Wasp Nest in a Hedge or Bush – What Shepshed Garden Owners Should Know
When the hedge sits on the boundary and the wasps seem to come from next door, the first job is working out whose side the nest is on and how to deal with it calmly.
The hedge between two gardens
A boundary hedge is rarely tended by one person alone. One household cuts the front, the other cuts the back, and the middle is left to grow. That makes it an ideal home for a wasp colony, and it also makes it unclear who should do something about it.
The wasps themselves do not respect the line. A nest on the neighbour’s side of a hedge can send a steady stream of foragers across your lawn, while a nest on your side can leave you wondering why next door keeps closing their windows.
If you live in Shepshed, a Leicestershire town near Loughborough, and you have a shared hedge with wasp traffic, the aim is the same as with any other nest: get it treated before anyone starts trimming, and keep the conversation between neighbours friendly and factual.
Working out which side it is on
You cannot always see. Dense growth hides the entrance, and wasps may fly over the hedge from either direction. A few simple observations will usually settle it.
- Watch where the wasps go when they leave the hedge: do they return to your side or the far side?
- Note whether the entrance seems to face your garden or the other one.
- Listen for the hum at several points along the hedge and see where it is loudest.
- Look for activity at different times of day, since a nest on the shaded side may be quieter in the morning.
If you still cannot tell, do not lean over the hedge or part the branches. Describe what you have seen to the technician instead. Having a rough idea of the location and keeping your distance is more important than an exact answer.
Better still, ask your neighbour whether they have noticed wasps, as they may have seen something from their side that you cannot.
Talking to the neighbour
Most people take a polite approach well. Pick a moment when they are in the garden or at the door, keep it light, and say what you have noticed: wasps seem to be going in and out of the hedge near the fence and you wanted to let them know before anyone picks up a trimmer.
Suggest that neither of you cuts that stretch until it has been looked at. If the nest turns out to be on their side, offer to share the details of how to book. If it is on yours, you are likely to want to arrange treatment anyway, and they will appreciate the warning.
There is no need to discuss who is responsible. Who is responsible for a boundary hedge is a matter for your deeds or any agreement between you and the neighbour, and it is not something we can advise on. What matters in practice is that the nest is treated safely and promptly, and that the visit is agreed with whoever controls the land it is on.
Keeping both gardens safe meanwhile
Both households should avoid the stretch of hedge until the technician has been. Make sure that includes any gardener, window cleaner or contractor who might work near it. A quick message is often enough.
Children’s toys, washing lines and sunbathing spots near the boundary should be moved to the other side of the garden for now. Dogs should be kept on the opposite side if possible.
If either household has someone who is allergic to wasp stings, tell us when you book so we can take it into account. And if someone is stung, wash the sting, remove it if visible, apply a cold pack, and call 999 for swelling of the face, lips or throat, difficulty breathing, dizziness or a widespread rash.
If the hedge is overgrown or neglected
Some boundary hedges have been left alone for years, with growth leaning over the fence from both sides. A thick, tangled hedge like this is the best possible cover for wasps, and it is also the hardest to inspect safely. You may not be able to get near it without pushing through brambles, ivy or fallen branches.
If that describes yours, do not try to clear a way in to look. A better plan is to observe from the open ground on either side, noting where the wasps appear to enter. Even a rough idea, such as ‘about halfway along, low down, on the side facing the lane’, is helpful.
Remember that cutting back an overgrown hedge is likely to be a big job once the nest has gone, and it is better done in stages. The wasps are only around for part of the year, so there will be plenty of time later in the season to bring the hedge back under control once it is safe.
A hedge that has been left to grow wild may also hold nests from more than one summer, although only the current one is occupied. Old empty nests are no danger, but they can make it harder to tell which part of the hedge is active. Watch for the traffic of living wasps rather than for the shape of any nest you can see.
Booking treatment
Treatment of a wasp nest comes at a flat £95 per nest, and a further nest on the same property is £35 each. No call-out charge is added, and the line is staffed seven days a week with same-day visits available. Technicians are trained and fully insured, and both houses and business premises are covered.
To book, ring 0116 214 9259 or fill in the form on the contact page. You are told the price on the phone first, and no work starts until you say yes.
If the nest is on your neighbour’s side, it is best that they make the booking or confirm that they are happy for the visit to go ahead. Once it has been treated, the technician will tell you when it is fine to trim the hedge again. If you would like the empty nest removed, ask when booking whether this is possible.
Wasps on your property in Shepshed?
Fixed price £95 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.