Wasp Nest in a Hedge or Bush – What Quorn Garden Owners Should Know
Nests in trees and ivy-covered boundaries sit above eye level and out of sight, so the risks are different from a low hedge and the answer is not to climb.
Higher up, harder to see
Wasps do not always build low. A nest can be fixed to a branch inside a tree, set in the fork of a mature shrub, or woven into a thick curtain of ivy that has taken over a wall or fence. These are places most people never look at closely.
By the time you notice, it is often because wasps are crossing the garden in a regular line from somewhere above head height. You can follow them with your eyes, but you may not see the nest itself until leaves drop in autumn.
Quorn is a Leicestershire village near Loughborough, and many gardens in a village setting have mature trees and old boundary growth, so this is worth knowing about if you have either.
Why ivy is such a good hiding place
Ivy is thick, evergreen and layered. It creates cavities between the stems and the wall behind, sheltered from rain and wind. A colony can take over one of these gaps and nobody will see a thing from the outside.
What you may notice is a steady in-and-out stream at one point of the ivy, often fairly high up. Leaves around the entrance can look slightly worn or flattened where the wasps keep landing.
If the ivy is on a wall, the nest might even be set into a gap in the brickwork behind it, which brings a house wall into the picture. In that case describe the position as accurately as you can when you call, so the technician knows what to expect on arrival.
The ladder problem
This is the point where people take risks. The nest is above reach, so it is tempting to fetch a ladder, a pole or a hosepipe. All of these are poor ideas.
- A ladder leaves you unable to move quickly if the wasps respond, and a fall is as likely a cause of injury as the stings.
- A pole or broom poked at the nest will bring the colony out directly at you.
- A hosepipe or pressure washer only drives wasps into the air and on to whoever is nearby.
- Cutting back the ivy or a branch to get a better view disturbs the very thing you want to avoid.
The simpler, safer course is to stay on the ground, keep your distance, and describe what you can see from there. A technician will be equipped and trained for working at height and will be fully insured while doing so.
If the tree is in a neighbour's garden but wasps are coming into yours, it is worth a polite word with them. They may not have noticed anything, because the nest is on their side and the traffic is on yours. Sharing what you have seen helps both households, and a nest on their property is best treated with their agreement. When you speak, stay factual and calm: say where you have seen the wasps entering and ask if they would like it looked at. Most people are glad to know, and agreeing a visit between you is usually straightforward.
What to note from the ground
You do not have to find the nest yourself, but a few observations make the call quicker and the visit smoother. Watch from a comfortable distance on a dry day and jot down what you see.
Which tree or bush is it, roughly how high up do the wasps enter, and which side of the plant faces the house? Is there a fence, shed or garage close by that might get in the way? Are there any overhead wires or a neighbour's property nearby?
If you can take a photograph with a zoom lens without approaching, it may help. If not, a description is perfectly fine.
Keep the area beneath the tree clear of people. Children's play equipment, a washing line or garden seating under the branches should not be used until the nest has been treated.
Tidying up once the wasps have gone
After treatment the temptation is to cut everything back immediately. A better approach is to ask the technician what they would advise and to leave the area for the length of time they suggest.
When it is time, cut ivy and branches in stages, keep your head out of the line beneath the work and keep the ladder low. Bin the cuttings rather than leaving them heaped against the wall, where they can make a sheltered spot for something else to settle.
A tree or hedge can host a new nest the following spring, but a colony does not reuse an old nest. Looking over the garden in late April and May, when queens begin building, is a good habit and costs nothing.
Arranging treatment
The price for treating a wasp nest is fixed at £95 per nest, with no call-out charge, and an additional nest on the same property is £35 each. We are open seven days a week and offer same-day service. The technicians are trained and fully insured, and we deal with domestic and commercial premises, including surrounding villages.
Ring 0116 214 9259 or use the booking form on the contact page. The price is confirmed over the phone before the visit and nothing is done without your agreement. Tell us if anyone in the household is allergic to wasp stings, so we can take it into account.
When the nest has been treated, the technician will say when it is fine to use the garden again. If you want the empty nest taken down, ask at booking whether that can be done.
Wasps on your property in Quorn?
Fixed price £95 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.