How to Tell If You Have an Active Wasp Nest on Your Abberton Property

The untidy corners of a garden, where timber, clippings and old pots are stored, give wasps dry, sheltered and unvisited spots, so they deserve a careful look.

The quiet corner at the bottom of the garden

Most gardens have a place where things collect. It might hold a log store, a compost heap, a heap of branches waiting for a bonfire, stacked pots, spare slabs or a pile of sacks. These areas are used occasionally, they are left alone for weeks, and they provide layers of cover with gaps and hollows. For a queen looking for somewhere dry and sheltered, they are very attractive.

The danger is that you only go to them when you have a job to do, with your arms full. That is the worst time to discover a nest, and it is the reason these corners deserve a deliberate look.

Log piles and wood stores

A stack of logs has a dry core with gaps between the pieces, and often a covering sheet or a roof over it. The air spaces are ideal for wasps, which may enter from the side or underneath. Look for wasps crawling in and out of gaps in the stack, particularly on the warm side. Stand back and watch for a minute or two before approaching.

Do not lift the cover or pull out logs from the middle of a stack in summer without checking first. If you need firewood, wait until you have confirmed the stack is clear. In autumn and winter, the risk is lower as colonies die, but dormant nests can remain, so keep your care up.

Each of these corners tells a different story, so it is worth making a mental map of the ones in your garden. Add to it any space that has been left alone for a long time: the gap behind the shed, the strip beside the greenhouse, the pile under the hedge. Walk around them once in spring and again in midsummer, keeping a respectful distance, and you will get to know what normal looks like.

Compost bins and heaps

Compost heaps are warm and sheltered, and a ground nest in or beside one is not unusual. The heat of the heap, the loose material and the food supply from kitchen waste all draw wasps. Look for a hole in the soil at the base of the bin, or for a steady flow of wasps going in under the lid.

Also bear in mind that rotting fruit and kitchen waste attract foraging wasps in large numbers, without there being a nest nearby. To tell the difference, see whether they come from a single entrance. If they land on the waste, feed and leave, they are foraging. If they disappear into the heap or a gap beside it, you may have a nest.

• Cover food waste and keep lids closed.
• Bury fruit waste deeper in the heap.
• Do not turn the heap while wasps are active around it.

Bonfire piles and brash heaps

A pile of branches and clippings built up over a few weeks can shelter a nest, particularly one that has gaps at ground level. Never set light to a heap in summer without checking carefully from a distance for wasps. Fire will not solve the problem and could make it dangerous, as angry wasps escape in all directions.

Beyond that, if you intend to burn garden waste, make sure you are aware of the rules and conditions that apply in your area, and check with the local authority. That is outside our work, but it is worth remembering that a bonfire pile is not just a fire risk but a potential wildlife habitat.

If you keep a wormery, water butts, cold frames or a greenhouse in the same area, the same rules apply. Cold frames and greenhouses can be warm and sheltered, and wasps may use gaps under the staging or the corners of the frame. Open nothing quickly, and look inside from the outside first. Watering cans and hoses that are left lying about can also hold a small nest.

It is not unusual for wasps to be attracted by the water as well as the shelter. A leaking tap or a puddle in a quiet corner will draw them to drink, which can lead to a nest in a nearby hollow.

Stored pots, slabs and sacks

Stacks of flower pots, spare paving, bags of compost and rolls of netting create hollows in which wasps can start a nest. A small nest hanging under a stack of pots can be completely hidden until you lift the top one. Slabs laid flat on soil often conceal a ground nest at the edge.

If you need to move any of these things, tap nothing and lift nothing until you have watched the area for several minutes on a warm day. Any wasps arriving or leaving by a particular gap suggest a nest. Leave the items where they are and arrange treatment.

If you have chickens, pets or livestock feed stored in the same area, keep in mind that spilled grain and food can add to the attraction. Store feed in sealed containers, and keep spills cleaned up. Animals disturbed by wasps can react unpredictably, so it is best to keep them away from the affected corner until it is safe.

Do not disturb a pile in order to find out. If you suspect a nest, step away, mark the place in your mind and tell the household.

Getting help

Wasp Nest Removal Essex treats nests wherever they are in the garden, for a fixed £90 only, with each additional nest on the same property at £35 only. Everything we do is fully insured, with one visit guaranteed. Our technician covers Abberton and nearby villages, offering same-day service seven days a week for homes and commercial sites.

Ring 01245 327274 or complete the form on the contact page. Tell us what the pile or heap is made of, how big it is and where the wasps go in, and ask the technician at booking whether the empty nest can be taken down.

Frequently asked questions

More wasp advice for Abberton