The 10p trick to keep wasps out of your garden all summer long – and it’s probably already in your kitchen cupboards
AS the weather begins to warm up you might be looking forward to spending some time soaking up the sunshine in your garden.
But wasps are likely also on the hunt for the perfect place to build their nests ready for the summertime.
It’s a common misconception that wasps are most common during the summer months, but if you want to stop them from appearing, it’s actually in early spring that you need to take action.
This is when the pests begin to look for quiet places to build their nests, this includes places like lofts and boiler cupboards.
That’s why it’s important to take steps to stop them now—the good news is you don’t have to break the bank to do so.
Chris Hutton, storage expert and owner of Adam’s SelfStore, recently suggested using coffee grounds as a quick and natural deterrent for wasps.
“Wasps have a surprisingly strong sense of smell,” he told Express.co.uk.
“They rely heavily on scent to identify potential nesting areas, and they’re incredibly sensitive to certain odours, coffee being one of them.
“The smell released by smouldering coffee grounds overwhelms their senses and makes an area feel unsafe or unsuitable to settle in,” he added.
Not only that, but coffee grounds are safe if you have pets and don’t require the use of strong chemicals.
And if you don’t already have some at home, this trick works out at around 10p – since you only need a small amount of grounds, which can be bought for as little as £3 from Asda.
So, here’s what you need to know if you want to try this trick out for yourself.
After enjoying some coffee, hold on to the grounds and let them totally dry out before placing around a tablespoon into a container.
A metal dish or ashtray is a good choice, as the container needs to be fireproof for this hack.
Keep pests out all summer
IF you want to ensure that your home is pest free this summer, here's what you need to know.
Hornets and wasps – hate the smell of peppermint oil so spraying this liberally around your patio or balcony can help to keep them at bay.
Moths – acidic household white vinegar is effective for deterring moths. Soak some kitchen roll in vinegar and leave it in your wardrobe as a deterrent.
Flying ants – herbs and spices, such as cinnamon, mint, chilli pepper, black pepper, cayenne pepper, cloves, or garlic act as deterrents.
Mosquitoes – plants, herbs and essential oil fragrances can help deter mozzies inside and out. Try eucalyptus, lavender and lemongrass.
Then you can simply light the coffee grounds and allow them to smoulder.
The smoky scent will deter wasps from entering your garden.
If you have a large garden you might want to use the hack in a few different spots to ensure it works.
Near window sills, and extractor fans also works well as these are spots wasps can try and enter homes.
And if you do want to try the trick inside, simply repeat the process but make sure to leave windows open.
Tips for keeping pests from your garden
- Plant companion plants such as peppermint to repel rats.
- Place Garden Netting Pest Barrier, over your flowerbeds.
- Fill open-top containers with beer and place in soil to repel slugs.
- Spray plants with Neem Oil, to repel ants, flies, and spiders.
- Dust your flowerbeds with Diatomaceous Earth.
- Mix 1 tablespoon dish soap, 10 drops peppermint oil, and 4 cups water and spray on flowerbeds.
- Place eggshells around your plants to protect from slugs and snails.