many backyards, then what is to stop them from infesting the nearest homes? Even shallow piles of mulch provide for moist environments that are well suited to the survival needs of many insects, and not just termites. If you were to stick your hand within a mulch pile, you would undoubtedly encounter some types of insects. Most of these insects are probably not pests. It has long been rumored that garden mulch does attract termites. However, this rumor is largely a myth. It would be silly to assume that all nearby termites within a certain radius can sense the mulch that you are spreading on your lawn. Laying mulch on your lawn will not cause termites far and wide to venture to your home in order to secure a sustainable wooden feast. However, the termites that are already present within your home's lawn or garden could be problematic if you add mulch to certain locations on your lawn. Mulch attracts many different insects that require moisture in order to survive, and this includes termites. Then again, termites are only interested in mulch for the moist environment that it provides. The truth is that any sort of material that is located on your lawn could serve as this sort of moist habitat. For example, gravel, rubber and any organic or inorganic material could serve as an ideal home for termites, just as long as the material provides a moist environment. Therefore, laying mulch onto your lawn will not increase the risk of a termite infestation within your home. Other, non-wooden materials could be just as ideal as living grounds for the termites that are already in your backyard. What is important is that you avoid spreading mulch around the border of your home, which can increase termite infestations. Have you ever found termites within mulch? Have you ever found termites dwelling within or underneath a non-wooden material?