How to prune wasp attracting plants?

Question

There is a huge plant / tree taking over the steps leading up to our first floor apartment. I need to prune it so we can pass the steps easier, but it is always covered in wasps.

Is there a time of day when the wasps are less active? Or a household remedy of something i can spray first? (no cash for expensive insect repellants). Any tips?

Thanks xx

Answer 1

They don't fly at night, but it's unlikely the plant is attracting the wasps and highly likely the nest is very close.

They will be harvesting aphids from this plant, but not enough for it to be covered in wasps.

Cut the plant before destroying the nest and next day their flight plan will change for better or worse.

If you sit at a distance and watch them you will see the flight paths and find the nest. You're looking for a whole the size of a golf ball in soil, but if it's in the attic or stone work it can be very small.

How you wipe them out on the cheap very much depends where the nest is, so I would ask another question when you know where they are living - it won't be far from this plant, possibly under the roots, in which case a washing up bottle full of paraffin at night. Squirt and burn :0)