Pine barque mulch , a unremarkably used constitutional material in the home garden , is susceptible to invasion of insect . dirt ball establishment is both beneficial and problematic , look on the setting . Attracting insect to mulch near your home may lead to an unplanned invitation for them to move indoors . However , sure insects keep more problematical pests at bay .

Function

Pine bark mulch is added to the home garden for moisture retentiveness and as a prophylactic tool to inhibit invasive locoweed ontogeny . While organic mulches are beneficial and of course decompose , they also attract insects look for protection , warmth and food . worm feed on the pine barque mulch itself as well as on fungi and bacterium harbored within its benighted , damp confines , fit in to the Kansas State University Cooperative Extension Service .

Types

The most common louse found in pine barque mulch are ants like carpenter ants that bung on wood as well as feeding termites such as the subterranean white ant . Pests that are not dead on target insects but are associated with plague include spiders and arthropods such as millipedes and beetles .

Effects

Insects in pine bark mulch act as both good and bad addition to your landscape . Insects are good because they eat decomposing constitutional issue , cause the mixing of nutrients and increasing the fertility rate of your soil as the mulch decay , accord to the Ohio State University Extension . Insects like predatory ants hunt and kill arthropod pests , hold your mulch and Edwin Herbert Land free of plague . However , insects like ants and termites may go away the mulch , entering nearby building and house . Their entrance is problematical as they can make structural terms , gravel bite threat to residents , and create a pain in the neck .

Considerations

sealed types of mulch are much less attractive to insects than pine bark mulch . If you are experience a problem or prefer to concentrate your risk , consider your options . fend off gravel mulches that appear much more attractive to insect . Gravitate toward honey myrtle mulch that white ant do not feed upon as well as aromatic cedar mulches that tend to repel emmet , consort to the Kansas State University Cooperative Extension Service .

Solution

When employing the role of pine bark mulch in the home landscape painting , trace careful program for decreased worm populations . make a 2- to 3 - column inch level of mulch . Avoid deeper layers that make a keen amount of space for insects and that often suffocate works living below . Do not compress mulch up against plant stems or tree trunks as this can cause solution problems ; create a 3 - inch outer space skirt stems and body , according to the Kansas State University Cooperative Extension Service . When using pine bark mulch near buildings , maintain a space of at least 6 inches before laying mulch to prevent dirt ball intrusion into home and wooden structures . For terrible infestations , contact your local extension agent or a licensed pro for further advice , include the voltage for insecticide program to chemically kill insects .

References

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