How to protect from termites with garden bed against house?

[emmalee83]

I've purchased a 1960s weatherboard house and there is a garden bed that runs along the front of the house. I'm now aware that this isn't a great idea and increases the risk of a termint infestation but i'm a bit stumped as to the best way to deal with it that won't break the bank.

Could I dig a trench next to the house and place a concrete sleeper between the house and garden bed?

Or should I consider digging out the bed completely and replacing with pavers? If pavers, then how tricky is getting the drainage right?

I would like to be able to DIY something to make up for the fact i'll have to rip out plants that I spent a few hundred on. Or is this something I need to leave to professionals?

[MitchellMc]

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @emmalee83. It's fantastic to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about termites.

First, are you in a termite-prone area? If not, there usually isn’t a major issue with having a garden bed close to the house, although you’re definitely right to be cautious. If you are in a termite-prone area, installing something like a concrete sleeper between the garden bed and the house likely won’t be enough to stop termites — they can easily track over or around it.

In that case, it’s best to get a professional involved. They can install a baiting system and carry out regular inspections, which is a much more reliable long-term solution. Removing the garden bed completely and replacing it with pavers is also an option, but even if you keep the garden, it’s still possible to manage it safely. You’d just need to avoid using timber-based mulches (which can attract termites) and keep a clear visual gap between any plants or soil and the house itself, so you can easily spot any signs of activity.

It’s definitely something you can DIY to a point, especially if you want to redesign the garden slightly, but I would recommend professional support for anything related to termite protection itself.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell
 

[emmalee83]

Thanks! I'm based in Melbourne which I don't think is particularly termite prone. 

At the moment I do have a eucalyptus mulch on there which is partially covering the plinth board.

If i were to stop using that mulch and just dig the soil away from the plinth board would that be ok to start with do you think? I would love to note remove the garden bed completely if that's possible  

[MitchellMc]

If it’s not a particularly termite-prone area @emmalee83, you’re probably fine to keep the garden bed with a few small adjustments. Digging the soil and mulch back to expose the plinth board is a really good idea — it creates that clear inspection zone you want so you can easily spot any signs of termites early. Ideally, you’d want about 75–100mm of clearance between the soil/mulch and any timber parts of the house.

Switching out the eucalyptus mulch for something like gravel or stones would also help. They don’t hold moisture against the house and are much less attractive to termites.

It sounds like you’re on exactly the right track, and you can definitely keep your garden bed while giving yourself some peace of mind.

Mitchell