Getting rid of wasps

[Fred]

We've got these nasty little wasps with long legs keep making nests all over the place, there was even one under the lid of the rubbish bin. They are settling in the patio table brolly and have started building nests under the tiles of the roof.

A good spray of wasp killer does seem to do the job, but it's becoming a bit expensive. Especially the other day when I had to buy those long reaching ones that can squirt 6 Mts to get to three nests on the roof, €14 from Spar in Lathus and as much as I would like to support the smaller shops they are only €8 in Leclerc and I needed two the other day.

Has anyone got any suggestions for stopping the wasps building their nest in the first place? We have the usual Beer Traps but that hasn't stopped them, and at the moment I'm trying Cucumbers! Yes cucumbers, apparently wasps don't like cucumbers. And so far after removing the existing nests and laying slices of cucumber around I haven't seen a wasp.

Any more tips welcome.

[Admiral]

My dear old dad told me the best way of repelling wasps is to wear a red shirt - preferably with red trousers. This has a two-fold effect - you might see the wasps off but you look a complete berk.

He did have a rather bizarre sense of humour.

Seriously though, there are wood treatments that once painted onto loft timbers etc supposedly repel wasps from building nests in the first place.

Cuprinol make one - the name of which I can't remember - but as Cuprinol is widely sold in places like B&Q surely its French namesake is sold in places like Castorama or Brico Depot. The three are, after all, part of the same company or have I just made an assumption too far..............

[Fred]

Thanks I hadn't thought of something like Cuprinol I will have a look, and yes I think they are all the same company.

So far the Cucumber trick is working, so I won't be going around in my Red Rupert Trousers for a while.