There are beautiful yards, mature trees, and lovely landscapes around Keller, and homeowners who care about their property. Combine that mix with beautiful parks and verdant mountain landscapes, and you have some postcard-worthy properties. But all those traits that make Keller homes so sunny-side-up also lay out the welcome mat for two really destructive pests: carpenter ants and termites.
That moisture provides the tree with ideal habitats for wood-destroying insects, in part due to irrigation systems, wood mulch bedding, and old tree stumps. Invisible until the damage is done, many residents do not realize which of their landscaping decisions are quietly creeping pests closer to the home.
Notice infestations early and get professional help from romneypestcontrol.com to save yourself thousands in repairs and maintain your property’s value.
Keller’s Landscape Appeal Comes With a Catch
Multiple native Texas trees provide shade and curb appeal in Keller’s residential areas, including red oaks, cedar elms, and pecans. The city’s property values have increased over time, with the average home price recently at about $515,000. It is now more crucial than ever to protect homes from pest damage, particularly given the investment involved.
Those same landscaping enhancements — decorative mulch, wood borders, thick shrubbery only inches from a foundation, and an ornamental tree — become a portal to property-value-plummeting pests. The clay soils found in much of Keller retain moisture, as do water features and sprinkler systems, creating conditions that allow carpenter ants and termites to thrive year-round.
Connection Between Landscaping and Pest Infestations
1. Moisture Creates Opportunity
Moisture-damaged wood attracts carpenter ants and termites. With approximately 40 inches of rainfall per year, Keller is relatively moist, especially in spring and fall. Waterlogged lawns, overflowing gutters, and inadequate drainage around foundations are all good breeding grounds for moisture that will soften the wood and allow it to rot through. Pouring mulch beds right up against home siding, or spraying irrigation heads on foundations, is like rolling out the welcome payload for these unwanted ones.
2. Wood-to-Ground Contact Points
Landscaping timber, tree stumps allowed to rot, wood heaps next to the house, and wooden fence posts in contact with the soil act as bridges for termites from the ground to the wooden frame of your home. Established carpenter ant colonies will excavate into sound wood, but they only nest in already rotten or damaged wood. That cute wooden lattice or the railroad ties along your flower beds may be appealing, but they are breeding grounds just feet from your home.
Carpenter Ants vs. Termites
| Features | Carpenter Ants | Termites |
| Appearance | Black or red-black, defined waist, bent antennae | Pale white-to-tan, thick waist, straight antennae |
| Diet | Do not eat wood; excavate it for nesting | Feed on cellulose in wood |
| Wood Damage | Create smooth, clean galleries | Leave mud-like material in tunnels |
| Wings | Front wings longer than back wings | All four wings equal length |
| Activity Signs | Sawdust-like frass piles below galleries | Mud tubes on foundations and walls |
| Nesting Locations | Inside moist or damaged wood | Underground colonies or within wood |
| Peak Activity | Spring through fall in Texas | Year-round in warm climates like Keller |
Environmental Factors Unique to Keller & How to Stay Ahead!
Keller is in the cross-timbers region, where the climate allows termites to be active year-round. With its humid subtropical climate, alkaline soil, and plentiful landscaping, the city is a pest haven. Termites have easier access to structural wood, which is why homes with pier-and-beam foundations and crawl spaces face a higher risk. Mature tree canopies in well-established neighborhoods, such as Indian Springs and Keller Town Center, create shade that retains moisture in the soil longer. This is prime real estate for mulch away from foundations, removing dead tree stumps, repairing leaking exterior faucets, and cutting back vegetation.
This is where you can seek help from Romney Pest Control. Their technicians search for more than visible indicators, exploring areas where water collects and probing landscape characteristics that enhance risk.