When Is Wasp Season in Stourmouth?
The wasp year does not end when the last wasp leaves, and the cold months are the best time to learn from the nest you had and prepare for the next season.
After the wasps have gone
By the time the cold weather settles in, the wasp season has finished. The colony has declined through the autumn, the traffic around the entrance has stopped, and the garden is quiet. For many people, that is the cue to forget about the whole subject until next summer.
It is a missed opportunity. The months when there are no wasps about are the best time to find out what happened, and to make sure the next season goes differently. Nests are started from late April, depending on the weather, so the gap between now and then is your preparation time.
For a householder in Stourmouth, the quiet months are a chance to look at the property without any risk of being stung by anything that is still active.
There is a further benefit. A winter record, however simple, means that if wasps do appear next year, you will know quickly whether they are using an old site or a new one.
Finding the old nest
With leaves down and growth cut back, nests that were hidden all summer can become visible. A grey, papery structure in a hedge, a tree, a shed roof or under the eaves is a sign that wasps used the spot.
Go carefully. Even in winter, do not assume a nest is harmless until you have been told so. Do not poke it, knock it down or pull it apart. If you see one, take a photo from a distance, and note exactly where it is.
- Which building, tree or hedge was it in?
- How high is it from the ground?
- Is it close to a door, window, path or washing line?
- Is it in a place that you pass often?
This is exactly the information that will be useful next April.
If you find several nests, or the same site used more than once, take that as a sign that it is particularly attractive to wasps and deserves extra attention each spring.
What to do with an empty nest
Many people want the old nest taken down so that it is not a reminder, or so that it does not tempt a new colony to use the spot. That is a reasonable thing to ask about. When you book a treatment, or if you contact the team about an old nest, you can ask the technician whether the empty nest can be taken down.
Do not try to do it yourself, especially if the nest is high up or in an awkward place. A ladder against the eaves is a poor idea at the best of times, and a nest that was recently active might not be fully inactive.
If the nest is in a sealed space such as a loft or wall cavity, leave it where it is, and note that it is there.
If you are selling or letting a property, it is worth mentioning any known nest sites to whoever is taking it over. Check the details of your sale or tenancy for what is expected.
Winter inspection of the building
The cold months are a good time to walk the outside of the property and look at the weak points where a nest might start next spring.
- Eaves, soffits and fascias, for gaps or loose boards.
- Chimneys, flues and pots.
- Air bricks, vents and the points where pipes and cables pass through walls.
- Sheds, garages and outbuildings, including the roof edges.
- Banks, lawn edges and the soil beneath hedges for holes.
Fixing a gap in winter is easier than doing it in the summer, when it might contain an active nest. If you are not sure whether a gap is a problem, a builder can advise. Never seal anything while you think wasps might be in it.
Make the winter check part of your general home maintenance, alongside gutters, roof tiles and fencing. It takes about as long, and you can do it on the same afternoon.
Planning for April
A little planning in the winter pays off when the spring comes. Put a reminder on the calendar for the last week of April, and decide what you will check. Use your notes from the old nest sites, and the list of weak points, as a route round the property.
When April comes round, look on a mild afternoon. A single wasp flying repeatedly to the same spot is the sign that a new nest is being started. Early spring is the best time to deal with nests, and with a plan in place, you will be able to act at the earliest stage.
The same applies to any outbuildings or commercial premises. A short note in the diary is all it takes.
Share the plan with anyone else who lives at or looks after the property, so that if you are away in April, somebody else knows what to check.
When you need a hand
Wasp Exterminator Kent treats wasp nests for a fixed £120 each, with one visit guaranteed, and £60 for each extra nest on the same property. No call-out fee applies, and booking out of hours does not change the price. The technicians, who are fully insured and qualified, take on both domestic and commercial work.
The business is open seven days a week and offers same-day service, with evening and weekend appointments. The team can be reached on 01622 410 019, and the contact page has a form for online requests. If anyone in the household is allergic to stings, mention it when booking so the visit can be prioritised.
If you have a note of where an old nest was, quote it when you call. Knowing that a spot has been used before can help the technician understand what they might find.
Wasps on your property in Stourmouth?
Fixed price £120 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.