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This may not be the correct forum but I hope it is!
Every year we have red wasps all around our house. I don't know what is so appealing because with my black thumb, all I cultivate are weeds. I've tried the shoot from far away sprays and the wasp traps (get in but can't get out) and can never seem to get rid of them.
Any suggestions? We have a large covered porch and find it hard to go out there during the summer because the wasps are so bad. And when we run our sprinkler (for our kids to play in and water the weeds ) they come out like crazy! So here in Texas where our couple of weeks of spring are about to be over, I'd like to have a wasp-free summer!
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Do you see nests? We don't get red wasps but we do get the black or the black and yellow kind. They build nests all over the place. During the summer we walk the perimeter of the house and outbuildings weekly looking for new nests then we just knock them down while they're still small.
If you're having a picnic, scatter shallow bowls of fresh baking soda around the food table and eating area. The wasps keep away for some reason - I don't know why, but it works.
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I just call the exterminator for ours. It would be unbearable if I didn't.
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Originally Posted by Cookie2
Do you see nests? We don't get red wasps but we do get the black or the black and yellow kind. They build nests all over the place. During the summer we walk the perimeter of the house and outbuildings weekly looking for new nests then we just knock them down while they're still small.
If you're having a picnic, scatter shallow bowls of fresh baking soda around the food table and eating area. The wasps keep away for some reason - I don't know why, but it works.
I have them trying to nest by our front door. It has gotten better for the last few years as we started being proactive. dh sprays just as it starts to get nice out. we spray the area where they try and nest.
thanks for the baking soda tip, I'll be trying it.
allgirls
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I have a wasp nest story ...
A couple of summers ago we were having trouble with wasps bothering us when we were outside. We couldn't figure out where they were coming from so we figured they had nested in a nearby evergreen tree. Nothing would bother them among all those poky needles!
One day we had friends over and the kids were looking for a specific toy. Hubby and I looked around the yard but couldn't find it. That's when I thought that maybe it had been put away last season in one of the wood bins that act as additional seating on the deck. We don't store much wood in them and do use them to store seasonal items. I opened one of the bins and inside, attached to a log, is a paper wasp nest the size of a beach ball!
Hubby and I just stared at the nest then stared at each other in that, "What do we do now?" kind of disbelief.
Here's the stupid part ...
We eventually decided to get a garbage bag. I would hold the bag open while hubby reached in and removed the log and the nest and slowly lower it into the garbage bag. Then we'd take the garbage bag away from the gathering, spray inside and dispose of it in the large trash bin. The plan worked beautifully but how we avoided getting stung I'll never know.
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I watched a show on PBS about bees. They mentioned that bees recognize the shape of items not necessarily the smell of sweetness. they recognize the shape of the picnic table u use year after year. and it doesn't matter if u move the table b/c it recognizes the shape not the location. It was very interesting. that was awhile back and that was all I remembered.
allgirls
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We have wasps around our swing set. Thinking of hanging one of those wasp traps up, do those really work or not
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my neighbot has them and says they are good. I am still too scared to "attrack" them.
allgirls
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I might get brave enough to try one then
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I read somewhere- I forget where- (I think it was a gardening magazine or a thrifty website) about hanging a plastic bag (or brown bag)in a tree- I guess it will mimic a wasp nest and I suppose wasp will not build a nest where there is another nest. Sorry i am forgetful about it- i will try to find it again so I can be more helpful!