Wasp Nest in a Hedge or Bush – What Upper Broughton Garden Owners Should Know
With children and pets in the garden, a wasp nest in a hedge or bush becomes a family matter, so here is how to keep everyone clear until it has been dealt with.
A hedge is where the children and dogs end up
Boundary hedges and shrubs are where garden games happen. A ball is lost behind the bush, a den is built under the branches, a dog is sent off to sniff along the fence. All of these put children and pets close to a nest without anyone knowing.
Children do not read the signs. They may not notice wasps flying in and out of a gap, and if they do, they may be fascinated rather than frightened. Dogs are the same, and a pet that snaps at wasps near an entrance is liable to be stung several times.
If you live in Upper Broughton and think you have a nest in a hedge or bush, the quickest improvement you can make is to change what the household does around it, before anything else.
Talking to children about it
Keep it short and calm. Explain that wasps have made a home in the hedge, that the home needs to be sorted out by a grown-up who knows what to do, and that nobody goes near that part of the garden until it is done.
Be specific about the place. Point to it from the lawn or the patio and name the boundary, such as the section behind the swing or the corner nearest the gate. Say what to do if a wasp comes close: stay still, then walk away slowly and tell an adult. Waving arms and screaming makes wasps more agitated.
Do not pretend there is nothing to be afraid of, and do not make it a game. Children usually respond well to a clear rule that applies for a short while and a reason that makes sense.
Older children can help in a sensible way. Give them a job, such as watching the hedge from the patio door and telling you if the number of wasps changes. This keeps them involved and away from the hedge, and it gives you useful detail to pass on when you book. Do not send them to look closer, and do not let them photograph the nest from nearby. A zoom lens or the phone camera from the doorway is quite enough, and it is better to have a blurred picture than a sting.
Looking after the dog and the cat
Pets cannot be told, so the answer has to be practical. Keep the dog out of the garden on a lead or use a different outdoor space for toilet breaks while the nest is there. Cats will roam, but it helps to keep the cat in if it often explores the hedge.
- Walk dogs on a lead past the hedge, and keep them out of the garden if the nest is close to the door.
- Bring food and water bowls inside or move them well away from the hedge.
- Do not let pets chase or snap at wasps.
- Keep an eye out for pawing at the face, swelling or distress, and contact a vet if you are worried.
Anything that makes a pet unwell after a sting is a matter for a vet. We treat wasp nests only and cannot advise on animal care.
Setting up a safe garden for a few days
Move trampolines, paddling pools, tables and bikes away from the hedge, or at least well beyond the side where the wasps go in. Bring food and drink inside, as sweet items bring wasps over, and keep the bins closed.
If one part of the garden is out of use, mark it with a bit of rope or a couple of garden chairs so that everyone can see it. Visitors who do not know about the problem should be told when they arrive.
If someone is stung, wash the area, take out the sting if visible and hold a cold pack to it. Call 999 for swelling of the face, lips or throat, difficulty breathing, wheezing, dizziness or a widespread rash. Anyone known to be allergic should speak to their GP, and if that applies in your house, let us know when you book.
Visitors, parties and the summer calendar
A nest does not wait for a quiet week. Birthday parties, barbecues and visits from grandparents all tend to fall in the same warm months as peak wasp activity, and a nest in the hedge can quickly spoil them.
If you have an event planned, deal with the nest first. Book the treatment before the day, rather than hoping the wasps will stay away from the food. Sugary drinks, ice lollies and barbecue smoke do not keep wasps from a nest, and they draw wasps into the middle of the gathering.
If the party cannot move and the nest has not been treated, hold it on a part of the garden far from the hedge, or indoors, and cover food and drink. Tell guests where not to go, particularly any children who might wander off to find a ball.
Hosts sometimes feel awkward about mentioning wasps, but a brief word is a kindness. People who are allergic, and the parents of young children, will appreciate knowing what to avoid.
Treatment and getting the garden back
For a nest in the hedge or a bush, expect to pay £95 per nest, plus £35 each if there is a second one on the same plot. No call-out fee applies. Visits are possible any day of the week, often on the same day, and the person who comes is trained and fully insured. Homes and commercial premises are treated alike.
The number is 0116 214 9259, and there is also a booking form on the contact page. The price is settled during that first conversation, before a visit is arranged, and the work only goes ahead once you are happy with it.
After the technician has finished they will let you know when the garden is fine to use again. Until you hear that, keep the rules in place. If you would like the empty nest removed from the hedge, ask when booking whether that can be done.
Wasps on your property in Upper Broughton?
Fixed price £95 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.