I have a few elms I was just gonna bonfire whole but there is some solid wood higher up, how to I keep the buggers out of my other wood? Will they spread if it’s not spring fly n settle season? Will they dry out and die out if I cut and split it all, leave it laid out? (Desert) Bone dry desert hardened elm doesn’t split easy but doesn’t smell when burned either.
Dont run into them here often here in Southern New England, but keeping it dry and off the ground are good starters. Plastics pallets are a plus.
I would suggest, Save what you can, CSS it because the Termites need soil to go back to. I live in a HIGH prone termite area here in NJ. I used to use wood Pallets to put my wood on for years, but the damm termites ate the pallets right out from under them. A friend who worked for a beverage company would get me the cracked or broke plastic pallets and they have been my savior! That's some very good looking wood, I would keep what you can! Once you cut it, the Termites will die off as long as it's off the ground.
David, be sure they are termites rather than powder post beetles. Those little bugger are easy to find because they leave a super fine dust.
When I was a kid, a friend and I used to hide under his parents back porch and come to find out, the deck was ready to fall the hell down because the beetles ate the floor joists so bad! We had no idea as kids... It was pre-pressure treated wood. I learned about those when I was about 12, my friend's Father and his oldest brother ripped the deck down. That could have been a REAL disaster, hell, even his dog spend hours and hours under there from the summer heat.
after an area is emptied of firewood and before I restock I sprinkle 20 mule team borax all over the ground. it kills all the beetles, ants and termites. it last for a very long time under roof.
