Wasp Nest in a Hedge or Bush – What Woodchurch Garden Owners Should Know
A prickly hedge protects its inhabitants from everyone, and that includes you, so careful watching works better than getting close.
Why thorny hedges suit wasps
Holly, hawthorn, blackthorn and berberis hedges are almost impenetrable. That makes them valuable for keeping out intruders and equally useful for a wasp nest. The sharp leaves and thorns stop animals and people from poking around, so the nest remains undisturbed through the summer.
A nest inside such a hedge is hard to see and harder to reach. The leaves are tough and overlapping, the branches are spiky, and the nest may be wedged deep in the framework. By August the colony can hold 2,000 to 10,000 wasps or more. Anyone working on the hedge will be doing so with thick gloves and a long tool, which also means they are close to the foliage and slow to retreat.
It helps to remember that a thorny hedge does not shield you from stings. Wasps come over the top, through gaps and along the bottom, so a barrier of thorns will not keep them off you if the nest is disturbed. The advice remains to keep your distance.
Watching rather than prodding
You can learn a lot without touching the hedge.
- Pick a calm sunny day and stand a few metres back.
- Watch for wasps entering and leaving at a single point and note whether it is high, middle or low.
- Look for a darker patch where the leaves have worn away or the foliage has thinned.
- Check the base for a small hole in the soil with wasps visiting.
- Notice whether the traffic is steady, and at what time of day it peaks.
It helps to keep a notepad by the back door and jot down what you see. A pattern builds up quickly.
Berries on holly and hawthorn bring birds, and birds are good at disturbing hedges. A flock of birds feeding in a hedge in autumn can set off a nest, and wasps can then be seen around the area even if nobody has been near it. If you notice birds bursting out of the hedge followed by wasps, the nest is probably close.
Look for places where the hedge has been cut back in the past and regrown thickly. Old cut stubs form a framework that holds a nest well, and wasps often choose them. If you know of such a spot, watch it first.
Pruning prickly hedges
Cutting a thorny hedge is awkward work. You wear heavy gloves, thick clothes and a face guard, so you are already slow and constrained. If wasps come out, you cannot easily run or protect yourself. Powered trimmers on tough stems also make a lot of vibration.
Do not cut or thin the hedge until the nest has been treated. If the hedge is on a lane or by a path and encroaching on it, tell the person who needs to pass about the wasps rather than cutting it in a hurry.
For hedges bordering a lane, a footpath or a bridleway, consider putting up a simple notice or tape well back from the hedge to warn passers-by. It is a kindness, and it keeps people from brushing against the foliage.
Tools matter if you have to work near the hedge for another reason, such as fixing a gate. Use hand tools in preference to powered ones, work quietly, and limit the time you spend near the foliage.
Think about eye protection if you must go near a thorny hedge for any reason. Thorns and wasps both go for the face, and a pair of safety glasses or goggles cost little and protect a great deal. Even so, hold off from any cutting until the nest is dealt with.
When someone is stung in thorns
A sting in a prickly hedge is often accompanied by scratches. First move away from the hedge. Wash the sting with soap and water, remove a visible sting and apply a cold pack. Clean scratches separately. Ring 999 for dizziness, swelling of the face, lips or throat, wheezing or difficulty breathing or a widespread rash. A person known to be allergic should speak to their GP.
Treatment
An insured and qualified technician will deal with the nest in one go without you needing to go near it. The price is a fixed £120 per nest, with an extra nest on the same property costing £60 extra, and there is no call-out charge. We cover Woodchurch and surrounding villages, domestic and commercial, and we are open seven days a week with same-day service.
When you ring 01622 410 019 or use the booking form on the contact page, tell us the type of hedge, how thick it is and where the wasps go in. Tell us about any allergies at home when you book, which lets us prioritise the booking. Ask the technician at booking whether the empty nest can be taken down because it should not be assumed.
When you phone, mention if the hedge borders a public way or is next to another property. Let the technician know of any special access problems, such as a locked gate or a steep bank. All of this helps the visit run smoothly, and none of it changes the price.
For a very thick hedge, do not assume the technician cannot reach the nest. They will assess the hedge when they arrive and decide how to approach it. Your part is simply to give a clear description and to keep everyone clear of the hedge in the meantime.
After treatment
Your hedge will be more manageable once the technician has given you the all-clear. Prune it in the cooler months when no colony is alive, and wear protective gear as usual. Next spring, check from late April, from a distance, before you pick up the shears.
Take photographs of the hedge from several angles before and after the visit. They help you remember where the nest was and what the hedge looked like, and they make it easier to plan any pruning once the technician says it is safe.
Wasps on your property in Woodchurch?
Fixed price £120 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.