I did read on my cooperative extension regarding termites and bagged mulch. Apparently the Katrina area mulched tons of trees. The area contains the Formosa termite and the concern is that the ternmites are in the bagged mulch.

Formosa termites even live in cresote soaked railroad ties.
They recommended not purchasing bagged wood chips and if you do use them only in very thin layers. Termites like the warm soil, thick layers make the soil warm.

Better to get free wood chips from local tree dudes. Never leave a large pile of mulch sitting for any length of time, it attracts termites.

The termite warning has been established to be a current urban myth and without substance. I am very surprised an extension office is promulgating this rumor - they should know better.

I too cannot resist bargains like this, as I am never able to generate enough mulch material for my garden on my own. While it may not be premium material (and I'd love to know exactly what they consider to be "organic humus"), pretty much any organic mulch is better than no mulch at all. And if you are using it in an area that has minimal or no plantings, simply to keep weeds down, I can't for the life of me see the harm.

Here is a link that might be useful: Katrina termite myth

The Katrina/Formosa termite myth may be why there were so many left over bags. Enough people had the attitude "I read it in a scary email, so it must be true."

A 40lb bag is approx 1.5 cubic feet. A yard is 27 cuft.
.50/1.5=.33 per cuft or .33X 27=8.90 per yard!

REALLY CHEAP GOOD DEAL

There is nothing wrong with it that water won't fix. If it smells then some form of decomposition is taking place, which is exactly what you want.

Before someone points out that in the bag may be the wrong type of decomposition, as soon as air gets to it then it will change to the proper form.

You get a deal and worry, what else is troubling you bucky?

We have global warming and about 50% of the population won't vote, what's with that!

http://www.gardening.cornell.edu/pests/formosantermites.html
Here is the article I read. It is from Suffolk Cooperative extension.

lovelycherry, you did read this part of that article, I hope:

>The essence of this email is a hoax, in my opinion. I believe it very unlikely that the large retailers mentioned would be buying and distributing termites from illegal sources. A far greater, and better documented risk is the sale and distribution of recycled railroad ties.The essence of the article is pretty much the same as that contained in the Snopes urban myth buster report linked above. Which is very reassuring, as I'd hate to think that an institution with Cornell's reputation in the horticultural community would be promoting unfounded rumors. And FWIW, I hope no one is contemplating the use of railroad ties in a garden setting - their toxicity is considerable and where I live you need a hazardous materials permit to even dispose of them.

Thanks all.
It did not take long to use up the store bought mulch. The only difficulty encountered at all was just the actual transporting of the stuff. The bark mulch did not smell bad. The "organic humus" smelled only when I first opened the bag. I'm back to woodchips again until another cheap deal comes along. FYI, termites are not so big a problem in my area (Westchester County, NY) but are a much bigger problem not so far from here in Long Island where lovelycherry is.