Wasp Control in Southern Suburbs

Ask a Capetonian about the Southern Suburbs and they will picture oak-lined avenues, the mountain looming over Newlands and the rain that rolls in off it in winter.

Wasp Control by suburb

We cover all 29 suburbs on our Southern Suburbs route. Each suburb page covers what we find there and what works for those streets and buildings.

Wasp nests in Southern Suburbs gardens

Paper wasps build their combs under the eaves, pergolas and garage overhangs of Southern Suburbs homes, and in the sheltered parts of established gardens under the oaks. Nests start small in spring and grow through summer, and they're often found when someone gets stung pruning a hedge or opening a shed. Schools and sports clubs see them under stands and roof overhangs.

We treat and remove nests safely, and check eaves, sheds and hedges nearby for others. If there are children or people allergic to stings in the house, tell us when you book so we can plan around them.

Something most people miss

Wasps are attracted to water as much as food. A dripping tap or a pool edge can keep them coming back to a garden all summer.

How to tell you have a problem

How the treatment works

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.

Stopping a repeat visit

• Fix dripping taps and irrigation leaks, since wasps need a steady water source to build nests.
• 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.
• Seal holes in hollow gate posts, steel poles and roller door channels with a cap or sealant.
• Pick up fallen fruit and grapes promptly, because ripe fruit draws foraging wasps in late summer.
• Check garden furniture, umbrellas and the inside of letterboxes before using them in summer.

What affects the price

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.

Frequently asked questions

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