How to keep wasps away when you are eating

Whether you’re dining in the garden or hosting a family barbeque, the appearance of wasps can spoil the moment. This is even more irritating when you consider their ability to sting. Luckily, there are a few easy ways to deter wasps and savour your meal in peace. 

Here at Hills Home & Garden, we make outdoor living work for your lifestyle with our diverse range of high-quality furniture. In this article, we’ll take you through our best tips for keeping wasps away and explore how choosing the right garden furniture can help.

How to keep wasps away when you are eating outside

Your sumptuous dinner can be a main attraction for wasps, especially in summertime. If you’re wondering how to get rid of wasps around food, there are a few things you can do to help:

1. Be selective about food and drink: Everyone knows that wasps are attracted to sweet food. But did you know they’re drawn to protein-rich foods as well? This means that both desserts and meats are likely to entice them, so one tactic is to limit these foods when serving an al fresco spread. Alternatively, you can bring out these food types only when they are needed rather than keeping them on the table for the whole meal. 

2. Use coverings: If you would rather not have wasps dictating what you can eat and when you can eat it, then investing in robust food coverings can help. Using dish covers or sealing food with cling film or foil will create a barrier between the food and the wasps, while also keeping your dinner fresh. 

3. Remove rubbish: We know that outdoor occasions like BBQs or dinner parties can sometimes get a bit chaotic. From spilled drinks to dirty plates, the leftovers from a party can attract wasps to the area. Periodically circle around the guests, collecting any dirty plates or half-eaten food, and wipe up any spillages. Also keep rubbish bags covered up and regularly emptied. 

4. Get scent savvy: It’s thought that wasps are deterred by certain scents. The most common smells cited as being unpleasant to these particular insects are peppermint, eucalyptus and citronella. You can buy scented candles and sprays with these odours, or you can go one step further and grow these plants in the garden. 

5. Fake wasp nests: One tip that’s been making the rounds online is setting up a fake wasp nest. The idea is that wasps will be tricked into thinking a rival nest has been established in the area, putting them off your home. You can buy these pretend nests online or you can create a makeshift version with a brown paper bag.

6. Panels and screens: Set up a stylish barrier between your dining area and outside pests. Here at Hills Home & Garden, we supply a varied range of multi-purpose screens and panels to provide privacy and protection against pests, glare and the weather. Available in contemporary black or airy whites, these screens and panels pair perfectly with our pergolas and gazebos too. We also provide louvre panels, which can be adjusted to carefully control light entry and airflow to achieve that perfect environment for dining, relaxing and entertaining.

Preventing wasps at dinner doesn’t have to be difficult. Try out the tips and tricks above to see what works for your space and lifestyle.

Enjoy a BBQ without flies

It’s not just wasps that are a nuisance. Flies can also get in the way of a peaceful meal or a sunny BBQ, and many of the same tips to keep wasps away when eating can be used with flies too, including screens and panels. 

Flies are also deterred by the three same scents that wasps dislike, along with basil and lavender. Fly fans are also recommended which make landing more difficult. 

Cherish your time outdoors with help from Hills Home & Garden. We’re highly rated by customers across the UK and provide an impressive range of modern and traditional garden furniture to suit any style. Browse our site to view your options or pay us a visit at our Kent showroom.