Wasp Nest in Your Garden Shed? Safe Treatment Options in Swattenden
It is not unusual for a property to have two nests in the same season, one in a shed and another elsewhere. Here is how to deal with that.
When one nest turns into two
People often assume that wasps nest once per property. In practice, more than one nest can appear in the same year, particularly where there are several outbuildings, a garage, a log store and the house itself. Each sheltered spot is a possible home.
You might find one in the shed roof and another in the garage door frame, or one in a hole in the ground near the compost bin. Nests do not usually share a space, but they can sit a few metres apart without the occupants interfering with each other.
This is why a careful look around the whole garden is worthwhile, rather than a focus on the first nest you see.
It also pays to remember that sheds are not the only places. Wasps nest in the ground, in roof spaces, in walls and in trees, and a thorough check should include all of these.
How to look for a second one
Do not go close. A methodical walk around the property from a safe distance is enough. Choose a calm, warm afternoon and take your time.
- Check every outbuilding, including garages, sheds, summerhouses and greenhouses.
- Look at the eaves and fascia of the house on all sides.
- Look at the ground along fences, banks and the bases of buildings.
- Check trees, hedges and bushes for lines of traffic.
- Note any place where wasps arrive from a different direction.
Write down each place with a short description. If you can take a photograph from a distance, do so.
Try to do the survey at a time when wasps are most active, which is usually the warmer part of the day, but stay back. A pair of binoculars can help you check a high roof edge without standing under it.
If you find something that you did not expect, such as activity at a window frame in the house, tell the business about it too.
Telling the nests apart
Two nests behave independently. The wasps from one will not usually be seen visiting the other, and the traffic lines will point to different entrances. If you notice that the wasps at the shed and those at the garage seem to follow separate paths, that is a good sign you are dealing with two.
Try to avoid assuming that the activity is all from the first nest. Wasps may travel some distance for food, so numbers in two places do not always mean two nests. The technician will confirm the position when they arrive.
Describing everything you have seen gives them the best start.
Do not worry if you are unable to tell. A technician is used to working out what is going on and will confirm it on site. A clear description of what you have seen is more useful than a firm conclusion.
How the price works for two nests
Wasp Exterminator Kent covers Swattenden and the surrounding area, working at homes and commercial premises. The first nest is a fixed £120 per nest, with one visit guaranteed and no call-out charge. A second nest at the same address is charged at £60 extra.
That means a second nest is charged at the lower rate, and there are no hidden fees. The price does not change with the location of the nests or the time of day.
Tell the business if you suspect more than one nest when you book, so that the technician is ready. The business is open seven days a week with same-day service. Phone 01622 410 019, or send the online booking form from the contact page.
If a nest is discovered during the visit that was not mentioned at booking, the technician will let you know, and the additional nest is charged at the same fixed rate as any other on the property.
Safety while there are two nests
Treat each outbuilding as off limits until the technician has finished, and ask everyone in the household to stay out of the garden if possible. With two entrances to avoid, a casual walk across the lawn is more likely to cross a flight path.
Keep pets indoors, bring in washing and children's toys, and cover bins and food. If someone is stung, wash the area, remove the sting if you can see it and use a cold pack. Call 999 for swelling of the face, lips or throat, wheezing, dizziness or a widespread rash.
If a household member has a known allergy, say so when booking so that the booking can be prioritised.
Mark each building that is off limits with a note on the door. In a household with several adults, children and visitors, a clear sign is easier than remembering a spoken rule.
Ask visitors and delivery drivers to use the front door only, and keep the side gate shut if it leads past one of the buildings. Two nests mean twice as many places for a wasp to be disturbed, so reducing foot traffic in the garden is a sensible habit until both are dealt with.
After both nests are treated
Follow the same cautious approach to each building. Wait for the all-clear, then open the doors slowly and look inside. Ask the technician whether the empty nests can be taken down.
Then plan a repair list that covers every building, not just the first. A shed with sealed gaps next to a garage with open ones will not do much good.
Check the whole property each spring. Two nests can recur, and a regular walk around the garden is how you find them early.
Keep a simple list of where each nest was, and note the date. In future years it shows you which buildings to check first.
Wasps on your property in Swattenden?
Fixed price £120 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.