Wasp Nest in a Hedge or Bush – What Wollaton Garden Owners Should Know
Once a nest is above head height, the danger is not only the sting but the fall, which makes a ladder one of the worst tools to bring to the job.
When the nest is above your head
Large shrubs, mature hedges and small trees often reach two or three metres or more. A wasp nest in the upper part of such a plant is difficult to see, and almost impossible to deal with from the ground. Many householders respond by fetching the steps or a ladder, thinking they can reach in quickly and sort it out.
This is a particularly poor idea. A person on a ladder cannot move away quickly if wasps respond, and a sting while balancing can cause a fall. Add the weight of a trimmer or a pair of long-handled loppers and the risk goes up again. For anyone in Wollaton with tall planting in the garden, the safest rule is simple: if you would need a ladder to reach it, do not reach it.
Dense privet, laurel and conifer hedges give the best cover, and so does a mix of old shrubs left to grow into one another. If you look after a large garden, it makes sense to inspect each section of tall planting separately, rather than assuming that the whole length is the same.
Spotting a high nest from below
You can often find an elevated nest without leaving the ground. Stand back so that you can see the whole plant, and watch the upper branches for several minutes in warm weather. Wasps are easiest to see against the sky, and a line of them flying to the same point will stand out.
- Insects entering or leaving the crown of a shrub or the fork of a branch.
- A grey or brown paper structure visible when the leaves move in the wind.
- Wasps gathering on a nearby fence or wall at the same height.
- A hum that seems to come from above rather than from the flowers beside you.
In autumn and winter, once the leaves have fallen, a deciduous tree often shows its old nests clearly, and these can be noted for next year.
Do not climb to take a closer look, and do not shake the branch to see what happens. Binoculars or the zoom on a phone camera can show a surprising amount from a safe distance.
The problem with long-handled tools
Pole saws and extended hedge trimmers give a false sense of security because the operator is further from the cutting point. The nest, however, does not care about distance. Vibration travels along branches and the stem, so the wasps can react to a cut several branches away. A cut through the supporting branch can also bring the nest down towards you.
The same holds for knocking at a branch with a stick, hosing a nest in a tree or tying a bag over it. Any of these can provoke a response and none can be relied on to work. If you have noticed activity high up, put the tools away and keep people clear of the ground beneath.
It is worth remembering too that the area under the nest is the area where wasps will fly if disturbed.
Keep this in mind even with hand tools. A pair of long loppers brings the nest no closer, but a saw can send a shock along a limb that supports it. Every cut counts.
Keeping the ground beneath clear
While you wait for treatment, think about the space directly under the plant. Garden seating, a washing line, a play area or a shed doorway beneath a high nest are all places where people could be at risk. Move what you can, and keep children and pets away. Pick a different route to the back gate if the usual one passes right under the branches.
If you have neighbours whose gardens adjoin yours, let them know. The nest may be inside your boundary, but the wasps travel freely and the shrub may overhang their side. A short chat can avoid confusion and keep everyone safer.
If a branch overhangs a neighbour’s garden or a public footpath, warn people there as well. A short, clear message is enough, and it avoids anyone wandering underneath the nest while it is active.
Take photographs of the plant and the surrounding area, from the ground and from several angles, as these help the technician plan the approach before arriving.
How treatment works at height
The technician will want to know how high the nest is, what supports it and how the area underneath is laid out. Photographs from a distance can help. The price for treating a nest is a fixed £95 per nest, with £35 for an additional nest on the same property, and it is confirmed on the phone before a visit. Nothing is done without your agreement.
We charge no call-out fee, offer same-day service and are open seven days a week. We are trained and fully insured, and the work covers domestic and commercial sites. To arrange a visit, phone 0115 937 5117, or fill in the form on the contact page. If anyone in your household is allergic to wasp stings, mention it when you book.
Pruning afterwards
When the nest has been treated, ask the technician when it is fine to resume work, and whether the empty nest can be taken down. If the tree or shrub needs pruning, consider using a qualified tree surgeon for anything that involves climbing, chainsaws or heavy limbs, as wasps are only one of the hazards of working at height.
In future, inspect tall plants in May and June before any trimming. A short look upward, from a few metres back, can save a great deal of trouble.
If you rent your home, check what your tenancy agreement says about who handles the garden and any tree work, since that may differ from one property to another.
Wasps on your property in Wollaton?
Fixed price £95 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.