When Is Wasp Season in Ash?
The bin store is where many households first meet the wasp problem, and the habits that keep it manageable change with each stage of the season.
The bin is where it starts
For many households, the first sign that wasp season has arrived is a cluster of wasps around the bin. A lid that does not close, a recycling box full of sticky cans, a food waste caddy left in the sun: all of them are signals to a wasp that there is something sweet nearby.
Nests are started from late April, depending on the weather. The colony grows through the summer, peaks in August, and in the later weeks of summer wasps become very interested in sweet food and drink, which is the very thing that ends up in bins. For a household in Ash, the waste routine is one of the most useful ways to manage wasps in the second half of the season.
This article follows the bins through the wasp year, and explains what to do in each stage.
Taking a few minutes to look at the bin store with a critical eye can make the rest of the summer easier.
Spring: a clean start
In April and May, wasp numbers are low and bins are not a problem. This is a good time to get the system in order before the busy weeks arrive.
- Clean the bins and caddies, inside and out, and let them dry.
- Check the lids close properly, and replace any that are cracked or warped.
- Decide where bins will sit, ideally away from doors, windows and seating.
- Find a shaded spot for the food waste caddy.
- Keep an eye on any gap, hole or shed roof near the bins.
While you are there, look for wasp activity. The bin store, a shed beside it and a hole in the ground nearby are all places where a nest might begin. Early spring is the best time to deal with nests.
If you share communal bins with neighbours, a polite note about keeping the lid closed can have a bigger effect than any change you make to your own bin.
Summer: rinse, drain, close
By June and July the number of wasps is rising, and the contents of the bin become more tempting. A few simple habits help.
- Rinse cans, bottles and jars before they go in the recycling.
- Drain drinks cartons and squash flat.
- Wrap food waste and keep the caddy lid shut.
- Do not overfill the bin so the lid cannot close.
- Take rubbish out in the evening or early morning, when fewer wasps are flying.
Do not put sweet food scraps or half-drunk drinks in an open bin on a hot day. If wasps are thick around the bin but you can see no nest, they may be visitors from somewhere nearby.
Wheelie bins that are stored in a hot spot all day can become very smelly very fast, which makes the problem worse. Moving a bin into shade, even for the hottest weeks, makes a difference.
August and September: the peak of the rubbish problem
At the August peak, a nest can hold from 2,000 to 10,000 or more wasps, and in late summer they are strongly drawn to anything sweet. Bins, bottle banks and compost heaps become busy.
If you have a compost heap, cover fruit and food scraps with garden waste, keep a lid on it, and avoid tipping in large amounts of fruit. Wasps will go for fermenting fruit in particular.
Bin collection day can be tricky. Wasps may gather at the bin as you wheel it out, so open lids slowly and stay calm. Do not swat. If wasps are thick around the bin, give them a few minutes and try again.
A live nest is not something to approach, and wasps can swarm and sting if they feel threatened, so keep clear of any entrance you see near the bin store.
Garden waste bins deserve a look too, because grass clippings and fruit prunings that start to ferment can be quite attractive to wasps.
One more thing to think about is the bin lorry round itself. If collection day falls on a hot afternoon in August, bins left at the kerb all morning may be warm and busy by the time they are emptied. Putting them out as late as the collection rules allow, and bringing them in promptly, keeps the smell and the wasps to a minimum.
Autumn: the tail of the season
As the colony declines, the number of wasps at the bin falls away, but the late-summer interest in sweet food can linger. Windfalls, fruit peelings and fruit juice cartons are the most common draws in September.
By October things are quieter. It is a good time to clean the bins thoroughly again and think about where they sit. If wasps gathered around one spot all summer, consider moving the bins further from the house.
Look around the bin store as well, since the cooler weather and falling leaves often reveal holes or nests that were hidden by summer growth. Make a note of anything you find for next April.
A wire basket or a lidded box for windfalls, emptied regularly, is a simple way to keep fruit from lying on the ground for days.
Getting a nest treated
If the wasps at your bins are coming from a nest on your property, tidying up will not be enough. Wasp Exterminator Kent treats nests for a fixed £120 each, with one visit guaranteed, and £60 for each additional nest on the same property. There is no call-out charge, and the price is the same whenever you need the visit.
The business is open seven days a week with same-day service, and has evening and weekend appointments. Fully insured and qualified technicians cover both homes and commercial premises, such as bin stores at flats or shops. Call 01622 410 019 or use the booking form on the contact page, and mention any allergy so that it can be prioritised.
Wasps on your property in Ash?
Fixed price £120 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.