Wasp Nest in Your Garden Shed? Safe Treatment Options in Eaton Bray
The mower is in the shed, the lawn needs cutting and there are wasps by the door. This guide covers how to manage garden jobs around a nest without taking risks.
The inconvenient truth
Sheds are where the mower, strimmer, hose and trimmer are kept, and the jobs they do cannot wait for ever. When wasps move in, the practical question is how to get things done. The honest answer is that you should not use a shed that has an active nest, and you should not use powered tools near it either.
In Eaton Bray, as in any village or town, the lawn will keep growing. There are sensible ways to cope.
The key to this is patience and a bit of lateral thinking. A lawn can wait a week, and a hedge can be trimmed once the nest has gone.
Lawn care is a regular part of garden life in a village as in a town, and it is easy to forget that a short delay is no great harm. The grass will cope for a few more days.
Why the mower is the main risk
A petrol or electric mower makes noise and vibration, which wasps treat as a threat. Cutting grass near the wall of a shed, or over a ground nest close by, is among the commonest ways people get stung.
A strimmer used along the base of the shed, or a hedge trimmer on a nearby hedge, does the same thing. Even if the nest is inside, the vibration travels through the ground and walls.
Electric tools are quieter than petrol ones, but the effect on wasps is similar if you are close to the nest. The distance you keep matters more than the type of tool you use.
If your lawn is on a slope, remember that the mower and the shed may be at different levels. Vibration passes through soil and structure, and the effects on the nest can be felt over a greater distance than you expect.
Think also about the mower's cable or fuel. If you do have to retrieve the machine after treatment, check the air intake and the collection box for wasps that have crawled inside.
Managing the garden without the shed
Until the nest is treated, you have a few options.
- leave the grass uncut for a few days
- cut only the parts well away from the shed, keeping a wide gap
- use hand tools, such as shears, away from the nest, only if you are sure of the position
- ask a neighbour to lend a mower, rather than fetching yours
Do not go in to retrieve the mower. Even a brief visit can lead to a sting.
If your garden has more than one lawn area, work on the part furthest from the shed first, watch for wasps as you go and stop at the first sign of trouble. Do not push your luck by trying to finish the job.
If you have a ride-on mower, the vibration and noise carry further, so the safe distance is greater. Move the machine only after the nest has been treated.
Watering and other tasks
Hoses, cans and other equipment may also be inside. If you need to water, fill the can from an outside tap and avoid the shed side of the garden. Keep the dog away from the building too.
For any task that takes you within a few metres, think about whether it can wait. The cost of a delay is small and the benefit is that you avoid being stung.
Spare tools and kit that live in the house, such as secateurs and a trowel, can take over for small jobs until the shed is back in use. Think about what you can do without the shed rather than worrying about what you can't.
Hand tools can be used if the nest is well away from where you are working. Even so, keep an eye on the wasps and stop if you notice them becoming more active.
It is worth cleaning the mower after it has been in a shed with a nest. Dust and debris can build up in the wheels and deck, and wasps are drawn to damp grass clippings.
Arranging treatment around your plans
Tell the office about the lawn when you book on 07852 111 437 or by the online form, and the visit can be arranged with that in mind. A nest costs £70 and a second nest at the same address £30, with no call-out fee. The figure is agreed on the phone first, and may be higher only if the nest needs special access equipment.
Work starts after you agree to it. The technician is fully insured and qualified, and visits are possible any day of the week, with same-day service offered and evening and weekend appointments available.
Keep a note of how long the grass is and how soon you need to cut it. Treatment can often be arranged quickly, so the delay might only be a day or two.
Mention if you have a deadline, such as an event in the garden, a sale of the house or a visitor. It helps the office to understand the priority.
Back to the lawn
After the technician says it is clear, go into the shed slowly and check the tools. Shake out any gloves, bags and covers before use. Look at the mower housing, hose reels and tool handles for any wasp activity, and check that nothing has been left in the grass collector.
For the rest of the season, walk the lawn before you cut it, particularly along banks, fences and the base of buildings. A ground nest is easy to miss, and a quick look first can stop a sting.
After the nest has been dealt with, take the opportunity to organise the shed so that the things you use most are near the door, which cuts the time you spend inside.
Wear gloves and sturdy shoes the first time you go back to the shed. It is better to be careful than to find a stray wasp in a glove.
Wasps on your property in Eaton Bray?
Fixed price £70 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.