Wasps need water. In a dry climate like Arvada's, you can deter wasps by managing water sources and access to food, as well as by walking the property in spring to catch golf-ball-sized starter nests before they build.
Wasps are scary when they have time to build huge nests and swarm all at once. But the good news is that in places like Arvada, the environment works against them. That doesn’t mean they can’t become a problem, to be sure. But it does mean there are things you can do to deter wasps.
Wasps, much like mosquitoes, need access to water. Small water sources are enough: pet bowls and birdbaths, the dripping hose bib, or the pockets where sprinkler water lingers. Each one can serve as a fine wasp watering hole through the semi-arid summer days. If you fix the drips and dump standing pockets, and refresh the water that needs to stay, you can stop your yard from being the easiest place to go for water.
Food is the other half. Yellowjackets are scavengers with a sweet tooth that sharpens as summer wears on, so open trash cans, sticky recycling bins, fallen fruit under trees, pet food left out, and uncovered grill scraps all read as invitations. Tight lids, prompt cleanup, and picking up the dropped fruit from trees helps a ton. During patio meals, it helps to keep drinks covered. (No one enjoys the time-honored Front Range tradition of being stung in the mouth by a yellowjacket that climbed into a soda can.)
Even if you do your best to manage the environment, wasps might still set up base. But if you catch the nests while they’re small, you’ll have much less of a problem to deal with. Starter nests are fragile and about the size of golf balls. You can often take them down on your own if you’re careful and no one in your home is allergic. But by the time it’s late summer, the nests can be the size of a basketball and it’s unsafe to even try without a professional.
Professional wasp control helps by taking down established nests and treating to discourage future ones. This can also be a big help if you have wasps living inside wall voids or siding gaps or in the holes in the ground.
If your patio has become home to too many wasps, Mosquito Squad of West Denver can help. Mosquito Squad removes nests and treats the sites that wasps favor, helping protect your outdoor space through the season.
