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Gardening Tip of the Day
Borax poisons and kills termites. For mild cases of termites, borax is very effective for homeowners.
Borax poisons termites internally by affecting their digestion.
Termites are insects so they have an exoskeleton. Borax destroys the wax coating on the exoskeleton.
Borax can be mixed with flour, sugar, and enough water to make small balls. Place the balls inside the termite hills.
Add 3/4 cup of Borax to 8 cups of hot water and dissolve. Spray anywhere that termites have been seen, or are suspected to be invading. Repeat every 3 days until no activity of termites is seen.
A strong 50/50 solution of borax powder and water can be mixed. Pour directly on a termite hill.
To be sure that termites live long enough to take the borax poison back to the colony use lower doses. Use only 1 teaspoon of borax to 1 cup of water. Spray areas where termites are seen.
The borax solution not only kills termites, it dries out damp or wet wood and protects it from rotting.
Extreme caution should be used in cases where pets might be exposed to dry borax powder. Pets should never ingest borax. If used outside, the powder is dangerous for pets until rain, or watering, dissolves and washes away the borax.
Author Marilyn Pokorney
Copyright Marilyn Pokorney 2022
