Wasp nest

nikki 7 · July 2023

Hi everyone. I have a wasp nest in my garden. Lots of activity, which deters me from mowing, gardening etc. I really don't want to destroy or disturb the nest, as I feel they may have eggs. Any ideas as to when wasps vacate their nests in the UK? Many thanks folks

Fairygirl · July 2023

Mine have already vacated theirs

jill257 · July 2023

There's a gadget called a Waspinator that you could hang up once the wasps have gone. It's a fake wasp's nest which is supposed to deter them making a nest nearby. We got one earlier in the year as we've had wasps making nests by the front porch many times - so far there's been no interest from them so fingers crossed it'll work, but time will tell.

plant pauper · July 2023

Mine are still hanging about in my shed and the nest is the biggest there's ever been. Not in the world, just in my shed! 😊
I'm not sure about fake wasp's nests deterring them @jill257. I still have many ghosts of nests past and it hasn't stopped them yet. Let us know if it works long term.

Lizzie27 · July 2023

We look like we got a wasps nest in the soffits right above our patio table. Lots of the plastic vents fell out because of the heat earlier so the wasps have taken advantage. Lots of activity this morning which is a nuisance as I'm allergic to wasp and bee stings.

nikki 7 · July 2023

Well, thanks for the input folks - but no real solid suggestions. Guess I will have to wait till it's winter, when hopefully they have left the nest. I can then destroy it and hope they don't nest there again.
Nikki

bcpathome · July 2023

Yes That’s all you can do I’m afraid

jimmids · July 2023

It's commendable that you want to approach the wasp nest in your garden with care and consideration for the wasps' lifecycle.

In the UK, wasp nests are generally active from late spring through the end of summer, with peak activity occurring in August. By late autumn, usually around October or November, the worker wasps will die off, and the nest will become inactive.

It's worth noting that wasps typically don't return to old nests the following year. So once the nest is vacated, it should not pose an ongoing concern.

In the meantime, if the nest's location is a significant hindrance to your gardening activities, you may wish to consult with a professional pest control service that specialises in humane wasp removal or relocation. Many companies offer non-lethal solutions that might suit your situation.

Otherwise, waiting for the nest to become inactive naturally could be the best course of action if you can manage without disturbing the area.

Stay safe, and happy gardening!

Fairygirl · July 2023

They're fascinating structures @nikki 7, so worth keeping once they've gone, and having a close look. I had two last year, but only one was accessible, as it was in the box I made for bees. It was a good size. They've set up home in the hog house this year, so I'm hoping to get a good look at that one later too.
They've been harvesting the wood for it from the nearby compost bin 'cover' that I made. We used to listen to, and watch them harvesting wood from the fence in a previous garden

nikki 7 · July 2023

Hi Fairygirl

Unfortunately this wasp nest is in a not easily accessible place. I have see them before, they are really beautiful and ornate. But this one would be too much hassle to gain access to, so I will probable just fill it in with earth when they have vacated.

Take care and happy gardening

Nikki7

Fairygirl · July 2023

That's a pity @nikki 7. They'll build/use a new nest next year, assuming everything goes to plan for the queen[s] etc.
Perhaps you could do something similar to mine - create a small box they might use?
Really interesting to watch them.
Hope all goes well with yours though.

Wasp nest

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