Where ground nests hide
Wasps take over old rodent holes, gaps under tree roots, spaces under patios and cavities in banks. All you see is a single hole in the ground, often no bigger than a fifty pence piece, with wasps pouring in and out.
Lawns, flower borders, compost heaps and the edges of paths are all typical spots. German wasps in particular favour nesting underground.
Why ground nests catch people out
There is no paper nest to see, so the first warning is often the mower or the strimmer going over the entrance. The colony responds in seconds, and at ground level the wasps come out at your legs.
Dogs are frequent victims too, because they investigate the hole with their nose. If your dog is stung repeatedly or in the mouth or throat, call a vet straight away.
- One hole, with a steady two-way stream of wasps
- Traffic continues all day in warm weather
- Often found by mowing, strimming or digging
- Keep pets and children away from the area
Never pour anything into the hole
Petrol, boiling water and bleach are the old remedies, and they are all bad ideas. They rarely reach the whole nest, they poison your soil, and petrol in the ground is a genuine fire and pollution risk.
Do not block the hole either. The wasps will dig out, and a dug-out colony is an angry one.
How we treat an underground nest
We apply the treatment directly into the entrance hole. Returning workers carry it down into the nest, reaching the queen and the brood. There is no digging and no mess in your garden.
We will ask you to keep people and pets away from the area for the rest of the day. Traffic drops within hours and the nest is normally dead within 24. £125 fixed, free revisit if needed.
After a ground nest is treated
Once the nest is dead the hole is just a hole. Fill it in, reseed it or leave it. The nest will not be reused.
Ground nests are bad luck more than anything. There is no practical way to wasp-proof a lawn, so the answer is to treat early when you spot the traffic.
Underground nests: common questions
I mowed over a nest and got stung. What now?
Get indoors, away from the nest. Cold compresses help most stings. If anyone has swelling of the face or throat, trouble breathing or feels faint, call 999 immediately. Then call us about the nest.
Will the treatment harm my lawn or plants?
No. The treatment goes into the nest entrance in a small, targeted amount. Your lawn and borders are unaffected.
How do I know it is wasps and not bees?
Ground bumblebee nests look similar: one hole, steady traffic. Describe what you see and we will help you identify them. We never treat bees, and we will tell you honestly if that is what you have.