Do Wasps Return to the Same Nest Every Year? A Guide for Fairbourne Gardens
When the leaves fall, last summer’s nest is often suddenly in plain sight, and it raises an obvious worry about whether the wasps will move back into it.
Leaf fall shows what summer hid
A wasp nest in a tree or a thick bush can be almost invisible for the whole of summer. Leaves screen it from view, and the only sign may be a few wasps flying in and out. Then autumn comes, the leaves drop, and a grey, papery globe is hanging in the branches where it was all along.
People often find these nests when they are pruning, clearing a hedge or taking down a trellis. The first reaction is usually to wonder whether it is still in use, and the second is whether the wasps will come back to it next year.
On the second point, they will not. A wasp colony lasts for one season, and a nest is not reoccupied.
The empty globe can look surprisingly sturdy, with a pattern of swirled paper layers, but it is lightweight and quite fragile once the colony has left it.
What has happened to the wasps
By the time you can see the nest, the colony inside it has usually finished. The workers die as it turns cold. The new queens that were produced late in the summer have gone elsewhere to rest through the winter, leaving the nest behind.
In spring, each surviving queen looks for a new spot of her own. This starts from late April, depending on the weather. She builds a small starter nest and lays the first eggs. A nest that began this way can still reach 2,000 to 10,000 wasps or more by August.
The old, empty nest has no part in this. It is simply the previous year’s building.
It is a common worry that wasps overwinter inside the nest. Nests do not work that way, and only the mated queens survive, tucked into hiding places elsewhere.
This is why watching the weather matters less than it seems. A cold snap in March does not undo the plan, because the queens simply wait and begin when conditions suit them.
Is it safe to take it down?
If the weather has been cold for some time and you have seen no activity, an old nest in a shrub is very unlikely to be occupied. Still, it is wise to be cautious.
- Watch the nest on a mild day for a few minutes first.
- Wear gloves and long sleeves.
- Hold a bag open beneath it, and snip the branch it is attached to rather than pulling at the paper.
- Seal the bag and put it in the bin.
If you see even one wasp using it, or if you have doubts, stop and leave it alone. A nest that is high in a tree, or in a spot you cannot reach safely, is better left to a professional.
If you do cut a nest out of a hedge, check the branch above and below it for a second one. Occasionally a plant holds more than one, and the second may be better hidden than the first.
Keep a pair of secateurs, a bin bag and strong gloves together in one place so that the job is quick when you decide to do it, and so that nobody is tempted to improvise with a bare hand.
Which parts of a garden attract a new queen
Trees and bushes are among the places where wasps build. Dense evergreen shrubs, thick hedges and tangled climbers all offer shelter and a hidden spot. Hollows in trunks, and gaps at the base of old plants, offer the same.
You do not need to rip out your planting. A few light adjustments help:
- Keep hedges trimmed so that the inner structure can be seen.
- Thin out tangled growth from fences and walls.
- Remove dead branches that have started to hollow out.
- Look under low-hanging foliage and around the base of shrubs.
A queen choosing a spot is making a quick decision, and a more open, visible place is less to her liking than a dense, dark one.
Taking the time to prune in winter, when you can see through the branches, is far more useful than trimming in summer, when a nest may be hidden and wasps are active.
Checking shrubs through the season
Plan a quick look around the shrubs and hedges every week or two from the end of April. A small nest is about the size of a golf ball or a little larger, and it can be hard to see unless you look for wasp traffic. Stand back and watch rather than parting the branches.
If you do find a live nest, move away calmly and do not shake the plant or use a hose on it. A disturbed nest may release a stinging swarm. Keep children and pets indoors until the nest has been dealt with.
Pay particular attention to bushes beside a path, a play area or a seating area. A nest in a quiet corner of the garden is a nuisance, but one beside a doorway is a real problem.
Do not forget climbers on walls and fences. Ivy and other thick growth can hide a nest against the brickwork just as well as a hedge can, and the wasp traffic in and out may be the only clue.
Arranging help
For a live nest in a tree or bush, we can treat it for a fixed £120 per nest. Another nest on the same property is £60 extra. There is no call-out charge, and the price stays the same whatever the location or time of day. The technicians are fully insured and qualified, and the visit is booked as one visit guaranteed.
You can reach us on 01622 410 019 or use the online booking form at /contact-us/. We cover Fairbourne and the surrounding villages, seven days a week, with same-day service and evening and weekend appointments. Mention any sting allergy when you book so that your visit can be prioritised.
Wasps on your property in Fairbourne?
Fixed price £120 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.