As the weather gets warmer, you’ll most likely notice wasps buzzing around your yard.
They build their nests around your house, which can be frustrating if you enjoy gardening or have kids who like to play outside.
If you have a playhouse complete with a swing set and slide, you’ll want to make sure you take precautions to prevent wasps from making these playhouses their house.
Although it’s impossible to prevent wasps completely, there are a few things you can do to make your yard a safe and fun place for your children to play.
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Wasps and Playhouses
If you’re asking the question, “Why do wasps live in playhouses?” the answer is quite simple.
Playhouses and other similar structures have perfect hiding places and shelters to build their nests and colonies.
They have gaps between the walls and the roof, cracks in between the doors, wide-open windows, and other easy access points for wasps to buzz in and set up their new home.
Wasps can squeeze themselves through tiny openings. Plus, they tend to look for high-up or hidden spots to protect themselves from predators.
How to Keep Your Playhouse Safe From Wasps
The last thing you want is to have your child’s playhouse swarmed with wasps and their nests. But how do you make sure you deter them safely and effectively?
Unfortunately, it’s not the most straightforward job, which is why a professional wasp exterminator may be the best solution.
However, if you’re determined to rid them yourself, you can purchase pesticides from your local store. You may want to look at green products if available.
This might be a safer option. Make sure to buy extra just in case you need to use more than expected.
It’s important to plan ahead when spraying the wasps and the nests. First, wear clothing that completely covers your skin. If you want extra protection, wear a covering over your face.
Wasps rest at night, which means they’re less aggressive during this time. So it’s best to wait until dusk or dawn before spraying the nests.
If you notice wasps getting aggressive, be prepared to back off for your safety. Spray a steady stream of wasp spray for at least 10 seconds.
Next, you’ll want to spray the secondary openings for as long as possible. Quickly leave the area and head indoors if you see any activity or when you have used all your spray.
After spraying the pesticide, the wasp nest should dry up.
This is when you should knock it down. Then, you’ll want to respray the spot with pesticide so that wasps away from the nest die when they come back. The job doesn’t stop there.
Make sure to inspect the playhouse regularly for wasps and nests. If you notice more wasps making the playhouse their home, you’ll need to go through the same process we mentioned above.
While it’s beneficial to understand how to rid existing wasp nests from your playhouse, it’s even better to follow preventative measures to keep them away in the first place.
Here are a few ways to prevent wasps from taking refuge in your yard.
Keep a Clean Yard
To prevent wasps from taking over your playhouse, you’ll want to make sure you keep a clean yard. Rake up the leaves, pick up dead branches, keep clean garbage cans, and pick up any food scraps.
Clutter and untidiness can attract other pests, which is the ideal situation for wasps since they feed on bugs.
Pre-Spray Your Playhouse
Another common prevention method is pre-spraying all the areas where wasps are known to build their nests.
As we mentioned earlier, keep an eye out for green products to keep your kids safe as they play outside.
Hang Fake Wasp Nests
Wasps are territorial and won’t build their nest near another nest. Placing one or two fake wasps nest in or around the playhouse may keep wasps away.
However, once the nests are established, it is probably too late to hang a decoy nest.
Plant Wasp-repelling Plants
You could try planting wasp-repelling plants or making your own wasp repellent to keep the wasps away as well.
A lot of insects do not like the smell of peppermint oil, and wasps are no exception. Mix the peppermint oil with water and spray it around the playhouse.
Seal Points of Entry
Walk around the playhouse to see if there are any cracks, crevices, and other entry points where wasps could create a nest. Take caulk to seal these openings so that wasps can’t enter.
Wasps vs. Bees
Before you decide to take matters into your own hands and spray the nest with a pesticide, you’ll want to make sure you’re dealing with wasps and not bees.
While they’re both important pollinators, bee populations have been in steady decline, so you should avoid killing them if at all possible.
To determine if you’re dealing with wasps or bees, look at the shape of the body and coloring. Wasps are skinny with a long, pointed abdomen, while bees are rounder.
Honey bees measure around 2.54 cm long. Some have entirely black bodies, while others are black or brown with orange or yellow striations.
Wasps can come in various colors, from yellow to brown, metallic blue, and bright red.
And unlike bees, wasps can sting several times, so if you or a family member was stung multiple times by a flying insect, you’re most likely dealing with wasps.
Call Aptive Environmental for Wasp Extermination Services
Now that the weather is warming up, you may be wondering if it’s time to call wasp extermination services.
After all, you want to keep your children safe as they spend their days having fun in the playhouse. Although it’s possible to get rid of wasps by yourself, you don’t want to put yourself at risk.
Aptive Environmental controls wasps in and around homes using the best eco-friendly methods.
Seeking help from a certified pest expert is the best way to ensure your entire home is free from wasps.
Call your local Aptive Environmental branch today to keep your yard free of wasps and other pests.
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