Keeping wasps away from your property isn’t easy. You don’t want intrusive stinging insects bothering you every time you walk out the door, but eliminating these pests can be dangerous and frustrating. Unless you can physically see a nest, it can be hard to tell why wasps are prowling your yard, but you could be attracting wasps without even realizing it. That’s why you should learn a few easy ways to repel wasps from your Charlotte yard.
About Wasps In Charlotte
Many species of bees and wasps call South Carolina home. The sights and sounds of flying insects are a feature of the warm weather, and while it’s something you might get used to living in Charlotte, that doesn’t mean you want wasps in your yard. Here’s a look at a few common types of wasps you may encounter:
Yellowjackets: Named for their bright yellow coloration, these wasps typically measure 1/2 inch in length. They can build large nests with thousands of members either below or above ground.
Paper wasps: Paper wasps construct nests composed of a thin, paper-like structure. There are several species of paper wasps varying in color and size, but all can be identified for their nest-making abilities.
Cicada killers: These gigantic wasps can measure up to two inches in length. Cicada killers are solitary hunters and build their nests in underground burrows. While they won’t share nests, many individuals can populate the same area.
Things That Attract Wasps To Your Yard
If you’re noticing wasps in your yard, there are probably some features of your property that are attracting them:
- Food and trash: Your food is highly desirable for wasps. They will steal bits of barbecue and slurp up soda spills if given the chance. Open trash containers and unattended food and beverages are an invitation to wasps.
- Prey insects: If you have a large population of insects in your yard, wasps on the hunt are more likely to appear. Overgrown hedges, rotting logs, and compost heaps can all contribute to breeding the insects that wasps feed on.
- Flowering plants: Wasps like a good sip of nectar and will feed on sweet flowers and fruit-bearing trees. While wasps can help pollinate your plants, plants can also attract wasps.
Four Ways To Repel Wasps
But just as you can attract wasps to your yard, you can also repel them. These four tips are simple but essential:
- Yard work: Maintaining a tidy yard is about more than appearances. By regularly cutting the grass, pulling weeds, and trimming hedges, you reduce places for bugs to hide. If you have any fallen trees, rotting logs, or large stones, consider removing them.
- Trash disposal: Make sure all food waste is properly disposed of. Clean up any outdoor spills quickly and throw away all garbage in a receptacle with a tight-fitting lid.
- Repairs: You can keep wasps from building nests on your property by replacing damaged siding and panels. Fill in any holes in the ground where wasps are nesting. Be sure to patch any tears in screen doors and windows so wasps can’t get indoors.
- Gardening: Wasps are repelled by a number of common plants including lemongrass, basil, marigolds, and wormwood. Incorporate these into your garden to reduce the presence of wasps.
These four steps can help reduce the presence of wasps in your yard, but if you have a severe infestation, eliminating wasps isn’t something you should try to handle on your own. But with Go-Forth Home Services, you can trust that your wasp problem will be gone for good with our professional, customer-oriented service. We have years of experience in safely removing wasp nests around the Triad, and with our residential pest control plans, we can prevent wasps and other pests from inhabiting your Charlotte property again. Contact us today for your free quote.