The next several months are a popular time for adding new beds of shrubs, ground covers, and flowers to the landscape. It's also a popular time for reworking and replanting existing beds you may have.
When you're dealing with beds right next to your house, this work can affect your home's termite protection.
Houses are typically protected from subterranean termite damage with chemical barriers in the soil. To protect the structure, the soil immediately next to the slab or piers is treated with a long-lasting liquid termiticide. The presence of this chemical in the soil provides a protective seal that prevents termites from tunneling through the soil and entering your home.
This protective treated soil should never be disturbed or altered. Also be careful with mulch, as mulch can provide a bridge past the treated soil which termites can use to enter your home.