The 49p plant that keeps wasps away – it flowers until September & fills your garden with gorgeous fragrance
THERE'S nothing better than lying out in your garden and soaking up the sun.
And don't worry if your space seems prone to wasps because a handy hack can help to repel them.
And since the current heatwave likely means more barbecues and garden get togethers, wasp season is officially here.
If you want to enjoy your summer drinks and al fresco dining without worrying about these buzzing pests, you can swap out a chemical spray for a natural deterrent.
With wasp populations increasing even further in July, now is the time to act.
Thankfully, one of summer's most popular plants can double as a natural wasp repellent.
But you'll want to get it in the ground now as once wasps beging building nests they become a lot more difficult to remove.
That's when things get really costly, with professional removal fees reaching up to £241.
Liam Cleary, who works as an outdoor plants expert at Old Railway Line Garden Centre, revealed that planting lavender is a simple and affordable solution to your wasp problem.
'Wasps are highly sensitive to strong scents, and lavender is one they really don't like," he explained.
"Planting it near seating areas, doorways, or patios can help mask the smells that attract them, like food, sugary drinks, or perfumes.'
Lavender contains essential oils like linalool and camphor, which give it that distinctive floral smell.
I tried the best ways to stop mosquitoes on your summer hols - from sprays, patches & bracelets, one was a dud and stank
And while this scent is pleasant to humans it can be overwhelming to wasps, which rely heavily on scent to detect food.
But don't worry, pollinator insects will still be drawn to this garden plant.
And since lavender is drought-tolerant, you don't have to worry about it in the summer heat.
You can pick up a pot of lavender for £6 from Ikea, or lavender seeds for as little as 49p can be found at The Range.
'It's low maintenance, smells incredible, and keeps your garden feeling calm, all while helping you enjoy a wasp-free zone," the expert added.
Keep pests out all summer
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 mossies inside and out. Try eucalyptus, lavender and lemongrass.
If you're planning to add lavender to your outdoor space, choose a sunny spot.
Lavender loves full sun and well-drained soil, so avoid shaded or damp areas.
Be careful not to overwater as this can cause lavender to wilt or rot.
And if you're particularly prone to wasp visits, try planting lavender alongside mint, thyme, or lemongrass for an extra layer of protection.
Wasps are known become more aggressive from late June into August as their colonies grow and natural food sources decline.
This makes them more likely to pester humans for sugary snacks and drinks so you may want to cover your food and drinks when enjoying time in the sun.
2
You should also avoid wearing bright clothing and strong perfumes if you want to steer clear of these stinging pests.
Finally, keep these insects away from your home by sealing your bins and compost this summer.
A 22p item from your kitchen cupboard can also help to repel wasps from your garden.
Another 10p hack can also keep the pests from your garden all summer long.
And you can also keep these insects from your home this summer with another handy trick.
Or you can use a natural ingredient to repel wasps from your garden on a budget.
An affordable bait method can also work in your favour when repelling pests.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Inside Richard Hughes' first year at Liverpool: Anfield chief arrived with daunting to-do list... but here's how club's 'stubborn' mastermind wooed Slot, kept hold of Salah and Van Dijk and squeezed £10m out of Real Madrid for Alexander-Arnold
There was a knock at the door and Arne Slot opened it. The man standing behind it was a suited-and-booted Glasweigan chap and he walked in, chunky ring-binder under arm ready for his host to stick the kettle on or pour a bottle of red, looking like a teacher about to give a lesson.
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Stroud woman aims to fix 'appalling' litter problem
A woman aiming to fix what she describes as an "appalling" litter problem, is leading a team of volunteers on a 22 mile (35km) overnight walk to collect Thomas, Stroud District Council's Member Champion for Litter and Clean Environment, has organised many long-distance personal challenges where she will litter pick along the Thomas is also running a campaign which aims to provide primary school children with litter pickers which they can use to keep the area around their school clean."It's about raising awareness and trying to do something to make a difference," she said. Ms Thomas says she came up with the idea after running the Stroud Half Marathon in the run, she picked up 22 bags of rubbish along the 13.1 mile (21km) far, 45 schools in the Stroud District area have signed up for the Litter Pickers for Little Pickers campaign and more than 1,400 grabbers have been handed Thomas, who this month has been given an award for her community efforts, is additionally raising money to buy books about the importance of protecting the environment for the said the response has been "incredible" and shows the "strong desire" for action in the community, which she said will benefit more than 7,000 children in the area. Ms Thomas said: "Some people have the attitude that it's okay to drop rubbish in the streets, as someone else - usually the council - will clear up after them."But the council can't be out every day as well as doing weekly bin collections; so it's the responsibility of all of us to help keep our streets tidy."If we all do a little bit when we're out and about, and make it a team effort, it will benefit everyone."
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Thousands of plush toys sold in UK are urgently recalled & ‘rejected at border' over ‘serious' health risk
THOUSANDS of plush toys across the UK have been urgently recalled after they were flagged over a serious health risk. Locisne has pulled its Hamster Plush Toy from store shelves - with conerns it could present a serious risk to life. The item has been removed from online marketplaces including from Amazon. "This product presents a serious risk of choking as the eyes of the hamster can detach and fit wholly in a small parts cylinder," a government report said. "If a child under 3 were to use and mouth the toy, the small parts may become detached and cause the child to choke. "The product does not meet the requirements of the Toys [Safety] Regulations 2011." Other recent product recalls While the laws around toys are stringent, products still make it to market that present a danger to children. The Nail Art Studio kit, by the brand Girls Creator, is a nail art set that includes nail varnish, a battery-operated nail dryer and a range of nail accessories. However, a warning was issued after a product safety report found a risk of suffocation for children. Another recent example was the Joycat Baby Float, sold on Amazon. The blue and yellow sea-themed swim seat, intended for babies and toddlers, was blocked from entering the country at the border. The float was branded a safety risk after authorities found that its attachable canopy could lift the float from the water in windy conditions, putting children in danger. Ford Recalls Over 1 Million Vehicles: Rearview Camera Glitch Explained The report also raised concerns that the float's colours do not provide enough contrast with the water, making it harder to spot in an emergency. What are my product recall rights? Product recalls are an important means of protecting consumers from dangerous goods. As a general rule, if a recall involves a branded product, the manufacturer would usually have lead responsibility for the recall action. But it's often left up to supermarkets to notify customers when products could put them at risk. If you are concerned about the safety of a product you own, always check the manufacturer's website to see if a safety notice has been issued. When it comes to appliances, rather than just food items, the onus is usually on you - the customer - to register the appliance with the manufacturer as if you don't there is no way of contacting you to tell you about a fault. If you become aware that an item you own has been recalled or has any safety noticed issued against it, make sure you follow the instructions given to you by the manufacturer. They should usually provide you with more information and a contact number on its safety notice. In some cases, the manufacturer might ask you to return the item for a full refund or arrange for the faulty product to be collected.
