Wasp Nest in a Hedge or Bush – What Meopham Garden Owners Should Know
A nest high in a mature tree is out of reach for a reason, and the right response is to keep both feet on the ground.
When the hedge is a tree
Some boundary hedges grow up into trees: field maple, hawthorn, sycamore and others that have been left to grow tall. A nest in the upper part of such a growth may be five or six metres up, well out of reach and often out of sight. You see only wasps heading skywards from the garden.
Meopham, in Kent, has plenty of properties with mature planting at the boundary, and wasps use whatever height gives them shelter. A high nest is safe while it is left alone, but the danger comes the moment anyone tries to reach it or trims the tree.
Ask yourself, too, whether the tree is shared. Tall boundary trees often belong to a neighbour, or stand on the line between two gardens. A nest above your side of the fence may be on the other owner's trunk. Speak to them early, and share the booking details so that no one cuts or climbs in the meantime.
Why ladders and saws are the wrong tools
A ladder puts you off balance, with one hand on a rung and one on the work. If wasps come out, you cannot swat, flee or cover your face. Falling from a ladder while being stung is one of the most serious outcomes of attempting a DIY job.
A saw or pole pruner sends vibration through the branches and may cut straight through the nest or drop it. Do not use water jets, smoke, or anything thrown into the foliage either. They agitate the colony, and a nest of 2,000 to 10,000 wasps or more does not forgive mistakes.
If you can see wasps going in and out high up, treat it as a ground-based problem: watch from below, note the position and stay out of the way.
A high nest is also hard to watch without craning your neck, and craning your neck means standing under it. Use a first-floor window if you have one, or stand off to the side at a distance. Do not stand under the nest with your head back for any length of time.
If a branch carrying a nest has come down in a storm, do not go near it. A nest on the ground can still be active, and the colony may be very agitated. Keep everyone away and ring for help.
If a tree surgeon or gardener is booked
Tree work is often arranged months ahead. If you have one coming, call them as soon as you spot activity and tell them about the wasps. A good tree surgeon will not want to climb into a live nest and will usually be happy to postpone.
You can arrange for the nest to be treated first, and then ask the tree surgeon to go ahead after the technician has confirmed it is safe. Pass on what we say about when it is fine to start, so that nobody works too early.
If your trees are the subject of any restrictions, check this with the relevant authority. We cannot advise on that.
Describing a high nest on the phone
The technician will want a few details. Try to give them before you ring.
- Which tree or tall hedge, and how far from the house.
- Roughly how high the traffic is, using a first-floor window or a roofline as a guide.
- Where in the tree: trunk, fork or outer branch.
- Whether the tree stands on your land or a neighbour's.
- Whether it overhangs a path, drive, shed or play area.
A photo taken from a safe distance with a zoom, with the date, is a real help.
Wasps that fly from a high nest often travel some distance along a regular line. If you note the direction they come from in the morning and where they head in the evening, you can give the technician a good picture of the colony's range without ever going near the tree.
Treatment and booking
A fully insured, qualified technician treats the nest in one visit. The price is fixed at £120 per nest, with £60 for a second nest on the same property, and there is no extra charge for height, location or time of day. There is no call-out charge. We are open seven days a week, with same-day service and evening and weekend slots.
Phone 01622 410 019 or use the online form on the contact page. Say if anybody at home is allergic to stings so the booking can be prioritised, and ask whether the nest, once treated, can be taken down.
Do not feel embarrassed about a high nest. Wasps are good at choosing places you cannot see, and many householders only notice the nest when the leaves fall. A phone call, a description and a clear patch of garden are all that is needed from you.
When the technician arrives, point out the tree from a distance rather than walking up to it. Tell them about anything unusual, such as a gate that sticks, uneven ground or a dog in the neighbour's garden, so the visit goes smoothly. Then step back indoors and let them work.
Staying safe while you wait
Keep people away from beneath the tree. Wasps fly out and down, and anyone sitting underneath is in their path. Move chairs, toys and the washing line out of the area, and keep pets on a lead.
Do not stand and stare at the nest. Look briefly, make a note and move on. If wasps are following you, walk away rather than run in a panic.
If you are stung, wash the area, remove a visible sting and use a cold pack. Ring 999 at once for wheezing or difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips or throat or dizziness.
If you have children's swings, a treehouse, a hammock or a rope on the tree, stop using them until the nest has been dealt with. Even a gentle sway can send vibrations along the branches to the nest.
Wasps on your property in Meopham?
Fixed price £120 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.