The short version
Most termite problems in Garland are eastern subterranean termites, and the usual fix is a liquid soil treatment or bait stations. Start with an inspection; $75–$250 is typical.
- Look for mud tubes, shed wings and hollow-sounding wood.
- Swarms usually show up from March through May.
- The usual fix is a soil barrier or bait stations.
- An inspection typically costs $75–$250.
- Insurance usually doesn’t cover termite damage.
Anyone in Garland who owns, rents out, or is buying a home and wants to know whether termites are a real concern.
What to look for
Termites work quietly. A colony can feed inside a wall for years. Average winter lows near 36°F slow termites near the surface around Garland, but they move deeper and keep feeding under heated homes. Spongy floors or bubbling paint usually mean long-running damage. So it's worth an inspection, even for one or two signs.
- 1Sagging or spongy floors near exterior walls.
- 2Screwdriver sinks easily into sills or trim.
- 3Piles of identical shed wings on windowsills.
- 4Termite activity reported at a neighbor's home.
- 5Crumbling baseboards behind furniture.
- 6Small kick-out holes in exposed wood.
Why it’s worth acting soon
- Colonies grow and spread every year they go untreated.
- Damage hides behind drywall, flooring and trim.
- Homeowners insurance usually doesn’t cover termite damage.
- An active infestation can complicate a home sale.
- Formosan colonies are large and can do serious damage quickly.
Treatment options and typical costs
Termite Inspection and WDI Report
$75–$250
The inspector checks the foundation, garage, attic and damp spots. Bring up anything you’ve noticed.
- Time
- 60–120 minutes
- Best for
- Every job, real estate closings, and yearly peace of mind
Localized Wood, Foam, and Borate Treatment
$250–$1,500
When termites are limited to one wall or window frame, a technician can treat that wood directly; drywood termites, common around Garland, often show up exactly this way. Foam expands into voids, and borate soaks into bare lumber.
- Time
- 1–3 hours
- Best for
- Small drywood spots, wall voids, and exposed framing
Liquid Soil Termiticide Barrier
$1,200–$3,500 (often $3–$16 per linear foot)
Where a slab or porch blocks the trench, the Garland applicator drills holes and injects underneath. The goal is a continuous treated zone with no gaps.
- Time
- Half a day to a full day
- Best for
- Active subterranean termites; fast knockdown around the foundation
Fumigation for Drywood Termites
$1,200–$4,000 (often $1–$4 per square foot)
Tenting is mainly for drywood termites. Most homes here never need it.
- Time
- 2–3 days including tenting and aeration
- Best for
- Widespread drywood termites throughout a structure
Prices are typical published ranges. Ask what’s included before you compare quotes.
In a basement, the wooden sill plate on top of the block wall is the first piece of wood termites reach.Which termites live around Garland.
It nests in soil and builds mud tubes to reach wood. It needs steady moisture. Formosan termites have spread into parts of Texas too. Their colonies dwarf native ones. Inspectors take them seriously. The termite you're most likely to meet in Garland is the eastern subterranean termite.
Local termites conditions in Garland.
Across Garland, the area is mostly urban, so termites pressure can differ from one block to the next depending on how tight the entry points are and how much food, water, or shelter is close by. An inspection in Garland usually starts outside and works inward, checking the foundation, gaps around doors and windows, and any moisture or clutter near the structure first. Knowing Garland's seasonal timing lets you schedule treatment before the busy stretch rather than after it, which usually means faster service and a more accurate quote. A provider who works Garland and Texas every day can point out the specific conditions that matter most here, and getting the scope, price, and follow-up terms in writing makes it easier to compare options. Garland sits in a humid subtropical climate, and that sets the pace for termite activity here: spring swarm season (March-May), warmer earlier in the south.
A downspout that dumps water at the foundation keeps the soil wet year-round. Extend it well away from the house.When termites swarm here.
Across Garland, eastern subterranean termites usually swarm from March through May, typically on a warm, sunny day after rain. Formosan termites in Texas swarm later, from late April into June. Look for them on warm, humid evenings around porch lights. A swarm outside means a colony is nearby. A swarm inside usually means it's in the house. Save a few in a bag, or snap a clear photo. Swarm season is when termites show themselves.
Where to look around your house.
Check the garage edges and behind baseboards. Look where pipes come through the floor. Outside, watch for mud tubes behind shrubs. Keep soil and mulch below the slab edge. The same advice applies across the area, from Garland out to Plano and Dallas. Many homes in Garland sit on concrete slabs, so termites come up through expansion joints, plumbing gaps and settlement cracks.
A year of termites in Garland.
- Winter: a good time to book an inspection in Garland, before swarm season starts. - Spring: swarm season. Across Garland, expect it from March through May. Check windowsills and light fixtures for wings. - Summer: with highs around 96°F in Garland, termites follow moisture, so watch AC drain lines, sprinkler zones and hose bibs. - Fall: with about 39 inches of rain a year in Garland, make sure gutters and downspouts carry water well away from the foundation.
What happens at an inspection.
The inspector walks the outside of the house first. They check the foundation, the soil line and nearby wood. Inside, they check the garage, baseboards, plumbing gaps and the attic. On a slab, they focus on joints, cracks and pipe gaps. A moisture meter and a probe help them find hidden activity. Afterward, ask them to show you what they found. Photos help. Most inspections take an hour or two.
Termites or ants?
- Tunnels: termite galleries are packed with mud. Ant tunnels are clean and smooth. - Wings: termite wings are all the same length. Ant wings aren’t. - Waist: termites are thick through the middle. Ants are pinched. - Antennae: termite antennae are straight. Ant antennae bend like an elbow. - Debris: termites leave mud. Carpenter ants leave sawdust.
Getting ready for treatment day.
Clear a walking path along the exterior walls. Move boxes away from garage walls. Flag sprinkler heads and buried lines. Keep kids and pets inside while the Garland crew applies the product, and ask how long to stay off treated soil. In Texas, swarms begin in January–February in South Texas and not until April or May in the Panhandle (Texas A&M). Drill holes in slabs or patios get patched afterward. Prep is light for liquid treatments and bait stations.
Mulch and termites.
A dry gap along the house makes mud tubes easier to spot; in Garland that means extending downspouts and pulling mulch back from the slab. Wood chips touching the siding trap the moisture termites are after. Pull mulch back from the foundation and keep the layer thin.
Questions to ask before you sign.
- What do I need to do before and after treatment? - Which termites did you find, and where? - What product or system will you use? - Is the whole foundation treated, or just one spot? - What does the warranty cover, and for how long? - What does the yearly renewal cost?
What affects the price
- Warranty type: retreatment only or damage repair.
- Liquid barrier versus bait station system.
- Extent of existing damage needing repair.
- Local labor rates and licensing requirements.
- Species: subterranean, drywood, or Formosan.
- Attached garages, decks, and additions.
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What's your biggest concern about termites?
When to call for help
Termites leave mud. Carpenter ants leave clean tunnels and sawdust. It's also the cheapest termite service. Lenders often ask for one. Get a wood-destroying insect (WDI) report either way. Buying or selling? Hollow-sounding wood is another clue. Call if you see mud tubes, pellets or an indoor swarm.
What you can do yourself
Treating an active colony is harder. The product has to reach the whole colony. It also needs even coverage around the entire foundation. Store-bought sprays usually kill only the termites you see. Some of the work is yours. Pull mulch back from the foundation. Fix leaks and clear gutters. Keep firewood away from the house.
Termites in Garland
About 39 inches of rain a year in Garland is plenty for subterranean termites, especially on any side of the house kept damp by gutters or sprinklers. Texas is one of the most termite-active states in the country. An annual inspection is common sense here. With summer highs around 96°F, Garland's humid subtropical climate decides when local termites are busiest. A typical home in Garland is worth around $275k, which puts a few hundred dollars for an inspection and prevention in perspective.
Local research
Termites in Garland, TX: what the public record shows
Before you compare quotes, it helps to know which termites actually live in Texas, when they are busiest around Garland, and what the state figures look like. Everything below links to the agency or university page it came from.
Annual subterranean termite damage in Texas
Texas is one of the costliest termite states, with both native and Formosan species.
Texas A&M AgriLife ExtensionSwarm onset in South Texas
South Texas homeowners should watch for swarmers a full season before the rest of the country.
Texas A&M AgriLife ExtensionTermite species recorded in Texas
- Eastern subterranean termite (Reticulitermes flavipes) — UGA calls it 'the most widely distributed subterranean termite, and it is the most common termite found in the eastern United States'; it swarms February through April in Georgi…
- Formosan subterranean termite (Coptotermes formosanus) — FDACS lists it in Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Texas, Arizona, California and Hawaii. Colonies contain…
When termites are busiest around Garland
Swarms begin in January–February in South Texas and not until April or May in the Panhandle (Texas A&M).
Texas A&M identifies the eastern subterranean and Formosan subterranean termites as the two economically important species. Termites enter via wood in direct contact with soil and by building shelter tubes over or through foundation cracks; modern termiticides provide approximately 5 years of protection and licensed professionals are recommended.
Sources: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension; Biology of Subterranean Termites in the Eastern United States (B1209); University of Missouri Extension; Formosan Termite Program. Figures are quoted as the source prints them. How we check our sources
Simple ways to keep termites away
- Repair rotting trim, fascia, and window frames.
- Remove tree stumps and buried wood near the house.
- Screen attic and foundation vents with fine mesh.
- Check the foundation for mud tubes every spring.
- Keep mulch at least a foot from the foundation.
- Keep the termite renewal contract current after treatment.
Keep the inspection diagram, treatment record and warranty together. Buyers and inspectors will ask for them later.Did you know?
Across Garland, termites are closer cousins to cockroaches than to ants, despite the old nickname white ants.
Across Garland, soldier termites can't feed themselves, so the workers feed them mouth to mouth.
Questions people ask
How do I choose a termite company?
Make sure they're licensed in Texas. Ask which termites they found and what product they'll use. Ask what the warranty covers. Compare the proposals, not just the totals.
What is the difference between subterranean and drywood termites?
Subterranean termites live in soil and build mud tubes. Drywood termites live inside the wood and leave tiny pellets. Around Garland, the subterranean kind causes most problems.
Can I treat termites myself?
Prevention, yes. An active colony is harder. The product must reach the whole colony. It also needs even coverage around the foundation. Store-bought sprays usually kill only what you see.
What does a WDI report include?
It lists any termites or damage found. It also notes conditions that invite them, like wood touching soil. It only covers areas the inspector could reach.
Are termite treatment prices going up?
Across Garland, termites are best caught early through inspection, because the damage is hidden inside wood until it is far along. Across Garland, a professional inspection looks for mud tubes, damaged wood, and swarming activity, and treatment targets the soil and the colony rather than just the visible wood.
What is a termite renewal contract?
83% of locations in PCT magazine's 2025 termite market report (about 145 pest-control professionals, 2024 operations) offered annual renewals. Before work starts in Garland, ask how many visits are included and what happens if the termites come back.
Are termites common in Texas?
Around Garland, the usual culprit is the eastern subterranean termite.
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Sources (11)
The facts in this article come from the public sources listed above. Every home is different, so ask the company you talk to about pricing and what’s included. Published by Termite Exterminator · Updated September 11, 2026 · How we write these guides