When Is Wasp Season in Syston?
For anyone using their garden, wasp season shapes barbecues, washing lines and drinks outside, so this guide follows the outdoor year from first sunny weekend to autumn.
The garden calendar, not the wasp calendar
Most people only think about wasps when one lands on a drink. Thinking about it from the garden's point of view is more useful. The season runs from late April, when the first nests are started (the timing depends on how mild the spring has been), to autumn, and the way you use the garden changes what you will notice and when.
If you are in Syston, just north of Leicester, and you eat outside, hang washing, grow fruit or have children who play on the lawn, the year breaks into a few clear stages.
The garden is where most people meet wasps, and the usual reaction is to blame the wasp. A more helpful reaction is to ask why the wasp is here. In spring, it is looking for a home. In summer, it is looking for food for the nest. In autumn, it is looking for sugar for itself. Each answer tells you something different about what to do.
First sunny weekends: April and May
The first warm days are when people drag out the furniture and clear the shed. They are also when queens are looking for places to nest. A shed that has been shut since autumn, with a small gap by the eaves, is exactly the type of sheltered spot they pick.
Before you spend a weekend in the garden, walk round and look at the shed roof, the underside of the decking, the compost bin and any holes in the lawn or border. If a wasp is going in and out of any of these, leave it alone and note the spot. A small nest at this stage is easier to deal with than the same nest in August.
If you plan to put a new shed, a play house or a compost bin in the garden this spring, check the site first. Make sure there is no hole in the ground or old nest remains where you plan to build. Install the new structure with gaps sealed so it does not become the next shelter.
Lawn mowing is another early-season risk. A nest in the ground is easy to run over without noticing, and the first sign is a cloud of wasps. If you see a patch where wasps are coming and going, mow around it and keep well clear.
Summer barbecues: June and July
Through early summer the colony grows and the workers spend more time looking for protein, which means they are interested in meat and fish at a barbecue. You may notice a few wasps hovering around the grill. That is normal, but if the same number arrive each time, they may be coming from a nest close to the house.
A few sensible habits make outdoor eating easier:
- Keep food covered until it is ready to eat.
- Clear plates and scraps quickly and keep a lid on the bin.
- Use a cup with a lid or a straw for sweet drinks, and check before you sip.
- Avoid waving or swatting at a wasp, because a calm approach lowers the chance of a sting.
If wasps keep returning in numbers, follow their flight line, from a distance, to see where they go. That is often the quickest way to find the nest.
Dogs and wasps do not mix either. A dog that investigates a hole in the lawn or snaps at a flying insect can get stung on the nose or mouth. Keep dogs on a lead near any suspected nest and watch them closely if they come in from the garden unusually unsettled. If you are worried about a sting, speak to a vet.
Open-air parties are a particular test. If you are hosting a summer gathering, walk round the garden a week before and look for any nest. A short check can save an afternoon of flapping hands and nervous guests.
August peak: washing lines and fruit
In August the colony is at its largest, and a nest can hold 2,000 to 10,000 wasps or more. That is when the washing line, the apple tree and the recycling box become problems. Wasps are drawn to sweet residue, so bottles and cans in an open box, windfalls on the lawn and sugary smears on patio furniture all draw them in.
Shake out clothes before bringing them in, and pick up fallen fruit every day. If you find wasps are using the same flight path across the garden, keep children and pets out of that part until the nest has been dealt with.
A nest located near the back door, a patio or the line is the one to prioritise. Same-day service is offered, and the price is a fixed £95 per nest.
Another thing to watch is the shed, garage or summerhouse door. Wasps will come inside if the door is left open for long, and then find it difficult to leave. Keep doors closed when you are not using them, and open windows only where you have a screen.
Autumn: the last of the picnics
As the weather cools, the colony declines, but the remaining wasps are often more persistent around sweet food and drink. This is the stage when a late bonfire party or a last garden lunch can turn irritating. The risk of being stung is still real, so the same habits apply.
Once the nest is inactive, you can think about next year. Note where it was and ask the technician at booking whether the empty nest can be taken down. Tidy the shed, clear the compost and keep the bin lid tight.
If you used the garden a great deal this year, it is worth looking back at which part was affected most. That area is a good place to check first next April.
Booking help for garden nests
If you have found a nest in the garden, a shed or the house, phone 0116 214 9259 or use the online form on the contact page. An additional nest on the same property is £35 extra. There is no call-out charge and the work is done by trained technicians who are fully insured.
The price is confirmed on the phone before a visit and no work starts without your agreement. Mention any stinging allergy when you book so it can be taken into account.
Wasps on your property in Syston?
Fixed price £95 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.