The weekend has arrived which means Brits will be out in their gardens enjoying some more summer sunshine. Although temperatures have cooled slightly from the previous weeks, much of the nation will see period of warm and sunny spells today and tomorrow.
According to the Met Office, Saturday afternoon will be “fair” and “warm” across the UK with highs of 23C. Meanwhile, there will be further warmer weather on Sunday with “plenty of sunshine” and high temperatures of 28C. However, a rise in temperatures can lead to a rise in wasp activity and experts have shared a handy tip to deter the insects from their garden this weekend. Whether it’s a family barbecue or an outdoor meal, wasps have the uncanny ability to detect food and quickly become a nuisance.
According to Lazy Susan Furniture, cucumber peels are an effective deterrent against wasps. The insects reportedly dislike the scent and will stay away from any area where the peels are present.
The website states: “Scatter cucumber slices or peels around your table or in planters — wasps dislike the scent and will avoid the area.”
Wasps are thought to dislike the smell of cucumber peels because they contain high levels of cucurbitacins, which produce a sharp, bitter scent. The natural acids and organic compounds in the skin may also mask attractive food smells and irritate a wasp’s senses, making them less likely to linger where people are eating or socialising.
The method is simple and includes simply scattering a few fresh peels around your patio, garden table, or wherever wasps usually congregate. The insects typically buzz around areas where people are dining and drinking outdoors.
Meanwhile, other people choose to put the peels on aluminum foil because they believe this intensifies the sour smell. This method is popular among those having a particularly bad wasp problem in their garden.
Lazy Susan Furniture also advises burning used coffee grounds to keep wasps away during meals. Peppermint oil is also a popular repellent, with people advised to mix it with water in a spray bottle and spray it on or around your patio furniture to help deter them.