Conquer the Crawlies: 2025 WDO Home Inspection Practice Exam – Defend Your Domain!

Trimming trees and bushes away from the house is an effective practice for controlling carpenter ants for several reasons. Carpenter ants are attracted to moist, decaying wood and often establish their colonies in trees, shrubs, or other structures that are in close proximity to, or touching, a home. When branches or bushes are close to the building, they can provide a direct pathway for these ants to enter the structure.

By ensuring that vegetation is trimmed away from the house, you can eliminate potential nesting sites and decrease the likelihood of ants accessing the building. Additionally, keeping the yard well-maintained can help reduce the overall moisture levels and limit areas that may attract carpenter ants.

This practice complements other preventative measures, such as sealing cracks and crevices or managing wood storage, but trimming is particularly effective because it addresses a common route of entry and nesting. In architecture and pest control strategies, maintaining a clear distance between trees and the home serves as a simple but efficacious barrier against infestations.