Wasps can be a real nuisance in the garden, but there is a simple and cost-effective method to deter them from building a nest in your home or garden. A simple household item is all you need to keep wasps at bay this summer.
How to Deter Wasps with a Plastic Bag
Wasps are a persistent nuisance in gardens throughout Britain as the warmer months arrive, particularly if they decide to set up a nest on your property. When seeking shelter, wasps can turn aggressive towards humans, and a wasp nest can prove notoriously difficult to remove once it has taken hold, making prevention far more desirable than dealing with an established colony.
Thankfully, there is a cost-effective and straightforward method to stop wasps from building a nest in your home, garden, shed or garage. All you need is a plastic bag and some string. Social media gardening expert @gardening.with.ish has revealed how these everyday household items can serve as wasp deterrents.
He said: "What we do is we take the plastic bag, we fold it amongst itself in one corner and we get a nice point." By folding the bag inwards, air becomes trapped inside. Ish demonstrated how the bag takes on a cone-like shape before tying the bag shut with the string.
He said: "What you are doing is creating a fake wasp nest because wasps are incredibly territorial, hence why they can feel a little bit aggressive when they are around you. They are defending their space."
Why This Method Works
Ish explained that by hanging the plastic bag, which resembles a wasp nest, the insects will assume a rival colony has already taken up residence and move on elsewhere. The expert added: "They won't go near the space, in fact they will stay away."
According to Ish, spring is the optimal time to attempt this method, as larger wasps tend to emerge then. Ish recommends placing your plastic bag near sheds or hanging it from a tree in your garden.
The idea behind this is that wasps will build their nests further from your garden, yet will continue to return to pollinate your plants and forage for food. Nevertheless, they will be less hostile as they will believe competing wasps are already present nearby.
Cost and Materials
A plastic bag will cost as little as 10p. For his hack, Ish used a black bin bag, but he says you can also use a burlap sack or an empty compost bag. Should you need a new bag to create your decoy wasp nest, plastic bags are widely available from most major supermarkets and shops for as little as 10p.
Ish added: "As a result, your home will be protected, your plants will still be pollinated, and you didn't use a single chemical."
