Nealtw

Most times people complain about termites they show pictures of landscape right up to the siding so they don't see the tunnels.

Domo

You are correct - it is always good practice, anywhere, to keep organics away from the house and to have good drainage going well away from your foundation/crawlspace/slab/basement.

One of the major problem with landscapers and a new house is the foundation bushes that are planted so close so that they look nice to the prospective buyer when the bushes are tiny. But, when they grow to 10 feet tall it's a completely different set of issues - such as debris piles retaining water, attacting bugs/termites/snakes/rats, branches rubbing against siding, leaves in gutters - been there, cured that.

I would dig away an apron around the house, at least 18" wide and 4" deep that I'd fill with drain gravel. Abutting that I'd use rubber mulch for about the same width. Only then would we have pavers as stepping stones in the gardens and mulched bushes. I also had no qualms about using termiticide around the footing, etc. as described - similar to what the "professionals" do. And, I sprayed the exposed foundation and up under the siding overlap the first of every month with a good outdoor product such as Taurus SC.

Anything that made it indoors was sick, slow and dying. Expect mammals.

Nealtw

I agree but when you dig down for the gravel, slope the base away from the house and lay poly down and then the gravel so water runs away from the house.