UK households urged to spray washing up liquid across their gardens
Wasps are a nightmare whenever temperatures rise as they zip around your garden with their vicious stingers – but experts say washing up liquid can help ward them away. As the UK goes through its third heatwave of the season, many regions across Britain are saw weekend temperatures reach above 30C.
Many of us are planning barbecues, outdoor dinner parties and even just some quality time in the garden. But before you pour yourself a glass of prosecco and pull out a good book, beware of the likely insurgency of all sorts of nuisance insects – including wasps.
Few bugs inspire the same level of fear in British homes as wasps. Due to their painful stingers, most of us try to avoid the mean-spirited yellow insects as much as possible. Although, it is important to remember that wasps will only sting you if they feel threatened, so it's best to avoid swatting them away. Instead, try to stay calm and still until they pass by.
Equally, while there are plenty of chemical wasp-killers on the market, you should avoid those too, as they can be overly harsh and risk wiping out too many insects.
Though they may pose a nuisance, wasps are actually beneficial to your garden's eco-system. Like bees and butterflies, they act as pollinators, encouraging flowers and plants to proliferate.
Luckily, there is a more gentle (and nice-smelling) solution. James Higgins, a gardening expert at Grass247, says: 'You can use essential oils to also create your own homemade wasp repellent.'
He explains: 'Using a spray bottle, mix together a solution of water, a few tablespoons of washing up liquid and a few drops of an essential oil such as peppermint, lavender or clove oil.'
Once you've done that, the application is simple. He continues: 'Lightly spritz this across your garden, focusing on any established wasp nests or places you've seen them frequently.'
Washing up liquid kills wasps by disrupting the wasp's respiratory system. It creates a coating around their bodies and wings, causing them to suffocate and drown.
Meanwhile, using strong-smelling essential oils like peppermint or lavender also helps to deter them from your garden. Wasps primarily rely on their sense of smell to track down food, so oils like these overwhelm their senses.
Another helpful tip for keeping wasps at bay is to make sure your home and garden is as clean as possible. That means not leaving food lying out and keeping outdoor bins away from windows.
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