It’s that Sunday morning; the sun is bright and warm, a perfect day for mowing your lawn! Without thinking much, you head down to the tools shed to pick up a mowing machine ready to give your yard that fabulous look you have been admiring on TV.
But as soon as the machine roars, you realize you are surrounded by swarming, angry wasps. And you are wondering what if you get stung? Read on to learn more on how to avoid wasps while mowing the lawn.
Wasps are nasty bothersome aerial insects that can fly at low altitudes without one noticing them. Unlike bees, Wasps are more dangerous as they will sting you not just once but repeatedly in one go, which can be extremely painful. This is one reason why you should try and avoid these little stingers, particularly when mowing your lawn.
Nobody likes to be stung by a wasp, but while mowing your lawn, you risk being stung by one if you do not know how to avoid them. You are also prone to come across other common insects while mowing your lawn, such as hornets, bees, and yellow jackets.
Contents
- How To Avoid Wasps While Mowing The Lawn
- Reasons Why Wasps Are Camping In Your Lawn Grass
- Why Do Wasps Sting Humans?
- How To Avoid Wasps When Mowing Your Lawn
- 1. Locating And Keeping Your Distance Away From Wasp Nests
- 2. Plant Wasp Repelling Plants
- 3. Wearing Protective Gears
- 4. Avoid Wearing Colognes That Have A Sweet Smell
- 5. Keep Your Garden Clean
- Why Do You Need to Avoid Being Stung by Wasps?
- Author
How To Avoid Wasps While Mowing The Lawn
Before we answer this nagging question, let’s have a look at some of the things that attract wasps to your lawn in the first place.
Reasons Why Wasps Are Camping In Your Lawn Grass
Wasps are generally beneficial predator bugs in your yard, but at times they can be drawn to places that are relatively close for human comfort. Here are three reasons why wasps are drawn to your lawn grasses
- These predatory bugs feed on insects found in the lawn grass. A good example is a digger wasp, which flies above the lawn every morning searching for insects. Digger wasps are considered beneficial to your lawn as they feed on pests that would otherwise destroy your lawn.
- Another reason why wasps are hovering on your lawn grass is that they are looking to feed on sugar from fallen fruits and food or drink leftovers. It’s no surprise for wasps to buzz around your picnic site anytime you set up camp.
- The other reason is that the wasps are nesting or tunneling on your lawn grass. One popular ground tunneling wasp is the cicada killer wasp that is always found near small soil dumps within the tunnels. Cicada wasps tend to be lone rangers, and finding their nests can prove to be an arduous task compared to other wasps that live in groups.
Why Do Wasps Sting Humans?
As you already know, wasps feed on harmful insects, so why do they sting people? From the wasp’s perspective, people pose a serious threat to both their livelihood and homes. So, a sting from a wasp occurs as a result of defending itself.
They always launch these stingy assaults whenever they feel threatened by someone. These stings can sometimes prove fatal, especially for people who are allergic to the toxic venom they release when they sting you. It’s prudent to learn everything about wasps tactics.
How To Avoid Wasps When Mowing Your Lawn
The most reliable way to avoid wasps when mowing is to look for and carefully remove any wasp nest from your surroundings. Plus, you need to wear appropriate protecting gears to avoid being stung.
Let’s get a more in-depth understanding of how to avoid wasps when mowing your lawn.
1. Locating And Keeping Your Distance Away From Wasp Nests
Wasps are so tiny, and it’s hard to see them from a distance, but getting closer to their dwellings is like violating their space, and these tiny creatures don’t like this. It makes them feel insecure, and they will most definitely attack and sting you.
To avoid getting stung, try and locate their nests from a reasonable distance and avoid mowing these areas until you are in a position to remove the nests. If they don’t feel threatened, they will not sting you.
2. Plant Wasp Repelling Plants
One simple yet effective way to avoid wasps when mowing your lawn is by growing wasp repelling plants in strategic areas in your lawn.
You can opt for lemongrass or basil. They both have a strong fragrance that is good for repelling wasps and mosquitos. Cucumber, eucalyptus, and thyme are also repulsive to wasps.
3. Wearing Protective Gears
When mowing your lawn, the machine tends to vibrate, and at times wasps will consider this a threat to them, and they will try to sting you. To avoid being stung by wasps, it’s advisable to put on protective clothes while you mow.
4. Avoid Wearing Colognes That Have A Sweet Smell
Sometimes these tiny creatures will go out of their norm and sting you even if you are not disturbing them. The reason being you are wearing a floral-scented perfume.
So when mowing, try and avoid perfumes, especially those that smell like wildflowers.
Plus, it would be best if you also avoided washing detergents that have a floral scent.
5. Keep Your Garden Clean
It does not matter whether it’s mowing time or not, don’t dump foodstuff on your lawn. Do not leave soda cans, leftovers, or empty packets of snacks sitting about on your lawn.
Wasps are drawn to the odor, and if you happen to be mowing near these items, there is a good chance you will get stung.
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Why Do You Need to Avoid Being Stung by Wasps?
Being stung by a wasp is not an easy matter and should not be overlooked or taken lightly. Wasps contain toxic elements that can prove fatal to specific individuals. The sting pain can also be unbearable, especially when it comes to the elderly.
Even though the death rate is relatively low, they still kill humans, so it’s essential to protect yourself anytime you mow.
There are numerous ways to avoid being stung by wasps while mowing your lawn. Besides wearing protective gears, you can take certain precautions to keep wasps from creating their nests on your lawn grass. As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure.
