Wasp's Nest in the Middle of Heather Clump

You could end up by making the wasps very angry. It's best, in my opinion, to just keep using the powder all around as it's poisonous to them. At least I think it is.

Has anyone been stung or are the wasps menacing anybody? They usually predate on other insects - aphids, caterpillars, etc.

If the wasps aren't bothering you it might be best to leave it alone. We had one once in a bush quite near the front door and we just ignored it. They all die in the autumn anyway. They are more likely to attack you if you disturb them.

They have not stung yet, but this may be because the nest is so new and they will be busy expanding it. It is in a very awkward position and will prevent me from maintaining that bit of garden which has a tendency to get very, very weedy. It was this that I was doing when I discovered the nest. I also had to stop trimming the heather and am not happy about that as it could get a bit leggy now.

Furthermore, it is close to the back wall and windows. These cannot be kept closed during summer and they are bound to find their way into the house if they are left to increase the colony.

Your local council will have a pest control department and it might be worth asking them to deal with it in that case.

The powder takes about a week to work as they will walk it and end up cleaning them selves .... and they will slowly digest it and die ...

if in the wrong spot it is dangerous another forum I was on a lady got stung over 7 times as she was weeding her allotment ended up in hospital.

I have used a hose , its the wasps returning to the nest thats the problem best stick with the powder ......

We have had problems with wasps in the past and tolerated them, but I have to say that a bee man we know recommends that wasps' nests should be dealt with if in an inconvenient position. I agree with Steragram, and suggest you contact the council.

I've been stung by a wasp once but will never forget the pain. It's the worst of all insect stings.

I got seven once when I strimmed over a nest I hadn't seen as it was in some rough ground with long grass.
Seems I was lucky to get away with it. The little horrors chased me as I ran away. Its amazing how they ignore the shirt and go straight for the skin...
This is the first year we haven't had a nest somewhere in the garden - can't say I'm missing it much.

I was stung a couple of years back as I was cycling. It got onto my arm and I could not brush it off as I was trying to cycle with one hand and swat the thing with the other. Damn painful at the time, but the reaction died down after an hour or 2.

I'll give the powder a few days and see what happens. I know that the council will come out but think that may only be if the nest is attached to the house.

I remember when I was quite young. A nest was built on the branch of a flowering currant bush. I pulled on an old duffle coat, drew the hood up, put on some gardening gloves and sealed myself up as best as possible. I slipped a plastic bag over the nest on the branch, gripped it at the opening to seal it, cut the branch with some secateurs and quickly dropped the bag, branch and nest over the fence. Then I dropped a concrete slab on the bag with the nest in it. That worked!

you are lucky I go into anaphylactic shock from wasp stings.

I'd seek professional help to be honest.

The Council's pest controllers will come out wherever the nest is located. I believe they levy a charge these days, but they'll give you that info when you call. Your DIY efforts should work, though, without the need to call them in.

I get them very often around my house. They can use the tiniest hole to build a nest. I tried to spray them myself many times with stuff I buy from D.I.Y shops, but with no effect. I then call in the professionals and costs me hundreds of pounds each time. I do not know what they spray them with, but they all disappear after half an hour in order to come back the following year and built a nest nearby.
I never thought of the council. They might do it cheaper.

I have used the council before for a nest in my garage. It was some years ago and at that time it cost around £30.

So far, the activity has been very quiet around the nest. Despite it having rained overnight and during the day today. I will give it a day or so and then try to check if it is 'dead' before having an attempt at destroying it.

BTW..... wasps will not use the same nest again, as I understand it.

You are right about them not using the same nest again, once the main wasps die in the Autumn and the Queen/s hibernate (usually in a fold of your curtains) the nest is empty. We have had them in the roof and left them alone to do their thing and this year I thought there was one in the lawn (weedy grass), but haven't seen any more activity there since. Put a stick in the grass to remind me where it was - perhaps they didn't like the maypole! They can get a bit 'antsy' about September time.

They do, Honeysuckle. I understand that they feed off a sugary substance produced by the larvae. When the larvae hatch, they have to forage outside the nest for food. That's when they become a nuisance.