How To Keep Wasps From Building Nests

One of the main things wasps are known for includes constructing nests, but how do you keep them from building them?

When built as far away or at a safe distance, a nest isn’t a problem. However, it becomes a problem when these wasps find your home surroundings a suitable environment for building their nests.

You’ll need to take far-reaching actions to stop them from building nests when such happens. Of course, you’ll need to get rid of those they made as wasps can return to inhabit an empty nest.

The difficulty lies in keeping them from performing their nest-building activity.

You’re likely to get stung and may develop severe allergies due to such stings. Therefore, it’s essential to know what needs to be done to keep wasps at bay.

Where Do Wasps Build Their Nests?

To know how to keep wasps from building their nests, you’ll need to identify likely spots or areas they find most suitable. In most situations, wasp nests will be found around outbuildings, eaves, roof spaces, sheds, and cavity walls.

These areas are too close for comfort as adults and kids may cross paths with wasps flying back and forth to their nesting spots. You want to avoid this situation, as wasp stings can be excruciating.

What more? These pests will attack with a vengeance if provoked.

Preventing Wasp Nests

Removing wasp nests isn’t sustainable to keep them out of your property.

These insects will always rebuild or replace damaged nests. So, what do you do? This is an important question we’ll provide answers to.

There are several ways to prevent or keep wasps from building their nests. These include planting wasp repellent plants around your home and porch area, removing food sources around the porch, and always keeping doors and windows shut.

Additional tips on keeping wasps from building their nests include picking up trash, frequently checking for nests, and covering compost piles and garbage cans.

We’ll proceed to briefly expand on each of these nest-building preventive strategies as follows;

• Planting Wasp Repellent Plants Around your Home

One of the natural ways you can keep wasps from building nests around your home is by planting wasp-repellent plants. Now, wasps are good pollinators and will quickly get attracted to flowers.

However, instead of flowering plants, consider planting wasp deterrent plants.

These plants serve to protect your home from wasp presence. Examples of wasp repellent plants include geranium, wormwood, pennyroyal, marigold, basil, and mint.

These plants’ mere presence and the scent will mark your territory as hostile to wasps. As such, no nests are built.

• Removing Sources of Food Around Porch

Whenever you see wasps flying around your home, there are likely food sources. This leads them to build their nests close to such areas to be close enough to their food.

Examples of foods that wasps find appealing include berries and rotten or ripe fruits.

Additional food sources include bird feeders too close to your building. Consider moving these as far back as possible to prevent wasps from congregating and building their nests next to this food source.

Pet food should not be left outside for long.

• Keeping Doors and Windows Shut

Is this even possible? Keeping your doors and windows continually shut? That isn’t what we mean by keeping your doors and windows closed at all times. Consider installing screens on all windows and doors.

These ensure your windows are opened wide while the wasps are kept from entering indoors due to the protection offered by the screens.

What more?

You also want to inspect all openings and outer walls for cracks and crevices, which can be used as nesting spots. These should be sealed off completely.

• Picking up Trash

As long as they perceive food sources, wasps will always be present. Now, such food sources will include food eaten by you or anyone else. This may be in the form of crumbs or leftover drinks.

Whatever it is, wasps shouldn’t find any food source or trash to make them stay back or build their nests close by.

• Frequently Checking for Nests

While taking preventive measures to check wasp nest-building activities, also frequently check for nests.

New nests may be springing up steadily as long as the condition remains favorable. So, while adopting the above preventive actions, actively check for nests and remove any you find.

Checking and removing a wasp nest is easier said than done. There’s a significant risk of drawing attention to wasps. They quickly identify you as a threat when you get too close. What happens next may not end well.

So, your best bet is to seek professional assistance in getting rid of wasp nests. There are many reputable pest control services ready to offer their expertise to address this problem. Knowing where to check is also essential.

Cavities, sheds, and garages are familiar places to find wasp nests. These will have to be flushed out by a professional. You may be endangering yourself if you decide to proceed with the wasp nest removal.

• Covering Compost Piles and Garbage Cans

Wasps will readily feed on many things.

Some of the familiar food sources include compost piles and garbage cans. There’s an ample supply of rotting substances in such areas. When adequately covered, wasps find it hard to feed on them.

• Covering all Ground Holes

As long as there’s a hole on the ground, solitary wasps are likely to attempt to build their nests in such places.

Therefore whether these holes are on concrete or not, you’ll need to seal them up to foreclose such a possibility.

Take Preventive Action More Seriously If You’re Allergic

Allergic persons will have to try as much as possible to keep their distance from wasp nests. If you belong to this category, you’ll need to do everything possible to prevent their nest-building activity.

We’ve provided essential answers on how to keep wasps from building nests.

These stinging insects will find your home unfavorable once all the steps above are followed. Wasps are risky to handle too. So, it’s best if you consider seeking professional help.