You may have noticed that wasps are more common near the end of summer. This is because their nests have grown larger, and they crave the sweet summer treats we enjoy outside. Thankfully, it’s not too late to get them under control.
Whether you are dealing with wasps now, or if you want to avoid them next spring, there are lots of things you can do yourself. Read on for tips and tricks to keep wasps from nesting on your property.
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Call an Exterminator
If you have struggled with wasp problems before, or if there is currently a wasps’ nest on your property, contact a local wasp exterminator for help. He or she can identify the wasps’ species and get rid of them safely. Wasp nest removal is best left to the professionals. They use safe and effective pesticides that eliminate wasps on the spot and keep them from coming back. They can also seal entry points for you and determine the causes of the infestation for you so that it never happens again.
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Restrict their Access to Food
Wasps are attracted to yards where they can find food. These are omnivores that will feed on most things, but they have seasonal preferences. In the spring, wasps prefer meat because it helps them restore the energy they lost over the course of the winter. In late summer and fall, they like sugary foods. Keep this in mind when having a meal in the backyard.
Always clean up after eating outdoors and avoid leaving any food on the ground. Clean the barbecue and cover it after each use. Keep garbage away from the home, in a shed or in the garage. Use lidded containers and clean them with vinegar to reduce odours. Avoid leaving any pet food outside. If you have a hummingbird feeder, move it away from the home and hang it from a tree.
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Set Homemade Traps
Cut a large soda bottle in half, separating the top from the bottom. Fill the bottom half with sugar water or fruit juice, then add a splash of vinegar to make the mixture unattractive to bees. Remove the bottle cap from the top half, then insert the top half of the bottle into the bottom, with the spout facing down.
Alternatively, you can also purchase traps from your local exterminator or hardware store. These are specially designed not to harm honeybees.
Foraging wasps will come for the sugar and get stuck inside, unable to build nests or be a bother to you. Place one or two of these traps in the yard, a few feet away from eating or sitting areas. The goal is to draw wasps away from these parts of the yard and stop them from building nests.
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Use Wasp Nest Decoys
Decoy nests look like real wasp nests, tricking wasps into thinking that a colony has already settled in the area. Decoys are simply made of paper or plastic and can be hung like lanterns. Find a decoy nest online or at a hardware store, then hang it where you might find a real nest, such as from a tree branch or porch beam. This works best when used in combination with the other items in this list.
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Block Openings in the Walls
Wasps will attach their nests to holes in the wall, so it is best that you block these out. Some nests, in severe cases, have grown into the interior walls of the home.
Look at your walls carefully for openings and seal them shut. Weep vents, which are those little openings between the bricks in the wall, should be blocked off with stainless steel covers. These will continue to allow the bricks to expand and contract with the changes in weather, while blocking pests out. Other holes, like the gaps surrounding the utility lines, can be closed off with expanding foam, caulking, or steel wool.
While you are at it, examine your window frames and door frames for cracks and crevices. Seal these shut with caulking to prevent an interior infestation. These small home improvements will go a long way.
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Plant Wasp-Deterring Herbs and Flowers
There is some evidence that suggests that wasps dislike the smell of certain plants, including marigolds, geraniums, mint, basil, thyme, wormwood, and citronella. Try planting these herbs and flowers around the deck and in the yard to keep wasps away.
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Use Essential Oils
There is a combination of essential oils that deters wasps. Get a spray bottle from the dollar store, then mix a few drops of citronella, geranium, and clove oils together. Add 3 cups of water and a drop of dish soap, then close the bottle and shake it thoroughly.
Spray the mixture in areas of wasp activity, such as the edges of the deck and roof. The smell will encourage wasps not to build their nests in these areas.
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