EXCELLENT
When Is Wasp Season in Retford?
Outbuildings are easy to forget and ideal for nesting wasps, so this guide follows the year from the first spring check to the autumn tidy-up.
The buildings we do not look at
Most people notice a nest on the house because they pass it daily. The shed at the end of the garden, the garage that only holds old boxes, the summerhouse and the greenhouse are another matter. They may go weeks without being opened, and that makes them very appealing to a queen looking for somewhere quiet.
Retford is a market town in north Nottinghamshire, and plenty of properties have an outbuilding or two. A seasonal routine that includes them is a useful addition to any wasp plan.
Outbuildings also tend to be less well maintained than the main house. Small gaps in roof felt, loose boards and cracks in render are quite normal, and each is a possible doorway for a queen in spring.
A quick tour of the whole plot at the start of the year is often enough to find things worth noting. Take a notebook, list each building, and tick it off when it has been checked.
Spring: the first look
Wasps begin building in early April, depending on the weather. That is the time to open up and look round the outside of each outbuilding.
- Check the roofline, the corners and any gap under the eaves.
- Look at the door frame, window frames and any ventilation holes.
- Glance at the ground beside the base of the building for holes.
- Be wary of opening a door that has been shut for months without first watching it for a minute.
A single wasp going repeatedly into a gap is the sign to note. Do not look inside or prod around.
Doing this check early in the year is an advantage for another reason. Sheds are full of things people need in the garden season, and discovering a nest in April rather than after a month of unnoticed growth makes the whole business simpler.
Summer: when it is easy to forget
From June onwards, outbuildings are often used less, as people spend time in the garden and on the patio. A nest can therefore grow unnoticed. The colony expands, and by August it can hold as many as 2,000 wasps.
Fetching a bag of compost or the lawnmower from a shed with a nest in the roof can end badly. If you hear buzzing from inside, or see wasps coming and going from the structure, leave the door closed and keep others away.
Keep a spare route in mind. If the wasps are using the main door of the shed, items you need can often wait a day or two, and the extra inconvenience is far smaller than the risk of reaching in for a spade with a colony overhead.
Late summer and autumn
As the season winds down, the colony declines, but it is not a good moment for a rummage. Wasps are still around and can sting when disturbed.
Once treatment has taken place, or once you are confident the nest is no longer active, it is a good time to tidy. Ask the technician whether the empty nest can be taken down, and consider simple repairs to roof felt, boards or door seals to reduce sheltered gaps.
Storing items off the floor and away from walls can make future inspections easier, as you can see more of the structure at a glance.
If the building is shared, for example a block of garages, a communal store or a unit on a shared yard, let the other users know. A note on the door saying that wasps have been seen is a simple courtesy.
Cold frames, compost bays, old water butts and piles of timber are overlooked spots as well. They are low to the ground and easy to reach, so look from a distance and avoid putting a hand in without checking.
What if the nest is inside?
A nest inside a shed or garage is an awkward case, because the wasps can be in a confined space with you when you open the door. Keep the door shut, step back, and note any wasps coming and going.
Do not try to block the entrance or squirt anything inside. That can leave you dealing with an angry colony in a small space. A technician can reach the nest and treat it, and the price is the same fixed amount as for any other nest.
Some people ask whether it is worth treating a nest in a building that is rarely used. The answer depends on whether anyone goes in or near it. A shed that holds the lawnmower is used all summer, and a nest in it is a good reason to ring.
If the nest is in an old, unused building, consider whether anyone, including children or visitors, might wander in. A padlocked door and a clear warning can make the area safer while the visit is arranged.
Booking a visit
The Wasp Exterminator charges £70 for each nest, and a further nest at the same property is £25 extra. There is no call-out charge, the service runs seven days a week, and same-day visits are offered for homes and businesses.
The price is confirmed on the phone before the technician visits, and might be higher in difficult places needing special access equipment. Nothing is done until you agree. Technicians are fully insured and qualified. To book, phone 07798 792 774 or use the online form, and say which building the nest is in.
It helps to mention the type of building and how the nest can be reached, for instance whether it is in the roof space, a wall cavity or on the outside. The more you can describe from a safe distance, the better.
Wasps on your property in Retford?
Fixed price £70 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.