Q: I have a drop-off of more than twelve inches at the edge of my patio. I want to fill the area with several inches of soil and cover it with pine bark chips. Will the bark chips attract termites to my house?

A: Termites are not strongly attracted to bark chips but you may find them in your mulch after a couple of years. That is not really a problem as long as the chips are kept at least twelve inches from the house foundation. The chemically treated soil along your foundation protects your home.

If you put bark chips or wood chips or even fresh dirt over the treated soil, termites can march right over the poison and invade your dwelling.

Pull the chips back twelve inches from the foundation and keep the pests at bay.