How to Make a Homemade Remedy for Termites – Eco Friendly Foundation Landscaping

Termites are tiny demolition crews with insatiable appetites for anything wooden—especially the beams, joists, and structures that hold your house together. If you’re in Texas or any termite-prone zone, protecting your foundation landscaping is more than curb appeal—it’s pest defense.

Luckily, you don’t need to fog your yard with toxic chemicals. Homemade termite remedies offer effective, eco-friendly pest control.  They are safer for your soil, pets, and family. So grab your gloves, your cayenne pepper, and maybe a little nematode power, and let’s send those wood-munchers packing.

Safety First: Kid and Pet Protection Tips

Just because something is homemade doesn’t mean it’s harmless. Keep these tips in mind:

Kid Safety Tip: While salt and DE are low-risk, boric acid is not kid-friendly. Always apply in inaccessible cracks or wall voids. Keep all powders and sprays well out of reach, and never leave treated cardboard bait or nematode solutions unattended where little explorers might poke, sniff, or taste.

Pet Safety Tip: Boric acid and essential oils can be toxic if ingested. Keep pets away from treated areas until fully dry or cleaned up. DE is safe but should not be inhaled, so avoid applying it when pets are nearby.

Homemade Remedy for Termites – Recipes

Salt + Warm Water Termite Remedy

Mix it up, inject it into entry points, and let the salt dehydrate those homewreckers. Easy peasy.

• • Recipe: Mix table salt with warm water (about 1:2 ratio).
  • How to Use: Use a syringe or spray bottle to inject the salty solution directly into termite entry holes or wood joints.
  • Pet/Kid Safety Tip: Apply only in enclosed areas or inaccessible foundation crevices. Salt is low-risk but not a snack.

Cayenne + Oil Paste Termite Remedy

Think fiery eviction notice. Spicy nerve damage for termites (don’t worry—it’s just their nerves, not yours). Apply to infested areas like a ghost pepper facial mask for bugs.

• • Recipe:
    • 3 tablespoons cayenne pepper powder
    • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil (or neem oil for extra pest power)
    • 1 tablespoon white flour (acts as a binder)
    • A few drops of water, enough to create a thick paste
  • How to use:
    Mix all ingredients into a paste. Use gloves and a disposable brush or stick to apply this around termite entry points, cracks in wood, or known infestations. Avoid placing in areas where pets or kids might touch it—cayenne is not toxic, but it is spicy and irritating to little eyes, noses, and paws.
  • Pet/Kid Safety Tip: Apply in hidden, hard-to-reach crevices. Let it dry completely before allowing pets or children to come near the treated areas.

Boric Acid Termite Spray

Acts like a termite diet plan with no nutrients. It starves and dehydrates termites by destroying their digestive enzymes. Find it here or at any big box store. Mask and goggles are recommended. You’re not entering a lab, but close.

• • Recipe:
    • 1 teaspoon boric acid powder (available at hardware or garden stores)
    • 1 cup warm water
    • A few drops of dish soap (optional, helps with stickiness)
  • How to use:
    Stir the powder into warm water until dissolved. Pour into a spray bottle. Shake before each use. Spray directly onto wood, termite trails, and entry points. Let dry fully.
  • Safety First: Be safe during mixing and spraying. Wear gloves, a mask, and goggles. Keep the spray out of reach of your pets and kiddos. While boric acid is low-toxicity, it’s not edible for humans or animals.
  • Pet/Kid Safety Tip: Do not use in areas where pets or toddlers lick, chew, or play. Apply when they’re not around and allow it to dry thoroughly before reentry.

Buy Boric Acid on Amazon
Learn More from EPA

Diatomaceous Earth (DE) Termite Remedy

This powder is basically microscopic razor blades that dehydrate bugs. It is like a bug-sized Sahara. Non-toxic to humans and pets, but do wear a mask when applying. Available here.

• • How to use: Buy food-grade DE only. Use a duster or flour sifter to apply a thin, even layer in wall voids, along baseboards, foundation edges, and known termite paths. Avoid clumps—termites will just walk around them.
  • Safety Note: Always wear a mask when applying. DE is safe once settled, but inhaling the dust can irritate lungs.
  • Pet/Kid Safety Tip: After applying, block off treated areas until dust has settled. DE is not toxic, but it can cause mild irritation if stirred up and inhaled.

Buy Food-Grade DE
DE Info Sheet (NPIC)

Nematodes Termite Killer

These microscopic roundworms are basically nature’s pest control SWAT team. They actively hunt down and destroy termite larvae in soil. Think “Predator” but tiny and invisible.

• • How to use:
    • Buy nematodes online or from garden centers (look for Steinernema or Heterorhabditis species).
    • Mix them in water according to the package instructions.
    • Spray directly into soil around your foundation or garden where termites are suspected.
  • Timing: Apply in early morning or evening to avoid sun exposure, which kills them.
  • Pet/Kid Safety Tip: Totally safe! Nematodes are harmless to people, pets, earthworms, and plants. They’re basically soil superheroes.

Buy Beneficial Nematodes
Texas A&M Guide to Nematodes

Cardboard Termite Trap

So simple, it’s genius. Let termites feast on a box, then dispose of them like bad leftovers.

• • How to make:
    • Dampen a few flat pieces of cardboard.
    • Stack them two or three layers deep and place near suspected termite activity (e.g., crawl spaces, garage corners, basements).
    • Wait 24–48 hours. Once termites infest the cardboard, carefully remove and burn or seal in a heavy-duty trash bag and dispose of far from your home.
  • Pet/Kid Safety Tip: Keep out of reach. Wet cardboard attracts more than just termites—think mold and bacteria. Dispose of regularly.

Environmental Bonus Tip

Most store-bought termite killers are laced with toxic organophosphates and synthetic chemicals that harm water systems, soil microbes, and non-target species (like bees and birds). In contrast, these natural termite control methods:

• Reduce environmental damage
• Help maintain healthy soil around your foundation
• Minimize chemical exposure for your family
• Align with sustainable pest management practices

Learn more about Integrated Pest Management (IPM) from EPA.gov and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension.

Termite Control in Foundation Landscaping

Your home’s foundation is a hot spot for termite activity. That is especially true when it’s surrounded by mulch, untreated wood, or moisture-heavy soils.

Here’s how to protect that zone:

• Don’t plant too close: Keep flowerbeds and shrubs at least 18 inches away from the house.
• Use termite-resistant mulch alternatives: Like pea gravel, cedar mulch, or rubber mulch.
• Improve drainage: Use compost to amend clay soil and install French drains or grading to move water away.
• Apply remedies strategically: Use DE or boric acid in mulch beds; spray nematodes directly into surrounding soil.

Quick Comparison Chart

Natural Termite Defense from the Ground Up

Homemade insect repellent recipes aren’t just backyard experiments. They’re eco-friendly pest control. Each method offers a safer, cleaner, and more sustainable way toward protecting your home.

Combine two or more methods for the best results. And if you ever see major wood damage, sagging floors, or mud tubes on your foundation walls—call a foundation repair professional. Natural solutions are powerful, but sometimes you need a structural backup.

Follow along over the next few weeks as we cover addition, ants, cockroaches, and wasp repellents.

From the Arch Foundation Repair

Before you grab the cayenne and start planting marigolds like a backyard warrior, remember—these tips are helpful, but they’re not magic spells. If you have questions, it’s always a good idea to check with your local garden center or pest control experts. When you’re digging around your foundation and spot cracks, shifting soil, or other signs of movement, it’s worth getting a professional opinion. Arch Foundation Repair is here to help. Schedule your inspection and keep your home standing strong.

Important Safety Precautions:

• Always follow label instructions for any product you use.
• Keep homemade repellents out of the reach of children and pets.
• Avoid contact with skin and eyes.
• Use in well-ventilated areas.
• Wear appropriate protective gear, such as gloves and eye protection, when handling ingredients.
• If you experience any adverse reactions, discontinue use and seek medical advice.
• If accidental ingestion or exposure occurs, contact the Poison Control Center immediately at 800-222-1222

Additional Resources: Safety & Ingredient Info

Use these resources to learn more about the ingredients mentioned in this article and how to handle them safely—especially around kids, pets, and foundation landscaping:

• Boric Acid Safety: National Pesticide Information Center – Boric Acid Fact Sheet
• Diatomaceous Earth (DE) Safety: NPIC – DE Fact Sheet
• Cayenne Pepper and Capsaicin Exposure Info: NIH PubChem – Capsaicin Profile
• Salt and Sodium Chloride Toxicity: PubChem – Sodium Chloride Profile
• Essential Oils and Pet Safety (Clove, Neem, Tea Tree, etc.): ASPCA – Essential Oil Risks for Pets
• Nematodes for Termite Control: Texas A&M AgriLife – Beneficial Nematodes
• Cardboard Mold and Bacteria Risk (EPA Guidelines): EPA – Mold & Moisture in Homes
• General Chemical Product Safety: Canada – Use Household Chemicals Safely

These links offer in-depth, expert-reviewed guidance to support the safe, effective, and eco-conscious use of termite remedies around your home and garden.

Foundation Landscaping Eco-Friendly Pest Control Series

1. Bug-off Naturally with Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
2. Why Make Homemade Insect Repellent?
3. How to Make a Homemade Remedy for Termites
4. How to Make a Homemade Ant Repellent
5. Homemade Cockroach Killers that Really Work
6. How to Make Homemade Bug Spray for Spiders
7. How to Make Homemade Fly Repellent
8. How to Make a Homemade Wasp Trap and Spray
9. Powerful Pest-Repelling Plants for Stunning Texas Foundation Landscaping
10. Foundation Landscaping: Epic Kid & Pet-Friendly Pest Control