Have you noticed a new buzzing sound around your garden? Chances are you might have wasps. While many people don’t see the harm in a few garden wasps, the reality is that they can be quite harmful if you or anyone in your family is allergic to their stinging.
One of the most effective ways to deal with these pesky critters is by opting for the wasp control Melbourne residents rely on to keep their gardens safe. If you’re dealing with wasps, then our expert tips are worth looking into as well.
Simple Ways to Deal With Wasps in Your Yard
Many homeowners prefer to try and deal with a wasp problem themselves before calling in the professionals. Fortunately, there are some quick and simple pointers that can help eliminate wasps from your yard.
1. Invest in Wasp Traps
One of the more common and effective ways to rid your property of wasps is to use a wasp trap. Essentially these traps contain a liquid that attracts wasps. As the wasps fall into the trap to find the liquid, they get stuck and eventually drown.
If you use this solution, be sure to keep the traps away from the kitchen or any living areas. And since the trap quickly stacks up with dead wasps, it’s important to change the trap often.
2. Build Homemade Traps
If you’d rather not buy insect traps, you could always build your own:
- Cut the top section off a large soda bottle
- Add a little fruit juice combined with a few spoons of soda and dish liquid in the bottom of the bottle
- Invert the top piece and slide it into the bottom section
- Make holes on opposite sides, adding string to hang
- Use a piece of masking/box tape to secure the top to the bottom
- Hang the trap near the area where you spot the wasps
- The fruit juice will attract them, and they’ll fly in through the open bottle neck
- Dish liquid creates a waxy film on their wings, making it impossible for them to fly out of the bottle
3. Spray Wasp Nests & High-Traffic Areas
If you’ve identified an active wasp nest in your yard, spraying the nest is another option. Here you can use a simple over-the-counter wasp nest spray. Always opt for a bottle with a nozzle so you can spray the nest from a distance without having wasps fly into your face.
It’s a good idea to spray the nest in the late evening as this is the time the queen and worker wasps are all in the nest. This will produce maximum results. Depending on the type of poison and the number of wasps, it might be necessary to re-spray the nest over several days.
4. Create a Soap & Water Mixture
If you prefer not to use any harmful pesticides around your home, try a simple homemade soap solution. This is how you do it:
- You’ll need a small spray bottle
- Mix two tablespoons of dish soap with some water
- Shake the mixture
- Spray it on smaller wasp nests
- The soapy solution will clog the wasps’ breathing pores, killing them
5. Treat Future & Past Nesting Areas
Whether you’re opting for store-bought poison or you’re using your own homemade soap mix, it’s important to spray any past nesting areas. These are the areas where you may have had or seen wasps in the past. Doing this will deter wasps from returning to the empty or abandoned nest.
You can also spray the mixture in areas near their current nest or spaces that could become future nests. Places where wasps love to hang out:
- Wooden fences
- Patio, deck and door frames
- Holes in your home’s structure such as keyholes or air vents
6. Clean Your Yard and Outdoor Space
Since wasps enjoy a protein and sugar-based diet, they are easily attracted to kitchens and outdoor areas. They are well known for building nests around barbeques and grills where they have access to meat scraps and grill drippings.
Always keep your outdoor entertainment area clean and wipe up or rinse away any spills as soon as they occur. Ensure that your dustbin has an airtight lid to avoid them nesting around your bin area.
7. Make a Eucalyptus Spray
It’s no secret that most insects don’t enjoy the fragrance of eucalyptus. Simply make a water and eucalyptus essential oil mixture and spray it near or on the door and window frames where you’ve seen wasps.
8. Call a Professional
If spraying wasp nests with your homemade mixture doesn’t seem to do the trick, it might be time to call in the professionals. Whether you’re dealing with wasps or wondering how to get rid of bed bugs and other insects, professional pest control is often the best course of action.
Final Thought
Wasps can be dangerous since they can easily get aggravated which can make them swarm and sting. If you have a wasp or bee allergy, this can be very dangerous. We recommend trying our tips but always having a professional on speed dial.
