How to Save Trees from Termites in Idaho

Termites are a natural part of the ecosystem, but when they begin feeding on landscape trees, they can weaken trunks, hollow out limbs, and create safety hazards for nearby homes. In the Treasure Valley, subterranean termites are the most common species affecting trees. They live in the soil and move into stressed or moisture-damaged wood, including trees that are declining or have exposed root systems.

Many homeowners first discover signs of termites when a tree begins to look unhealthy, develops soft wood, or shows mud tubes climbing the trunk. Early action helps protect the surrounding landscape and reduces the chances of termites moving closer to structures.

Here is how to identify termite activity in your trees and what steps you can take to protect your property.

Why Termites Are Attracted to Trees

Trees offer several conditions that make them ideal for termite activity:

• Moisture in the bark, roots, and soil
• Soft or decaying wood
• Shelter from sun, wind, and temperature swings
• Easy access to nearby structures if conditions worsen

Subterranean termites access trees through the soil and typically begin feeding on decaying wood. As the tree weakens, they may move higher into the trunk or outward into limbs.

Drywood termites are less common in Idaho, but when present, they prefer dead or dry sections of wood and do not require soil contact.

Understanding why termites choose trees helps homeowners catch problems early.

Signs of Termite Activity in Trees

While termites are small and often hidden, they leave behind clear indicators. Regularly inspect your landscape trees for:

• Mud tubes climbing the trunk
• Soft, hollow sounding wood
• Sawdust-like material around the base
• Bark that flakes away easily
• Small piles of soil or frass
• Sections of the tree that die suddenly
• Winged swarmers emerging from soil or trunk crevices

If you notice two or more of these signs, schedule a professional inspection. Trees can decline rapidly once termites begin feeding inside the structure.

How to Protect Trees from Termites

These steps help reduce the risk of active termite feeding and support healthy tree growth.

Improve Tree Health

Healthy trees are far less likely to attract termites. Focus on:

• Deep watering during dry Idaho summers
• Pruning damaged or dying limbs
• Removing excessive mulch from the trunk base
• Correcting poor drainage or water pooling
• Applying proper soil nutrition if needed

Stress, drought, and rot make trees much more vulnerable.

Reduce Wood-to-Soil Contact Around the Tree

Remove items that create moisture or shelter around the base, such as:

• Firewood stacks
• Mulch piled directly against the trunk
• Old stumps
• Landscape timbers
• Buried wood debris

This reduces termite travel routes and removes additional food sources.

Remove Dead Wood and Debris

Termites often begin with the easiest food. By removing:

• Stumps
• Dead limbs
• Fallen branches
• Rotting roots

you reduce their ability to establish colonies near living trees.

Consider Professional Termite Treatments

Professional treatments can include:

• Soil applications around the root zone
• Bait stations that eliminate entire colonies
• Direct trunk treatments when needed
• Monitoring for seasonal activity

These options protect both trees and nearby homes.

What Not to Do

Avoid these common mistakes when trying to control termites in trees:

• Do not apply surface sprays to bark or foliage. These products do not reach the areas where termites feed.
• Do not burn infested wood. This can release fumes from previous treatments and spread winged swarmers.
• Do not break open mud tubes without treatment in place. This may cause termites to relocate deeper into the tree or closer to structures.

Improper handling can make termite activity harder to eliminate.

When to Remove a Termite-Damaged Tree

If a tree shows extensive decay, hollowing, or significant structural weakness, removal may be the safest option. A weakened tree can fall during Idaho windstorms or drop limbs unexpectedly.

A licensed arborist or trained technician can determine whether the tree can be preserved or if removal is the safest solution.

For homeowners in Boise, Meridian, Nampa, and the surrounding Treasure Valley, Pestcom Pest Management provides inspections and treatment plans for both tree termites and structural termite threats.