Q.
I know of two HOAs that do not permit wood chips near the residences due to
bark scorpions. What do you tell people?
A. There are other alternatives to using woodchips in home landscapes. We need to get the organic content of our soils higher in many cases. I just thought using wood chips would be easier.
Caulk Very Tiny Openings and Use a Barrier Spray
Caulk openings in the foundation of your home wider than a credit card. If you
choose to use pesticides, apply them to exterior walls around the foundation of
the house from the ground up to 1 foot. Make applications around doors, window
eaves, and other potential points of entry.
This is called a “barrier spray” and
applied at least once in the spring and once in the fall when temperatures
begin changing. Temperature changes are the usual time bark scorpions follow
their prey inside houses. Young scorpions are very susceptible to the same
pesticides used for controlling spiders. Older bark scorpions are more
difficult. Apply a barrier spray any time a load of wood chips is delivered and
spread. They last only about one or two weeks depending on the weather.