Wasps and fruit trees - how to stop them

[Deleted User]

Does anyone have any idea of how to stop wasps destroying all the fruit on my apple and pear trees? I cannot see a wasp nest anywhere. I live in the middle of nowhere so they could be coming from another field.

I collect up any windfalls, but they still attack clean, nice fruit that is still hanging and just eat their way in.

Thanks.

One miffed spider

valk_scot

I'd try leaving the windfalls tbh! Wasps like an easy life and will go back to the open, rotting fruit rather than starting on a new one.

Pazu

I've heard that if you cover a ballon in papier mache, paint it beige and hang it in the tree the wasps think its a nest and stay away. Don't know if it works.

Lotus-eater

I have this problem with wasps. The wasp nest thing you hang up doesn't work, so don't waste your money. Wasp traps in trees will help and a large one on the ground will help too.
There is no ultimate solution, apart from plant more trees, they only seem to be attracted to certain varieties.

realfood

If it is a small tree, I have used a cheap mosquito net with great succcess. Close off the joins with clothes pegs.

[Deleted User]

Lotus-eater wrote: »

I have this problem with wasps. The wasp nest thing you hang up doesn't work, so don't waste your money. Wasp traps in trees will help and a large one on the ground will help too.
There is no ultimate solution, apart from plant more trees, they only seem to be attracted to certain varieties.

That might explain things. I have two apples trees next to each other and one of them is never touched. I have just been looking up things in various gardening books and one of them suggests wasp traps.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

ixwood

I guess the chosen fruits have a thin skin and/or are sweeter.

Wasp traps are very easy to make and very effective. It's a shame to have to kill things, but they will wreck a huge amount of fruit and will die in a month or 2 anyway.