If food that termites are fond of were to be categorized, wood can be placed among the top. Termites feed on the cellulose found in wood products and this renders these creatures dangerous in areas that contain wood structures. Picket fences, unfortunately, are structures that use wood and are therefore a good feeding spot for termites. Normally, picket fences are treated with chemicals that make it impossible for termites to penetrate. The only problem is that these chemical wear off with time and when they do, nothing will prevent termites from attacking your fence.
How Do You Know That There Are Termites Feeding On Your Fence?
Start by looking for small flying insects that are shedding their wings around your fence. If the insects are dwelling in the wood, which they normally do, then you may have a hard time spotting them. However, you may be able to see some fecal pellets on the fence. Also check for cracks and holes along the wood. The size and shape of the holes depend on the type of termites you are dealing with. Drywood termites, for instance, dig tunnels in woods. Mediterranean termites leave honeycomb patterns behind after feeding on wood.
How Do You Deal With The Termites?
First you need to deal with moisture or water problems; termites barely survive in areas that lack water or moisture. So get rid of any water sources like leaking plumbing fixtures that are around the fence. Another tip that takes care of the moisture problem is to never leave the fence on a damp condition. If you must wash it, do so in the morning hours so that it can dry off in the course of the day when there is plenty of sunshine. Take care of any scrap lumber that may be present around your fence. This is important because even if you will manage to chase the termites away from the fence, they will happily hide in the scrap lumber and wait for their opportune moment.
You can also boost your fence's defense mechanism by applying natural oils on the fence. Orange oil is one of the oils you can use. It contains a destructive compound called d-limonene that destroys termites at first contact. Neem oil is also a viable option but you will have to use the oil on the fence several times. This is because contact does not work with this type of oil; the termites have to ingest the oil first before they die.
Share16 August 2016
Our dogs are lots of fun and very energetic, but they also have a scary bark. It's great to make the house more secure, but I am always worried that they'll scare people just passing by the house, so we have a tall fence to keep the dogs in. It makes people feel better if they can't see the dogs, and it makes me feel better to know that the dogs are safe and secure in our yard. This blog is all about keeping your yard secure so that your dogs will be safe inside and don't make the neighbours feel nervous.