Happy Monday, Friends! Have you ever tried decoys to deter wasps, yellowjackets or hornets from nesting near your home? After hanging these chemical-free alternatives last year, the paper hives became dingy over time so I'm sharing my solution
While I encourage pollinators in the garden, wasps and hornets tend to be quite aggressive. Unfortunately, the stings I have received from both were intensely painful and left bruising. According to my research, the key is to hang decoys before you see them building nests. This spring, I hung mine in early March because last year, I hung them a little later in the season and yellowjackets started nesting close to one of the decoys! However, after removing the small beginnings of that nest, they did not return--nor have I seen any new nests this year despite seeing several hornets buzzing about.
To elevate your wasp decoys with copper wash, start by removing any dirt or debris. Next, mix 2 parts water with 1 part craft paint to create a simple copper wash. Then lightly brush the exterior only of the wasp decoys and allow to dry. Last, hang the decoys near doors, eaves, etc where hornets or wasps like to build nests.
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