WITH summer right here – if you want to relax and enjoy the sun in your garden, without being attacked by wasps, then you’ve come to the right place.
While wasps are great for flowers, they can be a real nuisance.
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But fear not, as pest control expert Adam Juson of Merlin Environmental shared her five easy and inexpensive tricks to deter wasps this summer.
And don’t worry, you won’t have to spend a lot of money and invest in something ridiculously expensive as, according to Adam, a 1p hack will do the trick.
Use your change
According to Adam, wasps can’t stand the smell of copper.
So if you have spare 1 or 2 cent coins in your pocket, you can put them to good use thanks to this trick.
Adam advised: “Place pennies and dimes around the outside, along the table and in potted plants to keep these pests away.
“Alternatively, you can place a copper coin in a bag of water and hang it on door handles in your home and outside to prevent wasps from approaching.”
Get some oil
Not only that, but Adam also shared that essential oils can prevent wasps from entering your garden.
He added: “Citronella is a classic repellent and comes from lemongrass. It is most commonly added to candles that can be lit during outdoor dining to improve the atmosphere and deter wasps.
“Tea tree is another scent that wasps hate, but you may have trouble finding a tea tree candle. Instead, put bowls of tea tree and water around the outdoor area and along the dining table.
“Basil and garlic are two other scents that naturally deter wasps. So consider placing jars of basil along the barbecue table.
“When it comes to garlic, you can plan a garlic-infused paste or add water and spray on areas you don’t want wasps attracted to.”
Caffeine fix
Plus, if you’re a coffee drinker and have some ground coffee in your cupboard, you’re in luck.
To ensure wasps leave your garden alone this summer, all you need to do is simply place some coffee grounds in a fireproof bowl and light it until the granules glow.
Tips for Keeping Pests in Your Garden
- Plant companion plants, such as peppermint, to repel mice.
- Place Garden Netting Pest Barrierover your flower beds.
- Fill open containers with beer and place in the soil to repel slugs.
- Spray plants with Neem Oilto repel ants, flies and spiders.
- Sprinkle your flowerbeds with diatomaceous earth.
- Mix 1 tablespoon of dish soap, 10 drops of peppermint oil and 4 cups of water and spray on flower beds.
- Place eggshells around plants to protect them from slugs and snails.
Adam explained: “Burned coffee grounds give off smoke and a smell that wasps can’t stand.
“Don’t worry about using fresh coffee – if you have a coffee machine, leftover grounds work too.
“Remember that coffee grounds get very hot, so keep them out of the reach of little ones! When it comes to smoke, almost all smoke disturbs wasps, which means incense sticks are a great addition to your outdoor gathering. Plus, they smell great!
To cover
Not only that, but a super simple way to prevent wasps from flying around your garden is to simply cover your food and drinks.
The expert suggested: “This is because they are attracted to sweet smells and will be looking for food and water.”
Common Garden Pests
Common garden pests don’t need to be a cause for alarm. If you can identify them, you can work to get rid of them and prevent them from returning.
Aphids (green fly, black fly)
Aphids are extremely common and can affect plant growth. They have tiny, soft, pear-shaped bodies and are usually green or black. You may spot them clustered on the stems of tender shoots – look under the leaves in particular – or you may find a sticky substance on your plants that reveals the aphids have been there sucking the sap.
White fly
These small, white-winged insects are related to aphids, only 1 or 2 mm long, and look very similar to white moths as adults. They can be found on the underside of the leaves, preferring younger, fresher leaves. They fly away in groups when you disturb them. Its life cycle lasts just three weeks, which means an infestation can occur very quickly.
Slugs
An unmissable body with a soft appearance, as well as small sensory tentacles on the head. Slugs move on a muscular foot. Its scale ranges from surprisingly small to terrifyingly large; Limax cinereoniger species can comfortably grow beyond 20 cm in length.
Cabbage moth caterpillar
Cabbage moth caterpillars happily enter the hearts of vegetables. The caterpillars are distinguished by shades of yellow or brownish green, without hair.
Cochineal
Scale insects are small, oval-shaped insects that have a white, powdery wax coating. There are several different species, many of which have what appear to be legs coming out of their sides and back. In the initial phase of life, it is perfectly possible to confuse them with fungi and not even recognize them as insects.
Additionally, Adam revealed that the color of your clothes may also have a role to play, as he shared: “Wasps are attracted to light, bright colors, so choose muted or dark colors for your summer outfit.
“If you want to wear something bright, opt for red! Wasps can’t see red, so it’s a safe choice!”
Bag
Finally, if you have a spare paper bag, don’t put it in the bin – as this can help deter wasps.
The professional concluded: “Hang it nearby and the wasps will think it is a rival hive and stay away from the area.
“It sounds simple, but it really works!”
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