DON'T USE WOOD MULCH AROUND THE FOUNDATION OF YOUR HOME!

I attend many home inspections as part of the process of assisting buyers acquiring a new home.  One piece of advice I hear on every one of these sessions--from the home inspector AND from the pest inspector--is "don't place wood products of any kind around the foundation of your home, especially bark mulch."  The reason:  wood retains moisture, which attracts insects.  It's like a welcome mat for termites and carpenter ants, this area's most home-damaging insects.  The other note of advice from these same inspectors:  "Keep plants and shrubs at least 12" away from the siding.  Plants attract bugs and--if they are touching the side of the home--provide a handy bridge for bugs to travel over, onto and into your home."  So . . . keep foundation plantings trimmed away from the house and use gravel (there are lots of varieties) for mulch around the foundation.