Get rid of wasps in your garden with cheap household item - 'they can’t stand it'

Summer is well and truly here, kind of. For many of us, we will be outside enjoying a beer garden, having a BBQ or getting together with our family and friends. 

But it means there is an appearance from an unfriendly pest, wasps.

While they are great for flowers and the garden they can be a nuisance.

Fear not though as pest control expert Adam Juson at Merlin Environmental has shared his five cheap and easy hacks to deter wasps this summer.

Coffee powder 

Most of us probably have some in our kitchen cupboards. Even better the hack is cheap, easy and requires little equipment.

All you have to do is simply put some coffee powder in a fire-proof bowl and light it until the granules glow. 

Juson said: “The burning coffee powder gives off smoke and scent that wasps can’t stand. Don’t worry about using fresh coffee - if you have a coffee machine, leftover grounds work just as well. 

“Remember that the coffee grounds will get very hot so keep them out of reach of little ones! On the topic of smoke, almost all smoke will disturb wasps which means incense sticks are a great addition to your outside gathering. Plus, they smell great too!”

Copper coins

Surprisingly another scent that wasps dislike is copper. 

The expert suggested: “Placing 1p and 2p coins around your outside area, along the table and in plant pots, to keep these pests at bay. 

“Alternatively, you could place a copper coin into a bag of water and hang it on door handles around your home and your outside area to prevent wasps from coming near.”

Essential oils

Perhaps a nicer smelling deterrent in saying goodbye to those wasps is essential oils. 

“Citronella is a classic repellent and comes from lemongrass. It’s most commonly added to candles which can be lit during al fresco meal times to boost the atmosphere and deter wasps,” Juson said. 

“Tea tree is another scent that wasps hate but you might struggle to find a tea tree candle. Instead, place bowls of tea tree and water around your outside area and along your dinner table. 

“Basil and garlic are two other scents that will naturally deter wasps. So consider placing pots of basil along your BBQ table. When it comes to garlic, you could either plan a garlic-infused spread or add to water and spray in areas that you don’t want wasps to be attracted to.”

Cover up

Covering your food and drinks is a great way to minimise wasps. The expert suggested: “This is because they’re attracted to sweet smells and will be on the hunt for food and water.”

However, did you know that the clothes you wear can also have an impact on how many wasps are around? 

“Wasps are attracted to light and bright colours so choose muted or dark colours for your summer outfit. If you do want to wear something bright, then opt for red! Wasps can’t see red so it’s a safe choice!”

The paper bag trick 

Finally, why not grab a brown paper bag, scrunch it up and make it look like a wasp's nest? 

The pro added: “Hang it nearby and wasps will think it’s a rival hive and stay clear from the area. It sounds simple but it really works!”