Termites often live under the ground or in dry wood, making them something of a menace for many property owners in Australia. Left unchecked they can cause a great deal of damage as their colonies grow in size and become capable of handling ever larger populations. Controlling the number of termites you have on your property is essential if you want to avoid costly repair bills or even suffer from structural damage to your building. Appointing professional termite control operatives is often the best way of controlling these pests, but there are some measures you can take for yourself, too. Let's take a look at the two most common ones.
Baiting Termites
There are a few different options for laying termite baits that are available commercially these days. It is important to research which products are best for your soil type as well as checking which sort of termite a particular product happens to be designed for. If you have any doubt, then seek a professional opinion about baiting.
In most cases, baits are applied directly on the ground. It is best to concentrate your efforts on the places where termites will feed. If they take to the baits you have laid, then you should notice them dying in greater numbers. If so, then add further baits in other areas close to the first spot. Some baiting products are unsuitable for places of your home where pets and children might come into contact with them, so this is not a choice that is practical for all homeowners.
Liquid Insecticides
Insecticides are another measure that is often used to control termites. So-called termiticides do not necessarily kill termites, but they put them off entering your property. Applied properly, liquid insecticide treatments will prevent termites from making their home in your garden. Essentially, they deprive termites of much-needed moisture in the soil, which means that they prefer to live elsewhere. To get a liquid insecticide into your soil effectively may mean that you have to channel out a trench or dig a hole.
Frequently, it is necessary to seek the advice of an expert before doing this yourself or the application may end up being put in the wrong place and ineffective. Such chemical barriers are designed to last for several years but there is no guarantee that a fresh application may not want to be needed again in a few years time. It just depends on how attractive your property is to these little pests.
