Blog

Last Updated on November 13, 2025 by Arizona Termite Control

If you’re worried about termites but not thrilled about harsh chemicals, you’re in good company here in Mesa. As Arizona Termite Control, we talk with homeowners every week who want natural termite control that still actually works. This guide walks through eco-friendly repellents and habits you can try now, plus how we fold greener methods into professional treatment when things are beyond DIY.

Why Mesa Homeowners Are Looking for Natural Termite Control

The reality of termites in Arizona’s desert climate

It feels ironic, doesn’t it? We live in the desert, yet termites love it here. Subterranean termites thrive in Maricopa County’s warm soil, building hidden mud tubes from the ground up into your slab, stem wall, or patio columns. Drywood termites can move in through tiny gaps and live entirely inside wood.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, common termite control around homes often relies on soil treatments, bait systems, or direct wood treatments that target entire colonies, not just a few visible insects [1]. University extension programs here in Arizona also point out that these pests can cause serious structural damage long before you see obvious warning signs [4]. So when you say, “I’d like something more natural, but I also really want this problem gone,” that makes perfect sense.

Many Mesa families are juggling kids, pets, allergies, and a desire to be kinder to the desert landscape. You want to protect the place you live without feeling like you’re trading indoor air quality or long-term health for a bug-free slab. That’s exactly where greener strategies shine—if you use them in the right way.

Where “natural” methods fit—and where they don’t

Here’s the big truth we share on every honest inspection: natural and organic termite control methods are usually fantastic for prevention and for supporting a larger plan, but they rarely eliminate a deep, well-established subterranean colony by themselves. Research from UC’s Integrated Pest Management program notes that nonchemical tactics—like wood replacement, heat, and desiccating dusts—are valuable tools, yet serious structural termite issues still often require professional intervention [2].

Extension experts in Arizona echo that same message: there are non-chemical and chemical approaches available, but treating a real termite infestation usually calls for specialized equipment and training [4]. That might sound a little blunt, but we’d rather you have a clear picture than a false sense of security from a spray bottle that smells like oranges.

So what’s the sweet spot? Use eco-friendly repellents, building upgrades, and smarter habits to keep termites away, then pair them with professional treatment when the signs point to active colonies. That approach gives you both peace of mind and real structural protection.

---

What Do “Natural” and “Organic” Termite Control Really Mean?

Natural vs. organic vs. “safer” professional products

“Natural termite control” and “organic termite control” get tossed around a lot, but they don’t always mean the same thing. Natural usually refers to substances or strategies that come from minerals, plants, or physical methods—think borate minerals, essential oils, heat, or simple building tweaks. Organic technically ties back to agricultural rules for how crops and livestock are produced, so it doesn’t directly cover how termites are managed in your house, even though the words show up in marketing.

Then there’s a third category: lower-impact professional products. For example, borate-based wood treatments use a mineral salt that’s about as toxic as table salt to people and pets while still killing wood-eating insects like termites when they ingest it [5]. Some modern termiticides are labeled as reduced-risk because they target specific insect muscles or systems and have very limited effect on most other organisms [6].

When we design greener termite solutions, we often pull from all three: physical and behavioral changes around the home, mineral-based barriers such as borates, and carefully chosen lower-impact professional products where needed.

Setting expectations: repel, prevent, or eliminate?

Another way to think about natural termite control is to ask, “What job is this method actually doing?” Some tools mostly repel or discourage termites. Others help prevent infestations by making your home harder to attack. Only a few methods have the power to truly eliminate an entrenched colony.

For example, essential oil sprays may help make a small area less appealing on contact, but they rarely reach the main colony hidden deep in the soil or inside beams. In contrast, a properly applied borate treatment or bait system can protect or gradually take out entire colonies when used as part of a planned program [1]. Setting honest expectations keeps you from wasting money on “miracle” products that were never designed to do what the label suggests.

---

Eco-Friendly Termite Repellents You Can Use Around Your Home

Borate wood treatments for long-term protection

If you like the idea of something mineral-based rather than solvent-heavy, borate wood treatments deserve a serious look. These products soak into exposed wood, and when termites chew that treated wood, the borate interferes with their ability to digest it and survive. One manufacturer explains that borate solutions remain inside the wood and continue to protect it for its lifetime while having low toxicity to humans and pets [5].

In practical terms, that means:

• Great for exposed framing and add-ons: Deck posts, patio covers, pergolas, and remodel framing can often be treated before they’re enclosed.
• Best when used early: Borates shine when applied during construction or renovation, before termites invade, or as part of a targeted treatment on accessible wood.
• Still a job for pros: We always follow product labels carefully and combine borates with inspection, monitoring, and other controls.

If you’re planning a project, ask us about integrating borate treatments and how they compare with other non-toxic and non-repellent methods we describe in our non-toxic termite control guide.

Orange oil and plant-based products—what they actually do

Orange oil has become famous for termite work, mainly because it smells pleasant and feels “natural.” The active part, d-limonene, can kill termites on contact in treated areas. Some other plant-based materials use clove, thyme, or other essential oils. Research and independent guidance suggest these tools can help with small, localized problems but may miss hidden galleries or deep soil colonies, especially with drywood and subterranean termites [2].

That doesn’t mean they’re useless. It simply means we treat them as one piece of a bigger picture. For example, we may recommend:

• Targeted plant-based spot treatments: Used in very specific areas where termites are accessible and visible, not as a single fix for the entire structure.
• Label-safe use only: We always follow the product label rather than mixing home recipes, so you stay within safety and legal guidelines.
• Pairing with monitoring: Combining plant-based spot work with baiting or professional inspections helps catch anything those products don’t reach.

If you’re drawn to gentler solutions, our article on integrated pest management for termites shows how we blend these types of materials with nonchemical strategies.

Physical and behavioral barriers that termites hate

Some of the greenest termite repellents aren’t liquids at all—they’re design choices and small habit changes. UC IPM recommends nonchemical tactics such as wood replacement, heat, and mechanical barriers as important tools before chemical tactics are considered [2]. In Mesa, that often translates into:

• Breaking soil-to-wood contact: Keeping fence posts, deck posts, and siding from sitting directly in soil makes it much harder for termites to sneak in.
• Using sand or steel mesh barriers: Certain coarse sands and stainless-steel meshes are difficult for termites to tunnel through, especially around foundations and plumbing penetrations.
• Desiccating materials: Some professional-grade dusts dry out insects when applied in voids, and they’re often used as part of a reduced-chemical strategy.

Physical defenses don’t “wear off” the way a spray might, which is why we like to combine them with smart monitoring and the DIY tips we share in our DIY termite control guide.

Eco-Friendly Method	Where It Works Best
Borate wood treatment	Framing, decks, and accessible wood in new builds or remodels
Plant-based spot treatments	Small, visible areas with localized drywood activity
Physical barriers (sand, mesh)	Around foundations, plumbing, and high-risk entry points
Good home maintenance habits	Whole property protection and long-term termite deterrence

---

Everyday Habits That Make Your Mesa Home Less Attractive to Termites

Moisture control in a “dry” desert climate

It’s easy to forget about moisture when you’re scraping sunscreen off your dashboard, but subterranean termites follow water like a roadmap. The National Pest Management Association points out that reducing moisture around foundations, fixing leaks, and managing drainage are key parts of termite prevention [3].

In Mesa, that might look like:

• Checking irrigation overspray: Make sure sprinklers aren’t hammering stucco, wood posts, or the foundation every morning.
• Repairing small leaks quickly: A slow drip from an outdoor hose bib can create a permanent damp zone termites love.
• Keeping grade and drainage in mind: Soil should slope away from the house so water moves out, not toward your slab.

These aren’t glamorous projects, but they stack up. When we perform inspections like the ones described in our comprehensive termite inspection guide, moisture patterns are one of the first things we look for.

Yard, mulch, and firewood habits that matter

Your yard layout can quietly make life very easy—or very hard—for termites. NPMA’s prevention tips highlight simple steps such as keeping firewood off the ground, removing wood debris, and managing mulch near the foundation [3]. Around Mesa homes, we often recommend a few specific tweaks.

Here are small changes that give you big value:

• Store firewood smart: Keep it raised on a rack and several feet from the house, not stacked against the block wall or under the patio.
• Go easy on mulch near the slab: Use a thin layer, pull it back from stucco or siding, and avoid letting it touch wood trim.
• Clear old stumps and buried wood: Termites love dead tree roots and buried construction scraps, so removing them cuts off hidden food sources.

Think of these habits as the “daily brushing and flossing” of termite prevention. Alone they aren’t a cure, but they dramatically reduce the chances that you’ll face a costly surprise later on.

---

When to Call in Professional Help (And Still Stay Green)

How we use natural termite control inside a larger plan

So when does natural termite control stop being a weekend project and start being a “call the pros” situation? University of Arizona experts note that treating a real termite infestation usually requires specialized equipment and training to reach colonies safely and effectively [4]. If you see mud tubes, hollow-sounding wood, swarmer wings indoors, or recurring activity after your own attempts, it’s time.

When we step in, we don’t throw away your desire for greener solutions. Instead, we build on it. We might combine:

• Detailed inspection and monitoring: Locating where termites are active and how they are entering your home.
• Lower-impact treatments: Using non-repellent or reduced-risk products and borate-based wood treatments where appropriate [6].
• Physical and habit changes: Recommending drainage fixes, structural tweaks, and other improvements that support long-term natural termite control.

That mix lets you stay connected to your environmental values while still getting the level of protection your home needs. Our termite services page gives a good overview of how those pieces come together for Mesa homeowners.

What a Mesa termite inspection looks like with our team

An eco-conscious inspection still looks very thorough. We start by asking about what you’ve seen—mud tubes, pinholes in drywall, stuck doors, or any previous treatments. Then we work inside and out, checking stem walls, expansion joints, plumbing penetrations, and any areas where moisture might collect.

We rely on visual evidence, tap tests, and sometimes moisture meters to pinpoint activity, similar to the approach we describe in our article on essential steps for a comprehensive termite inspection. At the end, you get plain-language recommendations. Sometimes that means simple preventive steps; other times, we’ll suggest a plan that blends soil treatments, baiting, and greener repellents based on current science from sources such as EPA, UC IPM, and national pest management organizations [1][2][3].

---

Simple Next Steps If You Want Safer Termite Control

Your quick action checklist

Let’s pull everything together so you have a clear path forward. You don’t have to become a termite expert; you just need a few solid moves.

• Walk your home this week: Look for mud tubes, damaged wood, or swarmer wings, especially around the foundation and patios.
• Fix the easiest moisture issues: Adjust sprinklers, clean gutters if you have them, and tackle obvious leaks near the house.
• Plan smarter projects: If you’re remodeling or adding a deck, talk with us about borate wood treatments and other green-focused upgrades.
• Schedule a professional check: A quick inspection can confirm whether you’re dealing with prevention or an active infestation.

If you’d like help building a natural termite control plan that still protects your Mesa home, we’re here for that. Reach out to Arizona Termite Control at 480-660-3093 or request a free inspection online, and we’ll help you choose eco-friendly strategies that match your home, your values, and your peace of mind.

---

Sources

1. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – Termites: How to Identify and Control Them. https://www.epa.gov/safepestcontrol/termites-how-identify-and-control-them
2. University of California Statewide IPM Program – Termites (nonchemical and chemical management guidance). https://ipm.ucanr.edu/QT/termitescard.html and https://ipm.ucanr.edu/pdf/qt/qttermites.pdf
3. National Pest Management Association (NPMA) – Top 10 Termite Prevention Tips. https://www.pestworld.org/news-hub/pest-articles/top-10-termite-prevention-tips/
4. University of Arizona Cooperative Extension – Termite Troubles (Home and School IPM Newsletter, 2024). https://acis.cals.arizona.edu/community-ipm/home-and-school-ipm-newsletters/ipm-newsletters/2024/11/08/termite-troubles
5. Sashco – How to Use Borate Wood Treatment for Termites. https://www.sashco.com/how-to-use-borate-wood-treatment-for-termites/
6. MightyMite Termite – Termite Treatment Choices (including reduced-risk products). https://www.mightymitetermite.com/blog/termite-treatment-options/