Garden beds against the wall and the termite risk they create
Mulch and soil built up against brickwork hide the slab edge and give termites a covered path. What a building and pest inspection records.
In short: The most common timber pest finding on young homes is not termites. It is a garden bed that has buried the slab edge and made termites easy to miss.
Why the slab edge matters
Slab-on-ground houses rely on a visible slab edge as an inspection zone. Termites crossing it build mud tubes that anyone can see. Bury the edge under soil or mulch and they cross unseen, straight into the wall frame.
What we found
In February 2026 a Narre Warren South home had red mulch and plants built right up against the brickwork, with the slab edge hidden. The report listed it as a conducive condition and recommended clearing the zone.
Why it is common in Clyde North
New owners landscape quickly, often with garden beds hard against the house to soften a new facade. Those beds also hold moisture against the slab, which feeds both termites and slab movement.
Related conditions
Ground falling towards the house, low subfloor vents on older homes and timber edging in contact with soil are recorded the same way. None is an infestation; each makes one more likely.
What to do
Lower the beds below the slab edge, keep mulch back from the wall, and fix any fall towards the house. An annual timber pest inspection keeps an eye on what remains.
Written by our local inspection team from work carried out in Clyde North. Licensed building practitioners, Building & Plumbing Commission registration CDB-U 53425.
