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.
Homeowners, landlords and anyone buying or selling a house in Garland, whether you've spotted something or just want to know what to watch for.
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.
- 1Small kick-out holes in exposed wood.
- 2Blistered or bubbling paint on wood surfaces.
- 3Crumbling baseboards behind furniture.
- 4Layered, honeycombed wood packed with soil.
- 5Doors and windows that suddenly stick.
- 6Termite activity reported at a neighbor's home.
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.
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Termite activity through the year in Garland
Spring
swarm season. In 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.
Winter
a good time to book an inspection in Garland, before swarm season starts.
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
A local treatment is cheaper than fumigation but only covers what the Garland technician can find. Hidden drywood galleries elsewhere in the house are not touched.
- Time
- 1–3 hours
- Best for
- Small drywood spots, wall voids, and exposed framing
Bait Station System with Monitoring
$1,500–$3,500 install, plus $300–$500 per year
Ask how many stations they plan for your Garland home, how often they'll check them, and what the annual fee covers.
- Time
- 2–4 hours to install; checked quarterly
- Best for
- Colony elimination, wells and slabs, homes near water
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.
Crawl spaces are where termites usually get in. Joists, piers and the sill plate should all get a close look.How treatment works on a typical Garland home.
In Garland, on a slab, the crew treats the soil along the outside walls. Under patios and garage floors, they drill small holes. Treatment goes in through the holes, which get patched afterward. Bait stations are the other main option. They're spaced every 10 to 20 feet. Termites carry the bait back to the colony. The stations are checked on a schedule, often every few months.
Which termites live around Garland.
The termite you're most likely to meet in Garland is the eastern subterranean termite. 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.
Sealing the gap where pipes enter the house takes away one of the easiest routes in. It won't replace treatment, but it helps.When termites swarm here.
Swarm season is when termites show themselves. In 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.
Where to look around your house.
Many homes in Garland sit on concrete slabs, so termites come up through expansion joints, plumbing gaps and settlement cracks. 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.
A year of termites in Garland.
- Spring: swarm season. In 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. - Winter: a good time to book an inspection in Garland, before swarm season starts.
What happens at an inspection.
Most inspections take an hour or two. 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.
Termites or ants?
- 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. - Tunnels: termite galleries are packed with mud. Ant tunnels are clean and smooth.
Getting ready for treatment day.
Soil treatments and bait stations need little prep. Clear a path along the outside walls. Move stored boxes away from garage walls. Mark sprinkler heads and any buried lines. Keep pets and kids inside while the crew works outside. Ask how long to stay off treated soil. Any drill holes in a slab or patio get patched.
Mulch and termites.
Keep mulch thin and pull it back from the foundation. A dry strip along the house lets you spot mud tubes. Wood chips right against siding hold moisture termites like.
Questions to ask before you sign.
- 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 do I need to do before and after treatment?
What affects the price
- Whole-house fumigation versus spot treatment.
- Number of bait stations required.
- Annual renewal and monitoring fees.
- Linear feet of foundation to be treated.
- Wells, drains, or water features limiting chemical use.
- 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. Garland has a humid subtropical climate, and termites activity here tends to pick up spring swarm season (March-May), warmer earlier in the south. In Garland, most of the housing is urban, so the usual entry points, moisture spots, and sheltered areas near the structure are what an inspection checks first. In Garland, take a minute to note where you have seen activity and when it appears, so the inspection is faster and the quote more accurate. A local provider who knows Garland and Texas can point out the specific conditions that matter most here before you commit to a plan.
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
- Extend downspouts so water drains away from walls.
- Address wood-to-soil contact at steps, fences, and trellises.
- Use borate-treated or pressure-treated lumber for repairs.
- Remove tree stumps and buried wood near the house.
- Inspect used furniture for drywood pellets before bringing indoors.
Keep the inspection diagram, treatment record and warranty together. Buyers and inspectors will ask for them later.Did you know?
In Garland, when danger shows up, soldier termites bang their heads against the tunnel walls to warn the colony.
In Garland, termites have been chewing wood for well over 100 million years, since the age of the dinosaurs.
Questions people ask
Do I have to leave my house during termite treatment?
Not for a soil treatment or bait stations. Fumigation is different. Everyone leaves for two to three days, pets and houseplants included.
Can termites damage a house on a concrete slab?
Yes. They come up through expansion joints, plumbing gaps and small cracks. Most homes around Garland sit on slabs, so inspectors check those spots first.
How long does termite treatment take?
A liquid barrier takes half a day to a day. Bait stations take a few hours to install. Fumigation takes two to three days.
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.
How much does termite treatment cost?
In Garland, termites are best caught early through inspection, because the damage is hidden inside wood until it is far along. In 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.
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