What to do about wasps? Help!

[StripyHorse]

Neighbour at the back has planted a fruit tree right against our fence, next to our patio. This isn't a problem in itself - but it is a wasp magnet. We can't sit out with any food as we get too harrassed by the wasps. The last 2 weekends, we have wanted to eat outside in the evening and haven't been able to.
Our garden is tiny, so moving the patio isn't an option.

What can we do about the wasps?
Just to add, we have a 'paper bag wasp nest' hung up, we have planted mint as apparently this deters them (it doesn't).
We have one of those glass wasp catchers hanging from our fence, but it may be too low down to work.

WIBU to ask neighbour to do something about the situation? Not sure what he can do though. And what else can we try? I want to be able to use my garden!

You’re allowed to cut down any branches that are on your side - just offer them back to your neighbour.

Thanks. The branches aren't really hanging over, they are growing upwards more than horizontally, but they are right against the fence. If the wasps stayed by the tree it would be OK - but as soon as we try to sit out with food or drink, some of them leave the tree and pester us instead.

The wasps are hungry. Their season is ending sooner so there's no sweet babies to lick (They feed them insects and they sweat sugary stuff) ...

Put a jar of cheap jam out and watch them devour it!

Not much you can do.

I read yesterday that the season has started earlier this year, they are building massive nests and are demonstrating more aggression earlier in the season.

As I am anaphylactic to both Wasp and Bee stings they are proving a nightmare.

@Gonepaddling Think of them not as aggressive but starving hungry!
Swatting at them won't help.

I agree with @mumda , put a jar or saucer of jam nearer to the tree than you are, and they 'should' stop there...

One should avoid killing them with traps as they are a pollinators, and we need them as bees are in decline. 🐝

There seems to be lots more wasps this year. Have you thought about putting some wasp catchers out?

Loads of wasps here too. Its a nightmare. Im also allergic.

Wasp season is such a short season, and particularly bad this year. You could erect some sort of pergola or temporary fruit cage structure with insect netting if it is really bothersome. I think it’s unreasonable to ask the neighbour to remove the tree.

This won't be for long - provide some jam away from where you want to be and hopefully that'll attract them away.

What type of fruit tree is it? What would help is, if the tree is covered in fruit and it is ripe (must be if attracting wasps), then the neighbours should pick the fruit. It won't attract wasps without there being overripe fruit on it.

It's worth noting that wasps have been really under strain in recent years and they are a vital predator in the food chain of insects so we don't have too many flies and other nasties.

We leave the fruit on the ground for the wasps in our orchard.

There is one that you need to watch out for though - especially if you live in Kent area
https://www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/blog/asian-hornet-guide-kent

If you see one of these report it!

I wasn't going to ask him to remove the tree (although I did point out as he planted it that it was too close to the fence).

If he was willing to put something to attract them back into his garden for example, it would help. Or look into whether there is a wasp net and get rid of it.

I can't tell what kind of fruit it is - but bizarrely, there are only 2 fruits. The wasps are drawn to the leaves.

I know it won't be for long - but the summer is exactly when we want to use the patio 😟.

Wouldn’t dream of swatting at them. They are amazing pollinators.

I just prefer that they leave me alone and that I wasn’t having to carry Epi-pens everywhere I go a.t.m

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Parkland®-Outdoor-Umbrella-Mosquito-Converter/dp/B072J4M2KK/ref=asc_df_B072J4M2KK?mcid=1446c05d5fb0324196d39c00d659f026&hvocijid=7279392953154306602-B072J4M2KK-&hvexpln=74&tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=696285193871&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7279392953154306602&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006622&hvtargid=pla-2281435176858&psc=1&gad_source=1

what about something like this?

We'd need to buy an umbrella too (this could get expensive) but that looks promising, thank you.

Swatting only confuses them and this is when they sting.
Just leave them alone. The jam jar someone mentioned is a good idea.

I think wasps hate cucumber so have lots of slices of cucumber around you.

I don't swot them, I know that makes them more likely to attack. I don't want them landing on me or my food though. I am afraid of e.g. leaning back in my chair not knowing there is a wasp there - that also gets you stung.

Thanks - I will try this.

Do you know if the cucumber can be in gin?

I heard today by spraying water on them, they think it's raining & fly back to the nest to tell the others not to go where they have been as it's raining. Not sure if it's true, and as much as wasps scare me, I won't kill them & hate traps, so anything to deter them is fine by me

This is brilliant! I’m going to have to get one as I’m allergic to them and ended up in A&E last time I got stung.