Wood to Earth Contact -- The Conducive Condition

 I explained in a previous post the term "conducive condition." It means any condition that is likely to cause rot or increase the odds of an infestation by wood destroying inspects. There are many such conducive conditions -- uncontrolled runoff water, plumbing leaks. But, in my view, probably the most basic conducive condition is the one that I see the most often -- wood to earth contact. 

When wood is in contact with earth (not simply soil but gravel and beauty bark, etc) that leads to high moisture content in the wood and, before too much time passes, the wood will be seriously compromised and decayed. Once decay hits, many of the wood destroying insects will be checking in shortly thereafter. And, in fact, some wood destroying insects, such as species of termites, will be attracted to that wood that is down in the soil even before it rots. Bottom line: Try to maintain 6" of clearance from wood to earth.