Wasps play an important role in maintaining a healthy ecosystem by repelling pest insects and pollinating flowers.
Wasps are predators, which means they feed on live prey such as flies, caterpillars, and spiders. The wasps you typically see are hunting adults. However, adults do not eat prey; they feed it to the baby wasps instead.
Unfortunately, wasps are notorious for stinging humans in self-defense. Although uncommon, this could be fatal for someone with a severe allergic reaction. In the event that wasps are fatal to you or your loved ones, reach out to a professional pest control company for help!
Besides that, their stings sting! Here, we’ll cover a few steps you can take to repel these obnoxious yet beneficial insects.
Soap & Water Solutions
Plain Soap & Water Solution
This solution is for if you are in a pinch and need the wasps gone ASAP! Wasps are beneficial, however, and killing them is not advised.
Small wasp nests can be effectively combated with soap and water. Fill a spray bottle with water after adding two tablespoons of dish soap.
Thoroughly shake the mixture and spray generously on the nest. The soap will clog their breathing pores and kill them instantly.
Clove-Geranium-Lemongrass Oil Blend
In a spray bottle filled with soapy water, combine several drops of clove, geranium, and lemongrass essential oils.
Shake well, then spray roofs, eaves, ledges, and any cracks and crevices on your property where wasps are likely to build a nest. You can also add rosemary essential oil to this mixture to make it a tad more potent.
Mint Oils (Peppermint, Spearmint, and Ginger Mint)
Similar to the Clove-Geranium-Lemongrass repellent, add peppermint essential oil to a spray bottle filled with soapy water, shake, and spray likely-to-build areas.
Wasp-Repellent Plants
Spearmint (Mentha spicata)
Spearmint is a perennial shade-loving plant that is commonly used in foods and liqueurs. A wasp will avoid this scent that many of us enjoy because it smells extremely foul to them.
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
Thyme is a low-growing dwarf shrub that is commonly cultivated annually, though it can survive as a perennial in warm climates.
Wasps dislike the scent and flavor, this plant is an effective deterrent.
When the leaves are fresh and young, the scent and flavor are at their peak. Make sure to cut off any old growth for it to be reliable.
Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus obliqua)
Eucalyptus is an ornamental plant that grows in tree form in the wild. Wasps hate the strongly scented leaves of eucalyptus, so planting this in your garden will assist in keeping them away.
Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium)
Wormwood is a shrub-like perennial that is well-known as absinthe. It often receives flak due to its adverse effects used in alcoholic beverages, but it can also be used for medicinal purposes.
Due to its leaves’ strong scent, wasps tend to avoid flying near it.
Cucumber (Cucumis sativus)
Cucumbers can help repel stinging insects! Simply slice a fresh cucumber and wrap it in aluminum foil or place the cucumber slices in an aluminum pie dish.
By causing a chemical reaction, this trick also deters slugs and other types of bugs. Humans cannot smell the reaction, but pests will avoid it!
You can also plant cucumbers up a trellis to keep wasps away.
Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium)
Pennyroyal is a minty-scented creeping ground cover plant. Due to the minty scent, its ability to repel wasps is high.
Geraniums (Geranium maculatum)
Geraniums are perennials and can be kept inside or outside but should be brought in during the winter.
Red geraniums, in particular, are the most hated by wasps, and similarly, most of the aforementioned plants are hated by wasps due to their strong aroma.
Clean & Seal
Keep Your Premises Free of Food
Wasps feed on protein and sugar, so if you keep soda cans outside, rinse them out before tossing them, and keep your grill clean at all times. In addition, look for food scraps and crumbs on your property. This will help to keep these pesky pests at bay.
Seal Trash Cans
Make sure your trash cans, recycling bins, and compost bins are sealed well and cleaned often. Foods and liquids can spill and dirty the inside of the bins, which is a clear invitation for wasps to build a nest nearby.
Seal Cracks
Cracks in your home or foundation should be sealed to prevent wasps from building nests or entering your home. To stay on top of the problem before spring, conduct an annual perimeter check in the autumn.
Free Pest Control Quote
If you don’t have the time to take these preventative measures, don’t fret! Gecko Green can help defend your home with our complete Preventative Pest Control Program! We secure both the inside and outside of your home, providing complete protection against a wide range of pests.
