.....how to stop wasps chewing slivers of wood from my garden bench? >:(
If I give the bench another treatment with teak oil will this help to prevent the little, stripey horrors from using my bench to make their nests? ???
Eileen.
Wow! Yes, should do, don't think they like it! But never had that prob Eileen. Nest in a bench, a bit exposed for them I would have thought but who are we to ponder on natures' way? :D Don't know whether your benches are lacking in oil; i.e. looking a bit grey! But, if they are, 'fraid you should really sand em first! Pain, I know! Got it! You don't sit on em enough to admire your efforts! However, if you keep doing it early in year when ground too hard to struggle with, there is time to spend on your benches for the coming season!
Keep us updated, wassies can be real pain!
Almost emptied a can of fly spray on one of the little blighters!!
I'd just got out the teak oil when I spotted it so that's one down at least.
Thanks for your advice Muddy I don't fancy sanding all the furniture but if needs must...
Eileen.
Only redeeming feature is that, if you sand this year and keep teaking thereafter, won't need to sand again! :D Best of luck!
Ian's out there as we speak!! Poor devil is getting eaten alive by midges but he's not getting back in until the furniture is sanded. Then it's my turn to be chomped on. :(
All in a good cause though!!
Thing is the bench (which has been chewed on the most) was a gift for our 25th wedding anniversary from the kids and I've always taken care to oil it and keep it in condition. I'm really annoyed! Why couldn't they have chewed on the fence for pity's sake - there's enough of it!!!! >:(
Eileen.
Smear some honey on the fence? ;D
dont forget the little stripy bliters will also help take care of pest such as aphids :) dont be in such a hurry to finish em off how about moving the bench ;D
Don't want to finish 'em off Tig but the bench is really special to me!!
Only killed the one - honest - it just kept coming back as Ian was trying to get the bench sanded prior to oiling it again. Don't think shifting it would stop the wasps chewing it somehow, do you?
Fingers crossed we'll have no more problems now.
Eileen.
Hi Eileen
We have a similar problem with the wasps enjoying my pine bench plus my wooden washing line prop.
I maybe wrong,but i think the wasps seem to be attracted to the Cuprinol wood preservative i use on the bench. This year have not treated the bench, and so far no signs of the wasps.
Anne
Thanks Anne,
Thing is, all I've ever used to treat the garden furniture is teak oil and wasps aren't supposed to chew on treated wood - little blighters - they have approx 90' foot of fencing and they have to pick on my bench!!! :'( :'(
Eileen.