Wasp Nest in a Hedge or Bush – What Ash Garden Owners Should Know
When wasps keep appearing in the house, the nest is often outside in the hedge, a few metres from the window.
The kitchen is not where they live
A wasp in the kitchen is a nuisance. A wasp every hour is a pattern. When wasps keep turning up at windows, in the conservatory and near food, the nest is generally outside, and a hedge close to the house is a prime suspect. They come in because the house smells of food, and they can fly in from a nest many metres away.
By August a colony can hold 2,000 to 10,000 wasps or more, and the overspill from a nest of that size will find its way into any open window. People in Ash who keep windows open on warm days see this quickly.
A common mistake is to think a wasp indoors means a nest in the roof. Sometimes it does, but more often it is just a forager that has come in through a window. Look outside first, from a distance, before assuming the worst.
Tracing the source
Work out where they are coming from.
- Note which windows or doors they appear at most. Wasps tend to take the shortest route from the nest.
- Look outside in that direction, from a safe distance, for hedges, bushes or trees near the house.
- Watch for wasps flying along the wall towards the open window and trace the line back.
- Check for wasps entering the house through other gaps, such as air bricks, vents or a hole in the eaves.
- Look at the hedge nearest the affected window for the signs of heavy traffic.
If the wasps seem to come from inside the house, from a wall or ceiling, that is a different case, and you should say so on the phone.
Conservatories and porches collect wasps because they are warm, bright and have a lot of glass. A wasp that cannot find the way out will bash against the window for hours. Open a door or window at the other end to give it a way out, and keep the room quiet.
If wasps are entering through a particular gap, such as the top of a window frame or a vent, note its position. You may need to tell the technician, since a gap that leads into a cavity can be a nest site in its own right.
Wasps indoors also tend to cluster at the window nearest the nest. If you move from room to room and note which window has the most, you will usually find the side of the house the nest is on, and can tell the technician before the visit.
Keeping them out meanwhile
You can reduce the number coming in without going near the hedge.
- Keep windows closed on the side facing the hedge, or fit fine mesh screens.
- Keep food and drink covered, and wash up promptly.
- Bring bins and compost containers indoors or to the far side of the garden.
- Wipe up sticky spills and rinse out cans and bottles.
- Open a window and let a stray wasp leave, rather than swatting.
Do not hang sweet traps or bait near the windows. They can draw more wasps towards the house.
Keep an eye on the washing line, too. Damp towels and clothes, particularly ones that smell of sun cream or food, can attract wasps. Bring them in before the late afternoon, and shake them outside before you bring them into the house.
Think about pet bowls. Wet pet food left in a bowl near the back door attracts wasps indoors, and a pet bowl on a windowsill is a common lure. Feed pets at set times and wash the bowls promptly.
What not to do
Do not spray the hedge through the window, hose it from a distance or poke at it with a pole. None will reach the nest, and all will agitate the colony. Do not stuff the gaps around the window with fabric while wasps are active.
If someone is stung, wash the area with soap and water, remove the sting if it is visible and use a cold pack. Ring 999 for swelling of the face, lips or throat, difficulty breathing, dizziness or a widespread rash.
Make a note of how many wasps you see indoors in a day, roughly. The number tells the technician how active the nest is, and a clear count on the phone is better than "lots".
Remember that wasps indoors can sting if trapped against skin. Shake out shoes, check bedding and look in cups before use. Children's rooms are worth checking too, particularly if windows have been open.
Treatment and booking
A qualified technician, fully insured, will treat the nest in one visit for a fixed £120 per nest. A second nest at the same property is £60 more, and there is no call-out charge. We cover Ash and the nearby area, domestic and commercial, seven days a week, with same-day service and evening and weekend appointments.
Ring 01622 410 019 or use the booking form on the contact page, and tell us where the wasps appear indoors and which hedge you suspect. Mention any allergic household member so the booking can be prioritised.
Afterwards
Over the next day or two, you may still find a few wasps indoors. That is normal, since they come in from the old flight path. If more appear, tell us. Ask the technician whether the empty nest can be taken down, and next spring, keep an eye on the hedge nearest the house from late April.
Once the nest has been treated, the number of wasps indoors should fall away quickly. If you still see a steady stream a day or two later, ring us. It could mean a second nest, and an additional nest on the same property is £60 extra.
Wasps on your property in Ash?
Fixed price £120 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.