Say Goodbye to Wasps: 10 Natural Methods to Keep Them Away

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction
2. The Importance of Wasps in the Ecosystem
3. Ways to Repel Wasps Naturally
   • 3.1 Get Rid of Unwanted Food
   • 3.2 Ensure Trash Cans Are Sealed
   • 3.3 Clean Up After Fruit-Producing Plants
   • 3.4 Avoid Squashing and Swatting Wasps
   • 3.5 Avoid Bright and Floral Patterns as Well as Perfumes
   • 3.6 Patch Up Cracks
   • 3.7 Hang a Fake Wasp Nest
   • 3.8 Add Wasp-Repellent Plants to Your Landscape
   • 3.9 Make A Homemade Wasp Repellent
   • 3.10 Wait Until Winter to Remove A Nest
4. Conclusion

10 Natural Ways to Repel Wasps

Wasps are often seen as uninvited guests at outdoor gatherings, putting a damper on our enjoyment of the beautiful summer weather. However, these buzzing insects play an important role in the ecosystem as pollinators and natural pest controllers. If you're looking for ways to peacefully coexist with wasps without letting them ruin your time outdoors, here are 10 natural methods to repel them.

1. Get Rid of Unwanted Food

Wasps are attracted to sugary liquids and food products, especially meat. To prevent them from becoming a nuisance, it's important to cut off their food supply. During cookouts or outdoor meals, keep serving dishes covered and clean up any crumbs promptly. Additionally, ensure that your grill is always clean to discourage wasps from gathering around it.

2. Ensure Trash Cans Are Sealed

Garbage scraps are a magnet for wasps, so it's crucial to have tightly sealed trash cans. This prevents the insects from accessing the food waste and also deters them from entering recycling bins filled with sweet residue. Rinse recyclable items before disposing of them to minimize the attraction for wasps.

3. Clean Up After Fruit-Producing Plants

Wasps have a fondness for ripe fruit, so if you have fruit-bearing plants or trees in your garden, it's essential to gather the fruit promptly to avoid attracting them. Fallen fruit in the autumn can be particularly tempting for wasps, so make sure to clean it up quickly. By preventing the accumulation of fruit, you decrease the likelihood of wasps congregating and causing a nuisance.

4. Avoid Squashing and Swatting Wasps

While it may be tempting to squash or swat at a wasp that's buzzing around you, it's best to resist the urge. When a wasp is killed, it releases a pheromone that signals other wasps to be on high alert. Squashing one wasp could attract more, potentially making the situation worse. Instead, try to remain calm and still until the wasp flies away.

5. Avoid Bright and Floral Patterns as Well as Perfumes

Wasps are attracted to bright colors and floral patterns, so it's advisable to avoid wearing such clothing or using them on tablecloths and curtains. By doing so, you reduce the chances of unintentionally appearing as a tempting target to wasps searching for nectar. Furthermore, strong fragrances, such as those found in perfumes, can also attract wasps, so it's best to minimize their use when spending time outdoors.

6. Patch Up Cracks

Wasps tend to build their nests in cracks around houses and hollows in the ground. To deter them from setting up camp near your home, it's important to seal any cracks in your house or foundation. Pay particular attention to cracks on the edges of siding and areas where wires enter the house, as these are attractive nesting spots for wasps. By patching up these areas, you make it more difficult for wasps to find suitable places to build their nests.

7. Hang A Fake Wasp Nest

Wasps are territorial creatures, and by taking advantage of this behavior, you can encourage them to nest elsewhere. One effective method is to hang a fake wasp nest near areas you want to keep wasp-free. Crumpled paper bags can serve as makeshift fake nests, or you can purchase weather-resistant cotton and bamboo fiber nests online. When wasps see what they believe to be an already claimed territory, they'll be more likely to seek out alternative nesting sites.

8. Add Wasp-Repellent Plants to Your Landscape

Certain plants naturally repel wasps and can help in keeping them at bay. Spearmint, thyme, eucalyptus, wormwood, and citronella are known to deter wasps. Flowers such as marigolds, pennyroyals, and geraniums not only add beauty to your garden but also act as natural wasp repellents. By strategically planting these varieties in areas where you've noticed wasp activity, you can naturally discourage them from frequenting your outdoor spaces. Additionally, familiarize yourself with plants that attract wasps, like sweet fennel, Queen Anne's lace, and yarrow, so you can avoid them.

9. Make A Homemade Wasp Repellent

Essential oils can be effective in repelling wasps. You can create a homemade wasp repellent by mixing a few drops of peppermint essential oil with a teaspoon of olive oil or liquefied coconut oil and apply it to your skin while working in the yard. For repelling wasps from specific areas, you can create a spray using a blend of peppermint, clove, lemongrass, and geranium oil and apply it to tabletops and other outdoor surfaces.

10. Wait Until Winter to Remove A Nest

For social wasp species, the majority of the colony, including all but one queen, dies during the winter. This makes it easier and safer to remove a wasp nest at this time when there is minimal wasp activity. If possible, wait until winter to remove a nest, ensuring the wasps have completed their natural life cycle before taking action.

In conclusion, coexisting peacefully with wasps is possible by implementing these natural methods to repel them. By cutting off their food supply, sealing trash cans, cleaning up after fruit-producing plants, avoiding squashing or swatting them, minimizing the use of bright colors and floral patterns, patching up cracks, hanging fake wasp nests, adding wasp-repellent plants to your landscape, making homemade repellents, and removing nests in winter, you can enjoy the outdoors without the annoyance of wasps.