We all want to keep wasps out of our homes, around the house, and in the garden. But how can we control these pesky invaders?
Prevention is the first step: for example, don’t leave food out in the open, close the top of the bin and pick up fruit that has fallen from the fruit tree.
IF THEY ARE NESTING IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD
If wasps live next door, you may have some insects that have moved in. A homemade insect trap can be a solution to these. To do this, pour a little water into a PET bottle and put pieces of cooked or raw meat in it. As wasps can smell the meat from a distance, they will fly into the bottle and stay there.
Instead of meat, honey, syrup or beer can be excellent bait, or you can even mix a little washing-up liquid into the water.
IT MATTERS WHERE THE TRAP GOES
Because wasps like sunlight, don’t put the trap in a shady spot! Also be prepared for a lot of traffic around PET bottles, so always place them away from garden furniture, pools and sandpits.
THESE PLANTS ARE NOT FAVOURED
The scent of wormwood, thyme, citronella, spearmint or lemon-scented geranium will repel wasps, so it’s worth planting a few sprouts of these plants in the garden.
IF YOU HAVE FOUND THE NEST
Once you’ve found the wasps’ nest, you can try to kill them with wasp-killing spray or foam. It is worth doing this early in the morning or evening, as this is when the wasps are in the nest and moving more slowly.
