How to deal with wasps in your garden

Are wasps causing a problem in your garden? These pollinators can be aggressive to gardeners and have a tendency to feast on harvests, so it’s important to keep yourself as well as your edibles safe. Here’s what to do…

The striking yellow and black stripes of an adult wasp are a common sight in the UK, and these insects are disliked and even feared by many. However, if the proper precautions are taken, these bugs should present no harm to you and will in fact play an important part in maintaining a healthy ecosystem in any garden or allotment.

The Benefits of Wasps
While it may seem surprising to some, wasps are incredibly helpful creatures for growers who produce their own crops. They eat a wide range of pests including aphids and caterpillars, and they are also frequent pollinators of edible plants.

When Wasps Become a Problem
The issues usually begin later in the season, as wasps seek more sugary substances. This is when they may become a nuisance by attacking ripe fruit on trees.
Wasps often behave in a more aggressive, “drunk” manner once they have had their fill of these sugar-filled substances, and they may sting if they come into close contact with humans.

Prevention and Control
The best way to control wasps is to prevent them from feeding on your fruits. Muslin cloth and other fine-meshed materials can be used to cover your yields and protect them.
Clearing up old fruits that have dropped to the ground will also help keep them at bay.
There are many traps available, but these should only be considered in extreme circumstances. If in doubt, contact your local pest control contractors, who should be able to remove the nest and possibly relocate it to a safer area.