Wasp Nest in Your Garden Shed? Safe Treatment Options in Whitstable
The shed is where summer furniture waits out the colder months. If wasps have moved in, getting it out becomes a challenge. Here is how to handle it.
The shed full of summer
For many households the shed is where the garden furniture lives between seasons. Cushions, loungers, folding chairs, parasols and barbecue covers all sit in a pile, waiting for the first warm weekend. It is a soft, cluttered, sheltered environment, and wasps like it.
A nest can form behind a stack of cushions, in the folds of a parasol or inside a rolled-up awning. When you reach for a chair and shake out a cushion, you can disturb it without any warning.
That moment is the one to prepare for. A careful look first can spare you a nasty surprise at the start of the season.
Fabric is a favourite hiding place because it is soft, dry and rarely moved. A deckchair cover folded into a corner, or a sun umbrella wrapped in its sleeve, might not be touched for months. That undisturbed quiet is exactly what makes it attractive.
Look before you lift
When you want to bring out the furniture, do it from the outside in. Open the door slowly, stand to one side and look at the pile from a distance before you touch anything.
- Check for wasps flying in the doorway before you open the door fully.
- Look at the top of the pile for any papery grey material.
- Listen for a faint hum from the stack of cushions.
- Do not pull the top item first. Look behind it with your eyes only.
- If anything moves or buzzes, close the door and step away.
If the shed is quiet and clear, remove items one at a time, shaking each outside the shed, well away from the door.
If you need to move several items, take a break after the first and look again. Wasps that were hidden may begin to emerge once the shed has been disturbed, and a pause gives you time to notice.
What to leave in the shed for now
If you see signs of a nest, do not pull the furniture out in a rush. The cushions can wait, and so can the parasol. A few days of sitting on the grass or on the steps is a small price to pay.
If guests are coming and you need seating, buy or borrow a set of chairs, and keep them in the house until they are needed. Do not offer visitors seats from the shed, however tempting.
Cover drinks and food at any gathering, and keep them away from the shed. Wasps are drawn to sugar, and a party will bring them close.
The barbecue cover, picnic blanket and cool bag can all stay where they are for now. If you really need one of them, ask the technician when they visit and they will tell you when it is safe to collect.
If you are hosting an outdoor lunch, keep it well away from the shed side of the garden and serve food in covered dishes. A table on the far side of the lawn is much less likely to attract attention.
Booking in Whitstable
Wasp Exterminator Kent covers Whitstable and the neighbouring area, for domestic and commercial customers. The business charges £120 per nest, with one visit guaranteed and no call-out charge. Any additional nest on the same property is charged at £60 extra.
The business works seven days a week, offers same-day service and has evening and weekend appointments. For urgent problems out of hours, use the online form.
To book, call 01622 410 019, or send the online booking form from the contact page. Say that the furniture is stored in the shed and where the wasps seem to be. Each technician is fully insured and qualified, and the method is safe and effective.
If you own a business with outdoor seating, the same applies to stored chairs and parasols. Commercial customers are treated on the same fixed terms as households.
Cleaning the furniture after treatment
Once the shed is declared safe, take the furniture out one piece at a time. Shake each cushion outdoors, in open space. Wipe down loungers and chairs with warm soapy water. Check folds and seams for stray insects.
Wash cushion covers if they are washable, and let the foam dry in the sun before putting it back. If the empty nest was nearby, ask the technician at booking whether it can be taken down.
Dead wasps should be removed with gloves and a dustpan, not bare hands.
While you are at it, check every cushion for damp patches or mould, since a shed that is too wet is a poor place for storage and may need its roof or seals looked at.
Hang parasols open to air for a day before folding them away again, and brush out any leaves or debris from the ribs.
If you find a pile of dead wasps inside the cover, wear gloves and dispose of them in a bag.
A better way to store the seasonal pile
Next autumn, think about how the furniture is stored. Use lidded boxes, or vacuum-pack cushions. Keep items off the floor and away from the walls so that nothing forms a warm, dark corner.
Leave a clear gap along the walls and under the roof edge. This makes inspections easy and makes the shed less inviting. Wipe the furniture before storage, since food and drink residue are an attraction.
A neat shed is one you can read at a glance.
Label the boxes so that you know what is inside without opening them all. It saves time in spring and reduces the number of times the shed door is opened.
Choose containers that you can lift without having to lean in, and store them where you can see them from the door.
Wasps on your property in Whitstable?
Fixed price £120 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.