Wasp Control in Oranjezicht, Cape Town

Oranjezicht climbs right up to the edge of Table Mountain, so a lot of what comes into homes here walks in off the mountain. Rats, squirrels, wasps and the odd scorpion are all part of living this close to the national park.

Wasp nests in Oranjezicht gardens

European paper wasps nest under the eaves of Oranjezicht's older homes, in garden shrubs and hedges, under pergolas and on terraces sheltered from the South-Easter. The big gardens and the mountain greenbelt give them plenty of places to build, and nests that start small in spring can be large by late summer.

We treat and remove nests and check nearby eaves, shrubs and terraces for others. Calling early in spring, while nests are small, is quicker and safer. If someone in the house is allergic to stings, tell us when you book.

What gives them away

From the technician

For body corporates and estate managers, one property owner removing nests while the neighbours do nothing just means wasps move next door. A coordinated plan works far better.

If you have children or a dog that spends the day in the garden, check the jungle gym, the dog kennel and the underside of outdoor tables. Those are common hidden nest sites.

How we handle wasp control in Oranjezicht

For ongoing wasp control we combine nest treatment with prevention rather than coming out once a year to remove whatever has grown. Active nests are treated with an insecticidal dust or spray applied directly into the comb, usually early in the morning or late in the day when the wasps are on the nest, and the comb is taken down once the colony is dead. On properties with repeat problems we do a sweep in early spring to find and remove young founding nests while they are small, and we can apply a residual treatment to favourite nesting spots such as eaves and pergolas. We also look at what is drawing wasps in, like water points, fallen fruit and open bins, and give practical advice on fixing it. For farms, estates and complexes, scheduled visits through the wasp season keep numbers under control instead of letting them build up.

Want the full step-by-step? See how our wasp control service works.

Keeping them out afterwards

• Pick up fallen fruit and grapes promptly, because ripe fruit draws foraging wasps in late summer.
• Seal holes in hollow gate posts, steel poles and roller door channels with a cap or sealant.
• Check garden furniture, umbrellas and the inside of letterboxes before using them in summer.
• Walk around the house once a week from September and knock down any nest smaller than a coin with a long pole, at dusk, wearing long sleeves.
• Keep outdoor bins closed and clean up after a braai, as wasps scavenge meat and sweet drinks.

How much will it cost?

Wasp control is priced on how many nests there are, how high and hard to reach they are, and whether you want a once-off treatment or ongoing visits through the season. A house with one or two nests at ladder height is a straightforward job, while farms, estates and complexes with nests spread over many buildings take longer. For properties that get wasps every year, a seasonal plan usually saves money compared to repeated call-outs, and the quote is free.

Knocking down a tiny new nest in spring is a reasonable DIY job if you are not allergic and you do it at dusk. Once a nest is bigger than your palm, or it is high up, inside a wall or near where children play, we would rather you left it to us, because most of the stings we hear about come from people tackling a big nest with a can of spray in daylight. And if wasps keep coming back every year, the problem is the property and the neighbourhood, not one nest.

Wasp Control questions from Oranjezicht

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