Prevent wasp damage to fruits

Wasps can be a problem as fruits ripen in the garden. They’re not always the first creatures to attack the fruit; often it’s birds that peck at red areas of apples and plums. But wasps soon move in afterwards to hollow out the fruits. Hanging CDs in the trees can dissuade the birds but wasps are trickier. Suitably placed hanging jars, with some jam and water in the base and covered with paper held in place with an elastic band, are effective to trap the wasps if you make a small hole in the paper. If you don’t want to kill the wasps, a ‘fake nest’ hung in a tree will see them off and is usually remarkably effective.