HOW TO REPEL WASPS FROM YOUR PATIO THIS SUMMER
Image By MySpiritSphere
Wasps are the least popular guest at every outdoor summer event, especially on your patio. They can be pretty mean creatures, but they are also essential in the balance of our ecosystems. With that said, you probably don’t want them hanging around while you enjoy dinner on the patio!
Here’s a little helpful information about wasps and the best repellants for your Indianapolis patio.
WHY ARE WASPS USEFUL?
There are over 100,000 species of wasp worldwide, but only a tiny percentage of them sting humans. Most of them are parasitic by nature. While this seems very barbaric, parasitic wasps are no danger to humans but are very helpful for agriculture.
Four common types of wasps sting people, and unfortunately, they can sting multiple times. The most common varieties are:
Yellowjackets
Paper wasps
Hornets
Mud daubers
They have two main benefits for humans: they're pollinators (just like bees, but less friendly), and they eat tons of less desirable insects in your garden.
WHAT ATTRACTS WASPS TO YOUR PATIO?
Before you can repel wasps from your patio, you need to know what attracts them in the first place. Wasps love sugar and protein, so they're big fans of BBQs and picnics. In the early part of the season, they're focused on protein, so any meats on your patio table or even a dish of pet food are very attractive.
Later in the season, they focus on sugar. Their favorites are liquids, like juice, pop, and fresh fruit, which are highly digestible. Sweet-scented body products can also be attractive to wasps, so try to avoid scented products during the summer. While they are mostly scent-seekers with very powerful olfactory systems, they also are attracted to bright colors and flowers, so keep that in mind when you slip on those vibrant patterns!
HOW TO REPEL WASPS FROM YOUR PATIO
The best wasp repellent is to be diligent about making your patio area less attractive to them. Here are a few ways to make your patio unwelcoming to these pests:
Wasps love sugar and protein, so they're big fans of BBQs and picnics.
Be diligent about cleaning up after outdoor meals; this includes keeping your BBQ clean and free of meat or sauce residue.
Keep your drinks covered. Use a straw in cans since they often sneak inside a can, and no one wants to sip on a stinger!
Clean up under fruit trees and bushes. Fallen fruit is a favorite for wasps and other unlikable critters like maggots.
Grow plants in your patio planters that wasps don't like, like lemongrass and peppermint.
Mix clove, geranium, lemongrass essential oils with water, shake well and spray your patio area. You'll have to spray your patio regularly throughout the summer.
Patch up and seal any cracks and holes around your patio, in siding or cement, where they could start building nests.
Hang up fake wasp nests; they’re territorial, so they will avoid an area if they see what appears to be an existing nest.
Keep your waste bins closed tightly, and try to keep them empty of food waste until the evening before garbage pickup day.
HOW TO GET RID OF WASP NESTS
If you already have a wasp problem, you should deal with it as soon as possible and then start applying the repellant ideas mentioned above. Here are a few suggestions for dealing with infestations.
A word of warning: If you attempt to deal with a wasp nest, always wait until after the sun goes down. Deal with it while they’re sleeping, and always wear long sleeves, long pants, closed shoes, a mask, and eye protection.
Hang wasp traps but use a protein in them, so you're less likely to catch honey bees and bumblebees. Tuna works well.
Drenching a nest with insecticidal spray is one of the most effective options, but be very careful and follow all package directions.
Small nests that are just starting can be tackled with soap and water. Mix two tablespoons of dish soap in a spray bottle, fill with water and spray the nest. All the wasps will eventually come out.
If your wasp nest is a long way from the house and they're not really bothering anyone, consider leaving them to help manage other insects in your yard.
If you think you have a huge nest, call a professional. They have all the proper equipment to remove the nest while you and your family wait safely somewhere else.
If you’ve just got a small nest to tackle, or you want to take precautions to repel wasps before they make themselves at home, stop by our garden center in Indianapolis. We can help you make your patio a “wasps not welcome” space!