How to Attract Wasps to Your Garden (and Why You Need It)
Wasps have problems with the public. Of course, there are probably many people who aren’t big fans of bees, especially if they’ve had an allergic reaction to a bee sting, but ultimately, most of them would confess their feelings with the caveat that they understand that bees are important. for pollination and honey production.
But wasps? Not so much. When was the last time you saw kids treat kids to Halloween wasp costumes or wasp-themed tea towels at HomeGoods?
And while bees have taken over the honey production market, they are not the only pollinators in town. That’s right: wasps can pollinate too . But where they are really good is in pest control in your garden. Here’s what you need to know.
Why do you need wasps in your garden
If you find it hard to think of wasps as anything other than pests themselves, it’s not entirely your fault. They can definitely be annoying when they fly around you outside in the summer, not to mention a danger to people they sting who are allergic to their venom . (And let’s not start with their paper nests, with perfectly round wasp holes and the ability to attach themselves to houses, trees, and play equipment.)
But if you have a garden, you’re probably reaping the benefits of wasp-related pest control. Many of the most common and dangerous garden pests, including caterpillars, flies, crickets and beetles, are food for wasps and their hungry developing larvae, according to Ian Rhodes of the California University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (UCANR).
How to attract wasps to your garden
There are several ways to make your garden (and entire yard) more friendly to wasps, Rhodes says , starting with helping them choose suitable nesting sites.
As you’ve probably noticed, wasps love to nest under the eaves of your house or garage, so she recommends letting them do so unless it’s a high-traffic area. This is because wasps tend to sting when they sense their nest is in danger, so the more isolated they are in your yard, the better.
But what if the wasps choose a place under the eaves next to the back door? “If you don’t like the place the wasp queen has chosen to start building her nest, just demolish it while the nest is small and new, without any protectors, ” Rhodes says , adding that “she will most likely find another building site.” platform.”
Another way to attract wasps (or prevent the ones you have from moving to greener pastures) is to plant trees, flowers, and plants that they use for food or shelter . Examples of these include fruit trees, fava beans, cowpea, Queen Anne lace, yarrow, forsythia, and bridal wreath spirea.