Dear Gardener Friends,

I'm a new gardener trying to tidy up an abandoned back yard and also trying to grow my own organic vegetables in raised garden beds. 2 years ago I planted some carrots and spinach in a raised wood garden bed. This year, when I moved all the soil from the garden bed into a wheelbarrow I noticed that termites are eating their way through the bottom of my wood garden bed.

How can I get rid of these termites from the soil and from the wood bed frame without using bad chemicals? Has anyone tried anything that works against termites?

I tried spraying lemon and vinegar on them, but they seem to survive it or it just slows them down and then later they come back from the dead. Also, these termites are everywhere in the soil, there's no way I can find them all and spray them all. Do I need to dump all that good soil now?

I feel so disheartened. I couldn't wait to start gardening this spring, but this termite problem really makes me worried. I wanted to add new garden beds to my garden (I already bought 4 of them!), but now I worry they will be infested with termites as well.

Also, the garden bed is about 25 feet from my house. Should I be worried that the termites could go to my house as well?

Please help! Any advice is greatly appreciated! Many thanks!

Lizards eat termites... Do they hang out in your garden?

The coolest thing I ever saw was one morning while heating coffee on a campfire... A lizard was getting too close to the fire... I was concerned... Until I saw what it was doing... Termites were dropping from one of the limbs on the fire... The lizard was getting roasted treats!

I've always heard that termites are going to be there, no matter what...
I personally wouldn't be over worried.

Thank you for your reply. Your lizard is a smart little cookie, I bet he really enjoyed the toasted termite treats! I don't have any lizards unfortunately.

I think I'll call an exterminator tomorrow. I'm just not sure if they have a non-chemical way of treating my yard where I don't have to worry about toxic material getting into the soil through the termites carrying it with them.

We used a bait system in which the termites find pois0ned cardboard I side the bait station, and carry poison to the colony. So it isnt like spraying or drenching with chemicals.

Thank you Sallyg! Yes, I will try the bait station! I talked to an exterminator and the good news is that the poison is only bad for the termites, it isn't toxic to humans or pets, so it will be safe to use this near my garden beds.