Wasp Nest in a Hedge or Bush – What Ulcombe Garden Owners Should Know
A hole at the foot of a hedge, with wasps streaming in and out, is the classic ground nest, and the lawnmower is the usual way it gets found.
The nest that is not in the hedge at all
When people say they have a wasp nest in the hedge, the nest is sometimes under it. Wasps readily take over a hole at the foot of a hedge or shrub: an old rodent burrow, a gap between roots, or a hollow left under a bank. From above there is nothing to see except a patch of bare soil and a few wasps going down.
Because the colony is below ground, it can grow large without any visible structure, and the soil muffles the sound. By late summer it may hold 2,000 to 10,000 wasps or more. Then somebody mows alongside the hedge, treads on the edge or pushes a wheelbarrow over it, and the whole nest erupts.
Think about the lie of the land as well. Ground nests often turn up in dry, well-drained spots on the sunny side of a bank or hedge, where the soil is loose. If you know of a bare patch like that along your boundary, keep a closer eye on it in June and July.
A nest in a bank can have several entrances, so watch from a distance for a while before you decide you know where it is. Pass on everything you notice when you call, because the technician needs to find every opening, not only the busiest one.
How to recognise it
You do not need to get close to tell. Look from several metres away.
- A small, round entrance in the soil, often the width of a thumb or a little more, with a bare patch around it.
- A steady stream of wasps entering and leaving at that one hole, especially on a warm afternoon.
- Wasps that fly off in a straight line and come back to the same hole.
- Loose crumbs of soil near the entrance if the wasps are digging out.
- A faint buzz that seems to come from underfoot.
Do not drop anything into the hole, pour water into it or cover it with a stone. Blocking it simply sends the wasps looking for another way out, which might be through the soil beside you.
Lawn and verge: what to stop doing
The first job is to stop mowing that area. Mower vibration travels through the soil to the nest, and wasps rush out toward the noise. Leave a wide margin, well beyond the hole itself, and let the grass go long for now.
Stop strimming the base of the hedge too, and ask anyone who helps with the garden to keep off the area. Keep children and dogs well away: a dog digging at a ground nest is a common cause of multiple stings.
Mark the spot with a stake or a bucket upside down at a safe distance, not on top of the hole. That way, if you forget where it is next week, you will not blunder back toward it.
What to do about a sting
If someone is stung, move them away from the nest first, then wash the area with soap and water, take out the sting if it is visible and apply a cold pack. For swelling of the face, lips or throat, wheezing or trouble breathing, dizziness or a widespread rash, call 999. A person with a known allergy should speak to their GP.
Several stings at once, as happens when a ground nest is trodden on, deserve extra care. Keep an eye on the person for the rest of the day and seek advice if you are in any doubt.
If you have a pet that likes to dig at the base of the hedge, shut it in or keep it on a lead whenever you go outside. A dog that has been stung once may not give up, and repeated stings are much more serious than a single one.
Getting a ground nest treated
A ground nest is treated by a fully insured, qualified technician in a single visit. The price is a fixed £120 per nest, with £60 for an additional nest at the same property, and there are no call-out fees. We are open seven days a week and can offer same-day service, for domestic and commercial customers around Ulcombe and nearby villages.
When you call, describe where the hole is in relation to the hedge, and whether it is on a lawn edge, a path or a bank. Say if anyone in the household is allergic, so the booking can be prioritised.
You can phone 01622 410 019, or use the online booking form on the contact page, including for emergency requests out of normal hours.
Filling the hole and looking ahead
Do not fill the hole yourself before the technician has been and told you it is safe. Once you have the all-clear, ask whether the hole should be left or can be filled in, as that is a question for them on the day. Wait before mowing again, and when you do, keep to your usual pattern for a few passes and watch for any remaining activity.
Once the nest is gone and the weather has cooled, think about the year ahead. Wasps begin building from late April depending on the weather, and they favour quiet, sheltered spots. A hedge base that stays undisturbed from one season to the next is exactly that.
A short walk along the boundary every week or two in May and June costs very little. Look from a few paces back for wasps descending into the soil, and remember the signs from this article. Spotting a new hole early, while the nest is small, means you can book promptly and keep the lawn useable.
Wasps on your property in Ulcombe?
Fixed price £120 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.