Wasp Nest in a Hedge or Bush – What Swanley Garden Owners Should Know
A nest found late in the summer holds the most wasps it will ever have, so a late-season hedge needs a different approach from a spring one.
Why August is different
Wasps begin building nests from late April, and the colony grows week after week. By August it is at its peak, with anything from 2,000 to 10,000 wasps or more in a single nest. A late-summer hedge nest is therefore the biggest and most defensive one you will meet, and the same behaviour that was tolerable in June can become genuinely dangerous.
Late summer is also when the job list in the garden gets long. Many people in Swanley, in north-west Kent, take the holidays as a chance to catch up on the hedge. That timing is unlucky, because it brings the trimmer to the nest at exactly the moment the nest is fullest.
There is a second change as the season turns. The workers have less to do inside the nest, and they spend more time looking for sugar. They turn up at drinks, ice lollies and bins, and they are more irritable. A hedge nest at the end of summer is not just a risk to the person with the trimmer, but to everyone in the garden.
Think about where people sit at this time of year. Garden parties, school-holiday paddling pools and barbecues all bring sweet food and drink out to a part of the garden that may be close to the hedge. A table positioned beside a nest is a recipe for stings. Move it, along with any seating, towards the house until the nest is treated.
What the nest looks like in the hedge now
At this point you will not need to hunt for signs. The traffic is heavy and obvious.
- A busy, constant stream in and out of one spot, with wasps queuing at the entrance.
- A loud hum that you can hear from a few paces, even through a windy afternoon.
- Wasps flying low and fast across the lawn to the same point.
- Wasps arriving at the house, especially around food.
- Guard wasps hovering close to the entrance and following anyone who comes near.
If you see guard behaviour, back away calmly. A hovering wasp that tracks your movement is warning you. Do not wave your arms or run in a panic; walk steadily away.
Leave the late-season trim
Resist the urge to get the hedge done now. A late-summer cut is one of the most common causes of mass stings, because nest and trimmer meet when the colony is at its peak. If the hedge needs shaping, the safest time is the autumn or winter after the colonies have died back, when no wasps are living in it.
If you must trim a section well away from the activity, work in short stretches, do it in cooler hours and keep a clear escape route. Never cut anywhere near a spot where you have seen the traffic.
If you have already cut and the wasps have come out, drop the trimmer, cover your face, and go indoors. Stings on the face and neck are the most worrying. Dial 999 immediately for dizziness, swelling of the face, lips or throat, a widespread rash or wheezing or difficulty breathing.
Keep the first-aid basics to hand: soap, water, a cold pack and a phone within reach. People who know they react badly to stings should speak to their GP about what to do in advance, and tell everyone in the household where they keep any medication they have been advised to carry.
Getting the nest treated before the end of the season
Some people think that a nest left to the autumn will die by itself, so there is no point in paying for treatment. That is true in the long run, but it ignores the weeks between now and then, during which the nest is at its most dangerous. If it is in a hedge by your path, your washing line or your children's play area, it is worth dealing with.
A fully insured, qualified technician will treat it in one visit. The price is fixed at £120 per nest, with £60 for any additional nest at the same property, and there is no call-out charge. If you have noticed more than one busy spot, say so on the phone, because late-season gardens sometimes hold two.
A tip for the holiday weeks: if you are going away, do not leave the problem for your return. A hedge nest left unchecked for a fortnight can grow considerably, and a house-sitter or neighbour who waters the garden may run into it. Book before you leave and ask the technician to confirm that the garden is safe to use when you return.
What to arrange
Same-day service is offered, we are open seven days a week and we also have evening and weekend slots. Phone 01622 410 019 to book, or use the booking form on the contact page; the form can be used for emergency service out of normal hours.
Tell us about the hedge and where the wasps seem to be going. If anyone in your family has an allergy to stings, say so when booking so it can be prioritised. During the visit, keep children and pets indoors and the windows shut on that side of the house.
Once the nest is treated
You will probably still see a few wasps in the garden for a while, since late-season foragers do not disappear overnight. Keep drinks and food covered and bins closed. Ask the technician when the hedge can be cut, and whether the empty nest can be taken down. Planning the hedge for late autumn and a look each spring from late April will keep you out of trouble next year.
Finally, write down the date you first noticed the wasps and what you did about it. If you need to discuss the nest with a neighbour, a landlord or a managing agent, a short record is useful.
Wasps on your property in Swanley?
Fixed price £120 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.