Wasp Nest in a Hedge or Bush – What Great Bentley Garden Owners Should Know

The strip of grass along the foot of a hedge is the most awkward part of any garden to cut, and a nest there is rarely seen until the strimmer arrives.

The strip nobody can mow

Every hedge has a strip of grass or weeds along its base that the mower cannot reach. It is normally tackled with a strimmer or hand shears, held close to the ground and very close to the hedge. That puts the operator right at the point where a ground-level wasp nest is most likely to be.

The vegetation at the foot of a hedge is thick, so you cannot see a hole until you are on top of it. A strimmer’s noise and vibration then alert the colony at the worst moment.

The same applies to the edges of paths and the line where a hedge meets a fence or wall. Gaps and hollows at these joins offer good shelter, and strimming along them is a regular job. Include them in your walk-round before you begin.

Signs at the base of the hedge

Before you start the engine, walk slowly along the strip with nothing in your hands, keeping a couple of metres from the hedge. Watch for:

• Wasps rising from the grass as you walk by.
• A patch of bare, crumbly soil where the grass has thinned.
• A small hole with wasps landing at its edge.
• Stems that look chewed or stripped near the roots of the hedge.

It is much easier to see these things in the morning, when the sun lights the strip at a low angle and the wasps are just beginning to move.

Dry weather helps wasps tunnel into loose soil, and a nest started in spring may only be a few centimetres below the surface. Bare, crumbly earth beside a hedge, in a place where grass was thick last month, is worth a second look from a distance.

Stopping at the first warning

If wasps appear when you are already working, release the trigger and turn off the machine at once. Walk away from the hedge, steadily and in a straight line. Do not drop the strimmer in a panic if you can help it, since a dropped, running machine is another danger.

It is tempting to keep going for a moment more to finish a section. Do not. A few seconds longer can mean the difference between one sting and dozens.

Once you are away from the hedge, check yourself and anyone with you for stings. Wasps can get inside trouser legs and sleeves, so shake out your clothes outdoors, and not in the house.

Ride-on and push-along mowers that run close to the hedge need the same treatment as strimmers. Do not take them to the edge of the lawn until you are sure it is clear.

A good rule is to treat any sudden drop in the noise of your machine, caused by the blade hitting something, as a signal to stop. Check what it hit, from a distance, before restarting.

Work the strip in a safer way

Until the nest has been treated, leave the strip uncut. Grass at the foot of a hedge can wait a couple of weeks without harm. If it is crowding the hedge or covering a path, tell the technician and ask when to cut.

When you do return to it, start with hand tools and a slow approach. Cut a short stretch, stop and look, and then carry on. Wear sturdy footwear and long trousers, which protect against thorns and stray wasps, although they do not make it safe to work next to a nest.

Do not use a petrol strimmer first, as the noise can make it difficult to hear any warning hum.

If you have a long hedge, consider doing the strip in sections, starting at the end furthest from where you saw wasps, and finishing the whole job only after the nest is gone. Two small sessions are better than one rushed one.

Take the strimmer’s guard seriously too. It is there to protect your legs from flying debris, and it will also deflect some wasps. Make sure it is fitted correctly.

If you are stung on the legs

Move away from the hedge and take off any clothing the wasps may be inside. Once clear of the hedge, hold a cold pack against the skin, take the sting out if you can see it and wash the sting with water. Keep the leg raised if it swells a little.

Ring 999 if the person has swelling of the face, lips or throat, wheezing or difficulty breathing, dizziness or a widespread rash. People with a known allergy should speak to their GP.

Tell the technician where you were stung, as it helps to find the entrance.

Keep any dog or child away from the area while you wait. A ground nest is just as dangerous to a small person or an animal as to an adult, and they are less likely to notice the warning signs.

Mention the shape of the hedge too: a tall, thin boundary leaves little room at the base, while a wide one hides more ground. Either way, the entrance will be somewhere at the foot of the plant.

Booking

Wasp Nest Removal Essex covers Great Bentley and nearby villages. A nest is treated for a fixed £90 fee, with one visit guaranteed, and another nest on the same property is £35 more. We are open seven days a week, offer same-day appointments and are fully insured for homes and commercial sites.

Our number is 01245 327274 or book online through the contact page. Say if the hedge runs along a lane or a neighbour’s garden, and whether the strip at its base is accessible. Mention any allergy at home so the visit can be prioritised.

If the entrance is in a verge or lane edge, mention it. Different positions need different approaches, and the technician will want to know how to park and where to work.

Frequently asked questions

More wasp advice for Great Bentley