I swear, nothing ruins a perfect backyard barbecue faster than annoying insects trying to swipe your food. And don’t get me started on wasps – those things are awful and seriously terrifying!
Sure, they might do wonders for the garden, but when they’re buzzing around your patio while you’re just trying to enjoy a warm afternoon? Yeah, not so much.
If you’ve ever had a run-in with a wasp (or worse, a sting), you know how much of a nightmare they can be, especially if there’s a nest nearby.
But don’t stress! I’ve got a few simple tricks to deter those scary wasps so you can finally enjoy a sunny afternoon in your garden.
Buy Some Wasp Deterrents Or Make One On Your Own
Trust me, you are not alone in this wasp battle. I can’t tell you how many times I have run around my garden like a maniac trying to escape from wasps (the number is in the double digits, I admit).
So, I was on a quest to find a solution and how to get rid of them. Of course, I combined multiple methods to make sure they don’t come back again:
• Commercial wasp sprays – they come in handy when you don’t want to get near the wasps because they let you spray from up to 20 feet away. It’s best to use these sprays at night when the wasps are snoozing, but they can work during the day too. But, if you need to spray during the day, just be cautious and don’t stand directly under the nest (you don’t want to be the one to catch a falling wasp!). After spraying, keep an eye on the nest for a few days. If you see any activity, a second round might be needed. Once it’s quiet, you can knock down the nest if you’re feeling brave.
• Homemade wasp spray – mix 2 tablespoons of dish soap with 1 cup of water in a spray bottle. Shake it up and soak the nest. The soapy water will suffocate those pesky wasps and they’ll be gone for good!
• DIY wasp traps – buy them or whip one up at home. Use fruit juice or vinegar to lure the wasps in, and a bit of dish soap will ensure they don’t fly back out.
• Essential oils – wasps aren’t fans of essential oils like peppermint, clove, geranium, and lemongrass. Combine a few drops of your chosen oil, two tablespoons of dish soap, and two cups of water in a spray bottle. Spritz it on any nests or areas where you’ve seen them before.
What worked the best for me were the sprays, but honestly you can try each of these methods and see if some are better than others.
Also read: These Little Known Tricks Will Save Your Monarch Butterflies From Wasps
Keep Them From Coming Back To Your Garden With These Simple Tricks
First, you’ve got to get rid of things that attract wasps. These include stuff like open trash cans, sweet drinks, outdoor lighting, and also vibrantly colored flowers and unharvested fruit.
Here’s my game plan for keeping wasps away from the garden:
• Keeping things tidy – I started cleaning my garden regularly, i.e keeping it free of debris and spills, and also making sure that all trash cans are sealed tightly. Wasps love the mess, keep that in mind!
• Using essential oils and wasp-repellent plants – you can also start experimenting with essential oils and growing plants that wasps just can’t stand. Spearmint, thyme, eucalyptus, lemongrass, and citronella are your new best friends. Plus, marigolds, geraniums, pennyroyals, and citronella grass can keep them out of your garden (like floral security guards).
Just get familiar with your space and where the wasps are mostly hanging out – by putting up some natural defenses, you’ll be the only buzzkill in your garden (quite literally). But hey, you’ll get to enjoy some peace and quiet afterwards!
Also read: The Best Way To Get Rid Of Underground Wasp Nests