Do Wasps Return to the Same Nest Every Year? A Guide for Prescott Gardens
Tree hollows, hedges and boxes can hold a nest one year and stand empty the next, and knowing why helps you decide what to do.
Nests among the branches
Not all wasp nests are tucked under a roof. Some hang from a branch, sit deep inside a dense hedge, or fill a hollow in a trunk. Others take over a space that was meant for something else, such as a nest box or an old bird’s nest.
When the leaves fall in autumn, such nests suddenly become visible. People looking at the bare branches often exclaim at the size of them, and wonder whether they will be reused. They will not.
Some nests in trees are enormous by autumn, as the colony has had months to build tier upon tier of paper. Looking at one in winter can be a surprise, but it is just an empty structure, and it will break up gradually over the following year.
Squirrels and birds sometimes enlarge a hollow, and a queen may then take it over in spring. A tree with an obvious hole is therefore worth a glance, from the ground, every few weeks.
What happens to the colony
The colony that built the nest dies as the year ends, and what you see in winter is an empty shell. It may be damaged by birds, wind and rain, and will gradually disintegrate if left outside.
New queens from that nest left to find winter shelter, and they do not return to the nest. In spring, a queen will look for a fresh site, and may choose the same hedge or tree if it suits her. That is why you may see a nest in much the same place across more than one year.
Birds sometimes peck at an abandoned nest, either for the insects left behind or for the paper itself. That is normal and a good sign, as it suggests the nest is no longer defended.
Bird boxes and wildlife
A box that held a nest last year can be cleaned out in late autumn or winter, once you are sure nothing is inside. Check that it is empty, wear gloves and remove the old material. This also helps birds who may want to use the box in spring.
Avoid doing this in summer or early autumn when wasps may still be active. If you hear any buzzing from a box, leave it. Nest boxes are best checked from a distance when you are unsure.
Do not be tempted to put a nest box in the exact spot where a wasp nest was, unless you want to see whether it attracts a queen. Hang it a few metres away, facing away from the prevailing wind, and keep it clear of heavy foliage.
Tell the neighbours if you share a hedge or tree. Wasps pay no attention to boundaries, and a nest on their side may be as close to your garden as one on yours.
Hedges and trees in winter
Winter is a good time to trim hedges and prune trees, because the leaves are down and any old nests are visible. Cut away old nests as part of the job, if you find any, and check that they are empty first.
It is also a good chance to thin out dense growth, so that you can see inside the hedge during the following year. Fewer hidden hollows make it easier to spot a new nest when it first appears.
- Look for grey papery clumps among the branches.
- Check hollows in older trunks from the ground.
- Remove clutter beneath hedges.
- Leave tall work to a qualified tree surgeon.
Pruning cuts made in winter heal more cleanly in many trees, so it is a good time to open up the canopy. A tree surgeon will know whether a particular tree should be worked on at that time of year.
Dead wood is a favourite site for hollows, and removing dead limbs where appropriate reduces the number of cavities.
Do not cut a hedge hard in the nesting season without looking first. Spring and summer trimming can disturb a young nest, and the nest may be well inside the foliage.
Watching in spring
Wasps start building in early April depending on the weather. Look at trees and hedges in the warmer part of the day for a slow-flying wasp investigating a hollow or a thick patch of leaves. A queen working on her own is the first sign.
As summer goes on, a nest in a tree or hedge may be hard to see. Watch for a line of wasps going in and out. Do not shake branches or cut into foliage where a nest is suspected.
Many people only notice a nest in a tree when they are standing under it with a ladder or a pole. If you see wasps coming and going from a branch overhead, step back and walk away. Do not pull down the branch or shake the trunk.
Help in Prescott
One nest costs £80 fixed with a one-visit guarantee, while a second nest at the same property costs £40 extra. The price is the same whatever the day or the time. The service reaches Prescott and the villages nearby seven days a week, using fully insured and qualified staff. Same-day service is on offer for domestic and commercial customers.
Reach the team on 07916 322 280. You may prefer the booking form on the contact page. The form is also the route for emergency service outside normal hours, with evening and weekend visits on offer. Ask the technician about taking down the empty nest after treatment.
For nests high in trees, mention the height as best you can judge from the ground and whether anything such as a fence, a pond or a greenhouse sits beneath it. That helps the technician work safely.
Wasps on your property in Prescott?
Fixed price £80 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.