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

A neat stack of logs against a hedge is full of dry gaps, and wasps know it, so the first sign of trouble often comes when you reach for kindling.

Why log stacks suit wasps

A pile of logs is an ideal shelter. The gaps between the pieces stay dry, the bark keeps out the wind, and the wood absorbs warmth in the sun. Place it against a hedge and you have a sheltered place with vegetation on one side and cover on the other.

Wasps also gather fibres from weathered wood to make their nest paper, so a stack of old, dry logs is a source of materials as well as shelter.

Stacks of timber are not the only items to treat with caution. Pallets, stacked fencing panels, bags of kindling and bundles of canes leaned against a hedge can all provide the same type of shelter. If wasps are in the area, look at these too.

Hedge and stack together form a corridor of cover, and the wasps may use both. Even if the nest is in the hedge, the stack could be where you come into contact with it, simply because you are standing there reaching in.

That is why the safest course is to leave both alone until the visit has taken place, and to tell the technician about the stack as well as the hedge, so they can look at the whole area.

Before you reach for a log

People tend to approach the stack with arms full or a basket in hand, and often at dusk or in the cold, when they are not paying attention. Take a short look first:

• Watch the stack for a minute from a few metres away.
• Look for wasps entering gaps in the pile or the hedge behind it.
• Listen for a hum from within the stack.
• Check the ground at the base for holes.

Pay particular attention in late summer and autumn, when you start to restock.

Late summer is the usual time for trouble, because that is when stacks are replenished for winter. You may be handling logs more often, and the colony is at its peak. If you have a log store with a roof, check the roof void as well as the wood itself.

Leave the stack as it is

If you see wasps, do not move the logs. Lifting a piece shifts the whole pile, and a nest hidden inside is exposed in an instant. Avoid reaching in for kindling, tapping the wood to clear spiders or pulling out a log from the middle.

If you need fuel in the meantime, use another source, such as a store inside a shed or a bag bought in. Do not restock the pile with new logs while wasps are active.

The hedge behind the stack may also hold part of the nest, so do not trim it either.

It is also worth thinking about the roof of a log store. Corrugated sheets and felt covers can be a good hiding place, and the gap between the roof and the wall is a typical entrance. Look up as well as along.

Do not climb on the roof or lean over the store to see inside. Photograph it from a distance and describe what you see.

Moving the stack afterwards

Once the nest has been treated, ask the technician when you can touch the logs. When you do, take them down slowly, one at a time, from the outside, and stop if you see any wasps. Wear gloves and sturdy footwear, since the pile may also hold spiders or other creatures.

It is a good idea to restack the logs further from the hedge, ideally on a raised base so air can pass underneath. Wasps will still find ways in, but you will be able to see all sides and spot any activity early.

Check the stack from late April onwards when you collect fuel, as new colonies start building then.

It may be worth mentioning to anyone who helps with deliveries of logs. A load of timber arriving in a barrow or on a trailer is likely to be stacked in a hurry, and they should be told about the nest before they start.

If someone is stung

Move away from the stack and the hedge, wash the sting, remove it if you can see it and apply a cold pack. Make sure the person sits down and is watched for a time.

Call 999 if you notice swelling of the face, lips or throat, wheezing or difficulty breathing, dizziness or a widespread rash. Anyone with a known allergy should discuss it with their GP, and should tell us at booking.

Leave the basket or barrow where it was dropped until the wasps have settled.

If the stack is large and the wasps are heavy, consider whether you can leave the whole thing for a few days, even if it is inconvenient. A cold evening without a fire is a small price compared with a stinging.

Booking

Wasp Nest Removal Essex covers Wormingford and the surrounding villages. A nest costs £90 to treat, a fixed price with one visit guaranteed, and a further nest on the same property is £35 more. We are open every day, offer same-day service and are fully insured.

The booking line is 01245 327274 or submit the form on the contact page. Tell us how the stack is arranged against the hedge and whether the logs can be reached from the front. If it is a commercial site with larger stocks of timber, say so.

After the treatment, ask whether the empty nest can be taken down, and whether it would be wise to move the logs a good distance from the hedge. The technician can give you a sensible view on both.

Frequently asked questions

More wasp advice for Wormingford