Wasp Nest in a Hedge or Bush – What Oakwood Garden Owners Should Know
With a family gathering or barbecue planned, a wasp nest in a nearby hedge or bush needs sorting out in good time, not on the morning of the event.
Ten guests on Saturday, wasps in the hedge on Thursday
The invitations are out, the food is ordered and the paddling pool is promised to the cousins. Then, on Thursday, you notice a constant stream of wasps flying in and out of the bush next to the patio. There is a real chance that by Saturday the garden is full of people, sweet drinks and food, with a nest at the edge of it all.
Gatherings are the worst time for a hidden nest. Food, fizzy drinks and ice cream draw foraging wasps in numbers, and a crowd of guests moving about is the kind of disturbance a nest reacts to. Children and visitors who know nothing about the nest are most at risk.
If you are in Oakwood and a date is looming, the sensible step is to deal with the nest first, not to hope for the best.
Do not feel you need to cancel anything. A nest dealt with in good time rarely stops a party going ahead, and the garden becomes safe to enjoy.
Why you should not wait
It can be tempting to leave it and keep the hedge off limits with a bit of rope. But a nest close to the seating area is hard to avoid with guests who do not know about it. A child chasing a ball, someone leaning back on a chair, a dog on the lawn: any of these can trigger the colony.
The wasp population also builds through the season. By August a colony can hold 2,000 to 10,000 or more wasps, so the garden party in late summer is exactly when the nest is at its most populated.
Ringing early gives you room to choose a date for the treatment that leaves time before the event. Leaving it until the day before means less room if anything needs to be rearranged.
Tell the people helping you, too. A relative who has volunteered to light the barbecue early, or to bring a few chairs over, will go wherever is convenient, which might be right next to the bush.
It is also worth remembering that people tend to be relaxed and distracted at a gathering. Nobody is watching the hedge, and nobody is thinking about wasps until the first sting, which is why prevention beforehand is so much better.
A simple plan for the days before
While you are arranging treatment, there are some practical steps that cost nothing and limit the risk.
- Move the seating, table and barbecue to the part of the garden furthest from the bush.
- Tell anyone helping with setup not to go near the planting.
- Plan to keep food and drink covered until it is served, and clear it promptly.
- Keep bins with lids and place them well away from the nest.
- Think of a back-up, such as using a different area of the garden or moving the gathering indoors if needed.
Let guests know about the problem, if wasps are still active, as a courtesy. Anyone with an allergy to stings will be glad of the warning.
Think about the way guests will move: toward the toilet, the gate, the car or the food table. If any of those routes pass the bush, it needs an alternative or a barrier.
Booking before the event
Wasp Exterminator Leeds treats a nest in a hedge or bush at a fixed £90, with £35 for an additional nest on the same property. No call-out charge applies. The price is confirmed on the phone before anyone visits, and no work is done until you agree.
We offer same-day service, seven days a week, to domestic and commercial customers. Technicians are trained, and the work is fully insured. The number is 0113 347 0014, and the booking form is on the contact page at /contact-us/.
Mention the date of your event when you book, and anyone known to be allergic to stings, so that we can take it into account.
If you are hosting at a commercial venue, such as a pub garden or a small event space, the same prices apply, and the same advice about keeping guests away from the planting does too.
The treatment visit is quick to arrange, but it is better to give yourself a margin so that you are not relying on a single day. Phone early and you have the most choice.
After the technician has been
Ask the technician when the area near the hedge is safe to use. You may be advised to keep people away from it for a little while. Do not use that part of the garden for the event unless you have been told you can.
If you want the empty nest removed, ask at booking whether the technician can do this. It makes the area tidier for photographs and play.
On the day of the gathering, glance at the hedge before guests arrive. If you see wasps, speak to the technician or ring us rather than assuming it will settle.
Tell the guests as well, if there is any doubt. A quiet word is enough, and it helps the allergic or nervous ones feel comfortable in the garden.
Looking after guests who are stung
Even with precautions, someone may be stung at a gathering. Wash the sting, take out the sting if visible and apply a cold pack. Keep an eye on the person for a while. If they have swelling of the face, lips or throat, wheezing, trouble breathing, dizziness or a widespread rash, call 999 straight away. People with known allergies should speak to their GP about what to carry.
Children at a party are often the first to run to the edge of the garden. A quick briefing about which areas to stay out of, given at the start, is a simple extra precaution.
Wasps on your property in Oakwood?
Fixed price £90 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.