How To Get Rid of Wasps Naturally

A safe and eco-friendly solution can be the use of wasp repellent sprays which are made organically. Add few drops of the oils such as peppermint, clove and lemongrass to water. The use of such oils will repel the wasps due to the strong smell that comes with them.

Mix 10-15 drops of each in a spray bottle filled with water, and shake before use. You can directly spray this mixture in the holes where the wasp’s nest or areas that they sneak in or where you have spotted them to be most active.

Making a homemade wasp trap is a budget-friendly way to reduce the population of wasps. You just have to take an empty plastic bottle and cut off the top, inverting it to make a funnel. After that, fill it with sugar water, vinegar, or fruit juice mixture for luring the wasps.

Wasps will get inside and struggle to get out until they drown. Place these traps away from common areas because this will help in luring them away from human activity. Check and replace the baits regularly for effectiveness.

A mixture of liquid dish soap in a spray bottle filled with water is an effective, environmentally friendly solution to any wasp problem. The soap coats the wings and body of wasps, and results in the insects' suffocation.

This will be ideal for small nests or solitary wasps. Spray directly on wasps or into the opening of the nest itself. Reapply as necessary to make sure all wasps will be reached. This will not be harmful to plants, pets, and children, thus it is practical for a lot of households.

Add a few drops of essential oil to water in a spray bottle and apply it around infested areas. You can choose any oil: peppermint, lavender or rosemary.

These oils will have a strong fragrance to keep wasps away from building nests. For effectiveness, spray regularly, or after every rain. Essential oils keep the wasp away while giving your yard a pleasant, sweet aroma.

Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a natural powder made from fossilized algae. It works by piercing and dehydrating the exoskeletons of insects, including wasps. Sprinkle food-grade DE around nest entrances, wasp activity areas, or along pathways where wasps travel.

It is important to apply DE in dry conditions as moisture can reduce its effectiveness. Regular application is necessary to maintain its effectiveness, especially after rain or irrigation.

Using CO2 or freezer sprays to eliminate wasps involves freezing them instantly. These sprays release a cold blast of carbon dioxide, which rapidly lowers the temperature, freezing wasps and their nests.

This method is effective for quick removal and does not leave harmful residues in the environment. It is best used for small nests that are easily accessible. Wear protective clothing and follow safety guidelines to avoid direct contact with the freezing agent, which can cause skin burns.

The simplest and most effective way of killing wasps is by pouring boiling water directly into their nests. The hot water scalds the wasps to death.

It is best suited for ground nests or accessible locations. Larger nests may require repeated applications of this treatment. Carefully avoid injury and ensure safety with protective clothing.

Boiling water does not contain any chemical in its content; however, there is a chance of changing the soil structure surrounding the spot being treated so that selectivity is in order.

The smokes repel the wasps by creating a smoked environment around the nest. You can do this either by using the bee smoker or by making a little smoke near the entrance of the nest. The effect of smoke is that it confuses the wasps and they temporarily abandon the nest.

Keep a fire extinguisher to help prevent accidents and avoid using this method near anything flammable. The smoke is non-toxic but must be handled carefully with care for avoiding the accidents.

The pungent smell of peels from oranges, lemons, or grapefruits acts like a natural repellent to wasps. Place fresh peels around where the nests are, along entry points, or wherever the wasp activities are.

The smell deters them from settling in this spot. Replace these regularly so that the function is not compromised. Citrus peels also give off nice fragrances to your garden or outdoor space.

Mint will keep wasps off your house due to its pungent odor. They do not like the smell that this plant has, so they may not nest nearby. For ease, plant them in pots or dig into garden beds around windows and outdoor living areas.

Mint is also an easy-to-grow herb that can be used for cooking and drinks. Do not forget to prune them regularly, so new shoots will grow, maintaining the processes of releasing scents.

The fine mesh netting is used as a guard to avoid entry of wasps into your home. Start with netting your eaves, all the ventilation outlets, windows, and other accesses to the building.

Make the netting tight and free from gaps so that no wasps can get through them. It should be inspected regularly and replaced to ensure their effectiveness. Thus, netting is a long-term solution to wasp problems which is nontoxic as well.

Seal all gaps, cracks, and holes around windows and doors that might be an entry point for wasps. Use caulk, weather stripping, or any method you know to seal entry points.

Check your house regularly to see whether new gaps are developing. Seal them right away. This way, your house will be free from wasp infestation for an extended period. You remove entry points so that wasps will not nest inside wall voids or attics.

Hanging fake wasp nests around your property can deter new colonies from forming. Wasps are territorial and tend to avoid areas where other colonies already exist.

Commercially available fake nests can be hung in eaves, trees, or other potential nesting sites. Ensure that the fake nests are placed early in the season before wasps start building real nests. Fake nests provide a visual deterrent that helps prevent wasp infestations.

Natural predators, such as birds and certain insects, can be invited to help suppress wasp populations. Birds that feed on flying insects, like swallows, feed on wasps. Birdhouses and bird feeders will attract these types of birds to your yard.

Insectivorous plants, like pitcher plants, eat wasps as a form of nutrition.

If one does not want to get stung by wasps; their nests should be removed in an effective and safe manner. Professionals dealing in pest control have the proper equipment, as well as insecticides, to handle big or persistent nests.

They can assess your property, find the nesting sites, and apply treatments as necessary. Professionals will also advise you on preventive measures to ward off the infestation in the future.

This method is the best for severe wasp infestation issues or when out-of-reach nests are present. Professional services offer a guarantee that the wasps will be eliminated safely.

Wasps are flying insects, mostly mistaken for bees because of their appearance. However, wasps belong to yet another category based on ecological role and can be differentiated with slender bodies and narrow waists.

Yellow Jackets

The yellow jacket is a small, aggressive wasp with a black body having yellow stripes. Unlike bees, most of which are rather docile, yellow jackets are bold and will sting without hesitation in defense. 

They also have elongated, transparent wings that lay vertically with the body at rest.

These wasps are often confused with bees. But they are hairier and have a more rounded abdomen. Their hind legs are flattened and hairy. 

Mud Daubers

Mud daubers are only 0.5 to 1 inch in length. Their bodies are black with yellow markings and metallic sheen. They have a long, slender waist connected to the thorax.

These wasps also have transparent, dark wings. An effective way to identify them is their nests. They build their nests with mud, hence the name. Unlike other wasps, they are not aggressive.

Paper Wasps

Paper wasps are 0.75 to 1.25 inches with a defined waist and long gels that dangle when they fly, like a mosquito. Their abdomen is pointed at the tip with black or brown with yellow markings. They have black wings that lie flat rest.

They build their nests with wood fibers gathered from plants, which the wasps chew into a paper-like substance. This material is used to create hexagonal cells that join together, forming a nest. 

Green Wasps

Green wasps might be easier to identify because of their vibrant metallic green body. They are 0.75 inches long with a narrow waist and pitted exoskeleton, which can only be seen under a microscope. These wasps have two pairs of membranous wings.

Although wasps are part of an ecosystem and can be beneficial, they can be damaging to your homes and gardens. Here's a breakdown of the potential problems:

In Gardens

Not all wasps are carnivorous and eat other insects. Some are herbivores and feed on the plants in your garden. They feed on the sweet juices of fruits and leave your harvest blemished.

Wasps damage in garden by feeding on the stems and leaves, hindering the plant's growth and flowering. 

They are also attracted to the nectars of flowers, which affect pollination rates of your garden flowers. Apart from feeding, they use wood fibers from wooden structures in your home and garden, like furniture, fences, or sheds, and damage them. 

In Homes

The most dangerous thing in the home is a wasp sting. When you try to remove their nests, they will protect it by stinging any person that comes too close, which may cause an allergic reaction.

While they may not necessarily sting you to any great extent, having large numbers visiting can be a nuisance and disturbance to your daily life. Their nests also harbor moisture and thus could, over an extended period, cause small structural problems if left unchecked.

Here are ways to keep wasps away from home and garden:

Remove Attractants

The main reason why wasps invade your homes and garden is the food mess. If you wonder what wasps eat, they eat a lot of things and they are in love with sweet and proteinous things like hot dogs, burgers, steaks, sodas, and ice creams. 

For avoiding it, regularly clean the yard and fix leakages in outside plumbing to get rid of standing water.

Keep Trash Covered

Wasps have been a real issue in the backyard lately if you hadn't noticed, and for them: our garbage cans are chock-full of food waste, garbage, and poorly washed recycled containers. These wasps just love rotting meat.

For this reason, it is not sufficient just to discard food to try to keep wasps away. Make sure that your garbage can is sealed tightly with a lid so the wasps do not make trash a smorgasbord.

Spray Down Decks and Patios

Another good way to keep wasps away from your yard is to keep your home and yard clean. Mix equal parts of vinegar and water with a couple of drops of liquid dish soap in a spray bottle.

Spray down surfaces you do not want the wasps to linger on with this solution. Vinegar is sour enough to deter them from landing on the cleaned surface.

The solution evaporates, and hence this spray does not have a long-lasting repellant effect. You may have to continuously spray the surfaces you want to clean with this solution, particularly after rain or high winds.

Patch Up Cracks

Wasps also build nests in the tiny cracks around your home, foundation/hollows on the ground, edges of siding, and holes in window screens. You can try to prevent wasps from building in these little crevices and gaps by patching them up.

The best time to do so is in late fall or early spring when the wasps are dead or inactive. To fill the gaps, mix the caulk or expanding foam sealant in the right proportions.

However, do not seal them if the nests are in the walls of your house. They will not die in there. They would leave through or chew out of the wall.