As you may remember, December, January, and February are your best months to plant trees, shrubs and ground cover. As you begin to ponder where to put your new plants be cautious of creating termite habitat around your home.

Keep these tips in mind to reduce termite problems:

• Situate gutters and slope your landscape beds so water drains away from your house.
• Keep mulch in beds adjacent to the house about 12 inches from the foundation.
• Do not add fill dirt or garden soil around the foundation or under porches or steps without contacting your termite company for retreatment.
• Do not disturb the chemical barrier at the base of the slab or around pilings by digging into it during bed preparation.
• Promptly remove all scrap wood and wooden debris from the landscape.
• Pine straw appears to be the mulch that is least attractive to termites. Avoid using wood chips to mulch beds adjacent to the house or other structures.
• Use metal edging, decorative bricks or border plants to edge your beds. Avoid landscape timbers, railroad ties or other wooden materials that may serve as food for termites.
• When watering, avoid spraying water against the foundation of your house.
• Leave at least 2 inches of space between your house and a deck or other wooden structure outside. Build decks and other structures on concrete pads and treat around the pads and posts.
• Do not allow clinging vines, such as English ivy or creeping fig, to grow on the wall of your house.