Keeping wasps away from your pool is no easy task.
Not only can the task be dangerous, but depending on where the nest is, you might not be able to reach them.
Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered.
In this post, I will go over ten ways you can keep wasps away from your pool so you can start enjoying it again.
Let’s dive in.
1. Remove the Wasp Nest
If wasps are gathering around your pool, the natural solution is to remove the nest.
I recommend doing this removal at night because this is when the wasps are less active. They are mostly inside the nest.
Here are some tips:
1. Dress in the proper attire
You should not have any exposed skin in the even that the wasps try to attack you.
2. Spray the nest
For this you can use an insecticide designed to cover the wasp’s nest and kill wasps. These come in an aerosol foaming can, which allows you to treat the nest from a safe distance.
Make sure you cover the entire nest when spraying.
Continue spraying to ensure any entrances are covered.
3. Repeat this process
Repeat this process two to three times to makes sure all the wasps are dead.
Once done, remove the nest to prevent wasps from returning.
While wasps never reuse old nests, they can use old nests to signal a suitable nesting location.
Removing the nest will prevent wasps from nesting around your home again.
2. Install A Fake Wasp Nest
There are a few things to consider when you are using a fake wasp nest.
First, if the species of wasp you’re dealing with are the Yellow Jacket wasp, then the fake nest will work.
That’s because Yellow Jackets create their nests inside the ground.
Any nest located above ground will not affect the presence of yellow jackets.
3. Wasp Trap
Wasp traps are quite simple to make but are very effective.
These bags are available for purchase, but you can DIY. All you need is a 2-liter bottle. Cut the top off of the bottle, so what remains in your hand looks like a funnel.
Place this funnel on top of the trap so that it functions as a funnel.
Next, place a liquid inside that will attract wasps.
In some cases, water is sufficient, but the more attractive the liquid is, the more effective the trap will be.
One popular choice to use to attract wasps is diesel fuel.
Wasps are highly attracted to diesel fuel.
And once they enter the trap and fall inside the diesel, they are guaranteed to die.
4. Raw Meat
Wasps are carnivorous.
They eat small insects such as caterpillars and aphids when they are in search of pollen.
You can use this to your advantage.
Next time you are cooking, save a small piece of raw meat.
Use this meat to draw the wasps away from your pool.
You can also use the meat as an attractant and create a trap around it.
5. Create An Alternative Water Source
Another great way to keep wasp away from your pool is to create an alternative water source.
Wasp, like most living things, need water to survive. So they might just leave your pool alone if you install a separate watersource close by. These alternative watersource can be an elaborate bird bath or a simple bucket.
If it’s possible, get the alternate water source installed before opening your pool. This way the wasp can get used to the source first.
I also recommend placing an alternate water-source near the wasp’s nest. You can use your old pool water to attract the wasps faster.
6. Use Lemon and Cloves
Are you looking for a non-toxic and eco-friendly way to keep wasp away? Then lemon and cloves may be an ideal solution for you.
Lemon and cloves repel bees and wasps.
Although there is no concrete research to suggest this combination of repels bees, many swear by it. And putting it to the test for yourself is pretty cheap and easy. So, why not, right?
Here’s how you can use them to keep wasps away from your pool:
- Cut the lemon in half and place 1-2 whole cloves inside the lemon.
- Place them in two to four separate bowls.
- Put one bowl on each side of your pool.
The amount of time that the repellency period works varies. I suggest starting each day with a fresh clover and lemon combination to keep the results as effective as possible.
7. Essential Oils
Essential oils are another thing you can use to keep wasps away from your pool.
Most citrus essential oil show some repellence against wasps. Orange oil, in particular, is highly effective against wasps.
Peppermint oil is also highly effective.
In a study a combination of clove, geranium, and lemon grass repelled 100% of wasps.
You can use essential oils as a spray around and near your pool. Or you can place it in small bowls around your pool to let the aroma fill the air.
Compared to lemon and clover, placing essential oils in a bowl covers a much larger area. The smell of essential oil also lasts much longer.
You can leave your essential oil outside for several days, and it will still remain effective.
Another effective essential oil against wasp is a combination of lemongrass, clove, and geranium.
8. Disturb The Water
Another great way to keep wasps away from your pool is using a water agitator.
Wasps prefer calm water. This is why wasps typically approach pools when they are empty, or there is low activity.
You can use water agitators and keep them off your pool during the day.
The ones that shoot in the air is one fun water agitator you can consider.
9. Call A Professional
For those of you who are too busy or too scared of wasps, calling a profession is a great option.
Although wasps are not aggressive by nature, they can be when threatened.
You can spare yourself the risk of getting bitten by calling a professional.
If you do experience a wasps nest that is aggressive, I highly recommend you seek shelter and avoid them at all costs.
The best way to deal with aggressive wasps is by calling a professional. They will have the right protective gear and equipment to properly get rid of wasps.
The average cost for a professional wasps removal can be as low as $100 and as high as $500.
But the price varies on the location and visibility of the nest. The harder it is to get rid of the wasps, the more expensive the removal will become.
10. Insecticides
You can also keep wasps away from your home with insecticides.
I recommend using a chemical that kills wasp on contact, or that has a residual effect.
You can use pyrethrin’s, which are the most common chemical used against wasps. While it doesn’t provide the benefit of a residual effect, pyrethrin has a quick knockdown effect on wasps.
Another great alternative is to use a residual insecticide.
One of them is microencapsulated. These insecticides tend to last longer and withstand harsher conditions.
This is ideal since it might be a long period before wasp land on a surface that is protected by the residual insecticide.