How To Keep Wasps Far Away From Your Patio
If your patio is anything like mine, it seems to attract more and more wasps every year.
Even the old-timers tell me they dont remember so many pesky, stinging wasps hanging around in their day. Why might this be the case?
Some people say that climate change is causing fewer cold days, which means that wasps can survive through the winter in some places. Im not a climate scientist, but theres no denying that wasp colonies are larger every year, and they have systems to warn other wasps when danger is present.
They release chemicals called pheromones that summons other wasps to come to their aid. For these reasons, it is best to find ways to keep wasps away from your patio without swatting at them or taking actions that will make them angry. At this point, you might be wondering How?
Keeping wasps away from your patio is a question of prevention, control, and removal. Simply put, make sure you dont do anything to attract them, be proactive about eliminating individual wasps when you see them and take action to destroy their nests near your home.
Lets dive in and explore the issue fully.
The Dangers Of Diy Wasp Nest Removal
When it comes to DIY wasp control, there isnt a foolproof solution to ensure that the colony will completely pack up and leave your area. While you may find many DIY wasp remedies floating across the internet, most of them will do little more than put you, your family, or your pets in harms way.
If you have a wasp nest nearby your home, its best to understand what hive removal methods you should avoid to prevent painful stings, damage to your property, and wasps from coming back.
Keep The House In Good Repair
The first step in keeping wasps, hornets, and yellow jackets out of the house is to keep the house well sealed. Check your home for broken panels, holes or loose siding, gaps in soffits, and other crevices where wasps can get in and possibly build a nest.
Repair holes in window screens, screen doors, and seal gaps around doors and windows. Prevent a wasp, yellow jacket, or hornet nest by being proactive.
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Add The Right Plants To Your Garden
Essential oils arent the only way to keep wasps from making your deck, porch, or pool area home. By adding the right plants to your garden, you can accomplish a similar goal.
Mint, spearmint, lemongrass, citronella, thyme, and eucalyptus can make your space less attractive to wasps. Plus, they are relatively easy to care for, making them good choices for anyone regardless of whether they have a green thumb.
Whether you plant them in the ground or containers doesnt matter. Just spread them out in your yard, and you could see fewer wasps.
Identifying A Paper Wasp Nest
Before you figure out how to remove a wasp nest, you need to make sure paper wasps are the insects youre dealing with. Some wasp nests are similar in appearance to bees, which may require different removal techniques. In fact, the yellow-faced bee and the rusty-patched bumblebee are protected under the Endangered Species Act, which means you could face a large fine for killing one or even disturbing its habitat. Therefore, its important to be 100 percent certain that the nest youre trying to remove belongs to a wasp.
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So what does a paper wasp nest look like? It resembles a round, umbrella-shaped cone thats attached by a single stalk to a horizontal surface in a protected location. There are several places a wasp might choose to hang its nest from, including:
- Attics
- The undersides of porches and decks
- The insides of grills or hose reels
A professional pest control specialist can help you accurately identify if your problem is a paper wasp nest or something else.
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Apakah Tanaman Serai Wangi Mengusir Tawon
Citronella terkenal karena kemampuannya untuk mencegah nyamuk, tetapi baunya yang meresap juga dapat menyerang tawon dan lebah. Itu dapat tumbuh di dalam atau di luar, tetapi lebih menyukai setidaknya enam jam sinar matahari apakah itu di dekat jendela atau di luar di bawah sinar matahari. Tanah tanaman serai harus tetap dikeringkan dengan baik.
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Identify The Type Of Wasps
At the outset, you should determine what type of wasp you are dealing with. Different wasps and hornets species display different behavioral characteristics. Some more dangerous to deal with than others and some are more beneficial than others. Understanding your enemy is key, and you may discover your particular species of wasps are not enemies at all.
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Cover Your Patio Furniture
Theres a reason why patio covers are sold, but people dont buy them.
Theyre not just for protecting your furniture from rain and sun, but they also keep bugs out. Most covers are made from fabric or vinyl, both of which are natural deterrents to pests and keeps bugs off your furniture.
You should invest in a fitted cover that extends over the furnishing completely. There should be tie-downs or secure mounting points for you to fully enclose it. This should prevent a large majority of flying pests, spiders, and lizards.
Note that if you put the cover on wrong, you may do more harm than good. If the cover doesnt fully cover the set, you could be creating a protected haven for bugs to live in that shields them from predators and the elements.
So make sure you use the cover correctly.
Advice On Using Sprays
Chemical pesticides should be used as a control method of last resort for any insect pest. In this case, the safest method of eradicating paper wasps in a problem area is, indeed, with a commercial wasp spray. Look for a product labeled for use on wasps and hornets, and remember, the label is the law. You must read the label and follow all directions for using any pesticide product.
Wasp sprays usually come with a propellant that allows you to spray the pesticide from a safe distance. Coat the nest in the pesticide, covering all the cells of the nest. Never stand directly below a paper wasp nest while applying the pesticide. Wasps may drop from the nest, and you also risk getting the chemical in your eyes or on your skin.
Check the nest the next day for any signs of wasp activity. Before you remove a nest, you must be sure that no workers survived the pesticide application. Wasp sprays kill on contact. Wasps that were absent from the nest at the time you sprayed may return to the nest site. If you don’t observe live wasps near the nest, use a broom or other long-handled tool to knock it down. Dispose of the nest by putting it in a sealed baggie and placing it in your household trash.
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Ways On How To Keep Wasps Away From Deck Porch And Pool
While wasps are important parts of the environment, most people dont want much to do with them. This is especially true on warm summer days spent lounging on the deck or porch, or sitting by the pool.
Simply having wasps buzzing around can turn a fun time into an anxiety-inducing one. Plus, if wasps decide to nest nearby, the situation could even be dangerous.
Luckily, you can keep wasps away from your deck, porch, and pool. If you dont know where to begin, here are 15 solid options.
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How To Repel Bees From The Patio
For more information, you can read our previous post to learn how to safely remove bees.
More Information on Pest Removal:
About the AuthorCheryl Khan is a writer, free-thinker, and design expert. You may have read some of her posts on other home improvement blogs. Although she is not allergic to bees, she is allergic to bees in patio furniture!
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The Best Time To Treat A Hornet Nest With Insecticide Is Around 2 Hours After Dusk
How to get rid of hornets nest in bush. They will then drown in the bucket. The spray is also useful for applying directly to their nest, but. Find out how to kill hornets using simple home remedies that you can whip up in a pinch, such as dish soap, peppermint essential oil, sugar, and vinegar.
Make sure to keep the bushes and trees trimmed regularly This is a standout amongst the most straightforward and natural home solutions for disposing of hornets. Deter hornets and keep wasps away by spraying areas where they frequent, such as the picnic table, and outdoor garbage can.
Pour the hot, soapy water into the entrance of the hornet nest as quickly and carefully as possible and exit the area quickly. Treat the nest with insecticide at night. Getting rid of a hornets nest in trees.
If some remain, repeat the procedure one more. How do i get rid of a hornets nest in my chimney? There are several simple ways to do it:
How to kill yellowjackets in a bush. How to get rid of ground hornets or those with ariel nests starts by pouring water into a glass bottle and adding a few drops of each of the essential oils. The lemon and clove hornet deterrent is a hornet repellent mixture that will not kill them.
This will be very ineffective and most likely not solve the problem. You could also try putting out a piece of fruit, tray of sugar water, or a small piece of meat where you have noticed hornet activity. Shake it well and label it for safety reasons.
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Fancy Essential Oil Outdoor Wasp Repellent
For a more powerful mix that is more effective in your yard and garden and around the exterior of windows and doors, you can make a strong combination of powerhouse essential oils and vodka. Heres how!
In a 16-ounce spray bottle, mix:
- 1 and a half teaspoons of Oil of Lavender
- 5 teaspoons of Eucalyptus Oil
- 5 teaspoons of Pennyroyal Oil
- 3 teaspoons of Citronella Oil
- 5 teaspoons of Tea Tree Oil
- 2 cups of Vodka
This is a strong-smelling concoction that is ideal for use outdoors. It will not only discourage wasps from setting up shop, it will drive them away if they are already in residence. Spray daily for a week and then weekly thereafter to keep wasps from returning.
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Keep Your Patio Umbrella Clean Using Soapy Water
Last but not least, you should try your best to keep your patio umbrella clean. Theres no reason why you cant give it a quick wipe when youre done using it for the day!
Otherwise, wasps and other insects may be drawn to the dirt and grime that collects on its canopy. If this happens, theyll build their nests there and stay for good!
Cleaning with hot soapy water is best. Rinse thoroughly and allow to dry in sunlight which will kill any eggs or larvae left behind by the wasps.
Glass Or Plastic Jar Wasp Trap
Using a good sized jar drill a hole in the lid just big enough to poke a pencil through. This should be just about the right size for wasps to slip in. Pour about an inch of liquid bait in the bottom of the jar and spread the inside of the lid with jelly. Put the lid on the jar.
Place either of these traps in areas where you have seen wasps. The idea is that the wasps will smell the bait and enter through the small opening. Then they will be unable to get back out again, and they will eventually drown in the bait.
Check every couple of days to see what youve caught. When the liquid fills with dead wasps, its time to start fresh. With the soda bottle trap, you should just toss it. With the jar trap, you can clean it and reuse it. Be careful not to get stung by any of your prisoners!
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Strengthen The Ribs Of The Umbrella
Wooden ribs add to the aesthetic of a patio umbrella, a top reason people choose them. However, they arent the best in terms of beefing up the umbrellas against the wind. They could easily break during a storm or even a strong wind, which will often cause the entire thing to blow over.
Strengthening the ribs is critical to ensure sturdiness, and fiberglass or aluminum ribs work well than wood. However, if getting a wood frame is a must, choose one made of eucalyptus, which is well-known for its durability and strength.
Make Sure To Get Into The Crevices
Spray soapy water at the nest to kill existing wasps, then spray essential oils around your porch to keep them from coming back.
Warm, soapy water kills wasps. Fill a backpack hose with a dish-soap-slash-water mixture and spray it at the nest. If youre afraid of getting stung, wear a hazmat suit in case any of them come at you.
Once the existing wasps are exterminated, remove the nest from your porch.
After that, youll need some essential oils. Mix twenty drops of clove oil, twenty drops of lemongrass, and twenty drops of geranium with a gallon of water. Put it into your backpack sprayer or a spray bottle and spray it on every surface of your porch.
Make sure to get into the crevices anywhere wasps might build a nest. They hate the smell of these oils, so itll deter them for at least six weeks or so. We spray every four weeks just to be safe because once the wasps start building a new nest, youll have to repeat the whole process from the beginning.
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Pick The Right Base For The Umbrella
Getting the right base for a patio umbrella is essential to keeping it sturdy against the winds massive gust. When picking an umbrella base, critical consideration is its weight. The heavier the bottom is, the firmer it holds itself against wind strength.
However, the weight of the base is relative and will depend on the umbrella at hand. There should be a guide on what the bottom is appropriate to get for the umbrella.
If that isnt available, heres the quickest guide on what base to get.
- A 40-pound base for an umbrella measuring 1.82 to 2.3 meters
- A 65-pound to 75-pound base for a 2.8 to 3.35 meters umbrella
Besides the weight, picking the right bottom for a patio umbrella will also include choosing the base type. Among the sturdier options are cement and granite bases, as they are more substantial than other materials.
Professional Wasp Nest Removal With Lloyd Pest Control
Here at Lloyd Pest Control, our well-seasoned technicians are trained to handle wasp nest removal right at the source. While wearing a professional beekeeping suit, one of our team members will assess the hive and apply comprehensive treatments that will not only rid your home from these pests but will do so in the most humane way possible.
Afterward, we will thoroughly survey your land for potential areas that might be attracting wasps, providing you with effective wasp control treatment plans to ensure that other colonies wont move in later down the road.
Let us help your southern California summer soirees stay wasp-free this year. Contact us today for a free wasp removal quote.
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Peppermint Oil For Wasps Repellent Spray
So, does peppermint oil repel wasps?
You can also make a good homemade wasp spray to use over larger areas. This can be accomplished using a tablespoonful of peppermint oil and 16 ounces of water.
Note that cinnamon oil can be used in the same way as peppermint oil, and it smells more pleasant to people. Take heed, though! Cinnamon oil can burn your skin and damage your eyes, so if you decide to use it, handle it with great care.
To make a slightly stronger solution, substitute white vinegar for part or all the water.
Alternately, you can make a little fancier version by adding a tablespoon of unscented shampoo or dish soap to your mix. This may make the wasp spray a bit more effective for a little bit longer.
When you add dish soap or vinegar to the mix, it takes on killing capability. You could use this mixture to spray wasps or other insects to kill them however, exercise extreme caution if spraying wasps.
As a repellent, start out by spraying targeted areas daily for seven days you should replenish any peppermint or other essential oil wasp repellents on a weekly basis to stop wasps from returning.
Yellow Jacket Wasp Nest
The nest of yellow jackets is constructed of paper carton and is usually the size of a basketball. The nest has a number of rounded paper combs that are attached, one below the other. These paper combs are covered with a many-layered envelope. Depending on the species, the nest may be aerial, attached to houses, sheds, garages, bushes or shrubs, or near the ground, on plant roots, timber or logs. Quite a few yellow jackets may nest underground, usually in burrows abandoned by animals residing previously.
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