Behind the house - 50 feet away - I had a pile of junk lumber, particle board and other bed heads/foots and other rotted chairs and things. I burn bits once in a while, but at the weekend I decided it was time to REMOVE it - ghastly eye sore. I live in Central Kentucky.
There are termites about 4 inches down the layers. The particle board is all decomposed and rotted, and there was one board that I burned that very moment in my burn pit.
What shall I do with the stuff. Right now it sits in my plastic wheel barrow awaiting YOUR answers.
Options: bag it all in plastic bags for the dumpster use it termites and all in the garden for mulch for next years veggies bury it deep (I can dig a foot down in the fallow areas of my veggie patch)
What are your recommendations? Thanks Master gardeners all
DrDontheTermiteGuy2013-08-28T15:36:15Z
If you can put it all through a chipper, then it will make OK mulch and the termites won't survive the process (well a few will but they won't get re-organised). Particle board often has yucky glues, so you may want to add some (high nitrogen stuff like) manure and let it rot a bit longer. Next time, put your firewood up on cinder blocks so it gets to dry out and won't rot like that and try not to burn manufactured board. It can give off nasty gasses.
Lots of house in Kentucky have termites within 50 feet. That's no reason to panic but don't forget to have it inspected every so often.
Get rid of it! Get it off of your property ASAP. Termites can cause a huge amount of damage in a very short period of time. You also need to call an exterminator. The nest is actually in the ground. A termite colony can be very large. Even 50' from your house does not mean that they have not infiltrated your house. Spend the money on an inspection and treatment if needed. The cost is much less than the damage the termites will do.
Good luck
Never use wood infested with termites in your garden.
Termites have their main nest deep down in the ground or in some cases withing the wood source, such as a beam in a home. Sort of why carry it down the tube to the nest when we can build the nest right here. If you want to keep the wood just set it out in the sunlight so it can dry out and they have no where to nest. Make sure you don't store it next to the house. If you don't want to burn it just take it to the dump.
I think it is a scorpion. You better not touch it or it could sting you and possibly inflict emotional harm to your bladder. Next time you play in the wood, be sure to wear gloves and wash up with plenty of bacterial soap. Now if you read this, then you are the world's biggest idiot and your existence is worthless.