Wasps Are Back—How to Keep Them Off Your Porch for Good

Warmer weather is arriving, which means that wasps are on the hunt for a new place to set up shop. If you don’t want them choosing your covered porch, deck, or, even worse, your attic, as a summer home, then you need to take action. Given how hard it can be to remove wasps once they’ve established a nest, it’s far better to nip the problem in the bud by preventing them from setting up shop in the first place. Here’s how to deter wasps. 

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Seal entry points

Wasps love to build their nest around overhangs and in gaps in and round structures. Make an inspection of your house and look for the following: holes or gaps in roof eaves and soffits, cracks in siding, gaps around windows and doors, openings in and around vent pipes. Use caulk to fill cracks and small gaps. For larger gaps, you can use expanding foam. Cover any open vents with wire mesh. By keeping these areas covered, you’ll prevent wasps from building nests. 

Eliminate food sources

Wasps are attracted by food sources, so trash cans outside your home are like magnets to wasps. You can discourage them by tightly tying up garbage bags and keeping lids closed. This prevents the wasps from getting to the food source. 

Be Strategic when planting flowers

Wasps are pollinators. Like bees and other pollinators, they’re attracted to flowers. Don't plant flowers in close proximity to your house. Instead, limit them to parts of your yard that are away from the home and any living spaces. 

Pick Up Fruit

Wasps love fruit, especially when it’s rotting. While you may not be able to move your existing fruit trees, you can keep them tidy. Pick up any fruit that falls on the crowd before it starts to ferment. 

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Water Sources

Wasps need water to survive. Eliminate any standing water that can attract wasps, such as bird baths, unused planter pots, clogged gutters, and places in your yard where there is standing water. Not only will this reduce your wasp activity but also cut down on mosquitoes. 

Try Natural Repellents

Like many insects, wasps can’t stand certain scents. You can use this to your advantage. Wasps hate such oils as peppermint, citronella, eucalyptus, and mint. Create a wasp deterrent that consists of one tablespoon of essential oil and four cups of water plus a dash of dish soap, which  helps the spray to cling to surfaces. Spray the solution on areas where you see wasp activity, such as under covered porches or at roof eaves. 

Hang Decoys

Wasps are extremely territorial, so they are very unlikely to nest in areas that are already occupied. You can fool them into thinking there are no vacancies around your house by hanging decoys. These decoys look exactly like wasps nests. You can purchase one or build your own. Simply hang the decoy where you see wasp activity, such as on porches, under eaves, or under decks to discourage new colonies. Keep in mind the effect of a decoy is temporary. Eventually wasps will figure out that the nest isn’t a real nest. 

Inspect Your Home

The best time to eliminate a nest is when it’s just starting. As temperatures get warmer, inspect your home a couple of times a week. Do a walkaround, looking specifically at certain spots:

• Roof overhangs
• Porch ceilings
• Sheds
• Deck joists
• Fence posts

If you happen to be outside and see a wasp, follow it to see where it goes. If you find a nest while it's still small, you can remove it using wasp killer spray without having to pay for a professional pest control service. 

Conclusion

When it comes to preventing wasps from nesting around your home, it’s crucial to take a proactive approach. Sealing a few gaps, caulking cracks, hanging decoys, and simply paying attention to wasp activity around your house in the spring is a lot easier than dealing with a full blown wasps nest.