Marigolds The fragrance of marigolds is said to repel many lawn and garden pests, one of which is termites. Because the scent is what keeps the termites away, your best bet is to plant an especially fragrant variety of marigolds. French marigolds and African marigolds are good options.
Clemson University scientists reported that 'Termites hate smells of cedarwood, geranium, and tea tree oil. It has also been found that clove bud, cinnamon, and garlic oils can also repel termites.
Some of the all-natural methods used to prevent termites include orange oil, cardboard traps, diatomaceous earth, and boric acid. These all may be effective to repel termites, but they will not be effective to control an active termite problem.
3. Peppermint Oil. As with standard mint, peppermint oil is incredibly intense and will keep termites at bay.
Place coffee grounds around the foundation of your home in areas where insects or other pests are entering, or mix them in with mulch while doing landscaping to help keep ants and termites from infesting your mulch bed.
White vinegar is another effective substance for killing termites and other insects. There are multiple ways you can use it: Straight. Diluted in water using a 1:1 ratio.
A commonly mentioned substance termites hate can be found even in your kitchen. It's vinegar! The problem is, it's difficult to permeate this smell through any interior wood where termites could hide, and the liquid could risk weakening dry wood further.
Bifen XTA: Best Fast-acting
Bifen XTS is a fast-acting, oil-based termiticide that can kill termites in 24 hours by attacking their nervous systems. This treatment is not recommended for use indoors. Spray it around the perimeter of your home to kill termites.
Boric acid: Spraying the traditional pesticide boric acid onto infested areas can kill termites through dehydration. Use this approach cautiously indoors, as boric acid can harm children and animals if ingested. Orange oil or neem oil: These essential oils are organic insecticides best used for minor termite issues.
Vetiver oil proved the most effective repellent because of its long-lasting activity. Clove bud was the most toxic, killing 100% of termites in 2 days at 50 micrograms/cm2.
Baking soda has absolutely no effect whatsoever on termites, and it certainly won't kill them. The other popular termite treatment myth is using vinegar, which much like Baking soda is a waste of time.
Combining half a cup of vinegar with the juice of two lemons creates an effective, acidic spray that is safer than boric acid but also kills termites. This solution is also ideal for soaking into any damaged areas of the wood to clear cracks of termites.
Termites are repelled by the essential oils found in plants like rosemary, dill, tea tree, garlic, clove, and the mint family. These scents can be used as repellents, and planted in strategic locations around your home to help deter termites from your property.
Using Insect Spray/ Disturbing the termite nest
Using these sprays or even cleaning up mud tubes can cause more harm than good. For example, spraying some termites in your living room will force the entire colony to move to other less noticeable areas like your roof.
Leaky pipes, improper drainage, and poor airflow all create moisture issues that attract termites. Dampwood and subterranean termites in particular thrive in humid environments. While dampwood termites prefer water-damaged wood, subterranean termites are unable to live unless surrounded by enough moisture.
The most common mammalian predator of termites are bats. Insect-eating bats (Chiroptera) are highly skilled termite-hunters. These bats feed on termites that swarm at dusk and during the nighttime hours. Bats have been found darting toward groups of swarming termites with unique precision.
Borate wood preservative defends wood against termite attack and other wood-decomposing organisms. The preservative is absorbed into wood and acts as a barrier that termites cannot cross, eliminating wood as a food source.
Vinegar can be used on its own, but for maximum effectiveness, create a spray by mixing ½ cup of white vinegar with about four tablespoons of lemon juice, or about two lemons worth of juice. Put this into a spray bottle and spray wherever you see termites two or three times a day.
Use Borate on Wood Before Priming or Painting: Borate is one of the most popular termite repellents. You can spray borate on wood prior to priming and painting. It soaks into the wood and essentially prevents termites from attacking and nibbling on it.
Marmots aren't fond of the herbs and spices we use to season our food. The strong odours drive them away, so try sprinkling pepper and hot pepper around your yard. You can also try chives, lavender, lemon balm, oregano, rosemary, or any other kind of fragrant herb.
Termite Treatments
One popular method on how to get rid of termites involves treating the soil around your house with a termite insecticide, such as imidacloprid or fipronil. Wood can also be treated directly if termites are inside.
All you have to do is mix together vinegar with equal amount of water (if you want, you can also squeeze in some lemons or orange juice to the mixture) and then simply use the solution as a spray in the termite infested areas in your house. You can use this directly to the termites, especially to their nests.
Vinegar's acetic acid is corrosive to termite exoskeletons. This acid spray kills termites. This treatment must be sprayed on termite bodies. If you can't access most of the termites, immerse their colony in vinegar.