Do Wasps Return to the Same Nest Every Year? A Guide for Southwell Gardens
The quiet months are when sleeping queens are disturbed and when you can tidy the places they will look for next spring, so a few careful habits are worth having.
What is going on in the garden in winter
On a cold January morning the garden looks lifeless, but there are queen wasps tucked away in sheltered corners, in a deep sleep. They are the only survivors from last summer’s colonies and they will be the founders of next year’s. Old nests are empty and will never be used again.
That matters if you spend time on winter jobs: clearing borders, pruning, moving pots and stacking wood. You can come across a hibernating queen without expecting to. In Southwell, as elsewhere, a quiet approach and a bit of awareness keeps everyone safe.
Where queens sleep
They choose places that stay dry and avoid hard frost. Common spots include gaps in fences and sheds, hollows in tree bark, the space under loose roof tiles, piles of leaves, and the bases of dense plants. Garden furniture covers, stored plant pots and rolled-up matting can also hold one.
A sleeping queen looks like a large wasp, tucked in, motionless and sometimes with her legs drawn in. She is not dead, only dormant, and can wake if she warms up. Moving her gently and leaving her somewhere sheltered is usually the safest course. Do not handle her bare-handed.
Dealing with an old nest found in a shrub
Of all the finds in a winter garden, the most common is a papery ball in the middle of a shrub, revealed when you cut it back. If the weather has been cold for some weeks, it is almost certainly dead. Check it from a short distance and make sure nothing is moving.
If it is easy to reach, cut the branch or snip it free, drop it into a bag, and tie the bag up. If it is attached to a thicker limb or is behind a tangle of stems, you can usually leave it to weather away. Wasps will not move into it in spring.
Take care to avoid shaking it, as there could be a sleeping queen or other insects tucked behind it.
Pruning, clearing and stacking: the careful way
You do not need to stop gardening, only to pay a little attention. Think of the following list as a short set of habits for the cold months.
- Lift pots, boards and covers slowly rather than tossing them aside.
- Wear gloves when working among leaf litter and dense stems.
- Stack firewood loosely and not hard against the house.
- Work on dry, mild afternoons when you can see well.
- If you disturb a queen, step back, leave her in peace, and carry on elsewhere.
It is the pruning of dense shrubs and ivy that most often turns up an old nest, which you can bag and bin if it is clearly dead and easy to reach.
Tidying with next spring in mind
Winter is a good time to remove the most attractive nesting spots. Cut back climbers from walls to see what lies beneath, tidy loose piles of debris, and repair broken fence panels and shed felt. Gaps around the base of a wall where soil has washed away can be filled.
Be sensible about what you disturb. If you find a hole in the ground and are unsure whether anything is in it, leave it until you can check on a mild spring day. A sealed hole should be one you are confident is empty.
Leave wildlife habitats such as hedgerows and leaf piles where they are useful, only moving them away from the house if they are tight against it.
Tools, covers and the stuff in the shed
Winter gardening often involves taking tools and covers out of the shed. Open the door and let your eyes adjust before you reach in. A wasp queen can tuck herself into a folded sheet, the fold of a glove or the opening of a watering can. When you lift an item, look at its underside and inside before you pick it up.
After use, think about where you store things. Hanging tools on the wall away from the roof edge, and keeping covers in a closed box, means there are fewer soft hollows for a queen to find. These habits are easy to adopt and cost nothing.
If you do find a queen in the shed, you can leave the door open on a mild day and let her go in her own time.
From late April, queens wake up and start looking. Revisit the places you tidied and the places where last year’s nest was found. Look for repeated flights into one small opening. If you see them, hold off on gardening nearby and get in touch.
A nest is treated at a fixed £95 per nest, with £35 for an additional nest on the same property. The price is confirmed on the phone before anyone visits, there is no call-out charge, and we offer same-day service seven days a week. Call 0115 937 5117 or use the booking form on the contact page. If anyone at home is allergic to wasp stings, tell us when you book.
If anyone is stung while gardening, move away from the spot first. Wash the area with soap and water, remove the sting if you can see it, and apply a cold pack. Call 999 if there is swelling of the face, lips or throat, wheezing or difficulty breathing, dizziness or a widespread rash. Anyone with a known allergy should speak to their GP about their plan.
In the cold months, stings are rare, because the wasps are sluggish. They are far more likely from late spring onwards, which is another reason to treat the early checks seriously.
Keep in mind that none of this needs special equipment. A pair of gloves, a torch and a little patience are enough to get through the cold months safely.
Wasps on your property in Southwell?
Fixed price £95 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.