Nothing is more unpleasant than when wasps invite themselves to the table.

As the summer wears on, it's inevitable to find more and more wasps are circling around our patios. Though these stinging insects sure are pesky, they're still important pollinators and help to eliminate other harmful insects.

If you want to avoid traditional trap and kill methods to stave away wasps, there are natural deterrents you can turn to.

Here are five effective ways to keep these unwanted guests away.

5 Ways To Keep Wasps Away

Clove

Clove is a natural wasp repellent embraced by many restaurants. Place a small amount of freshly crushed cloves on your outdoor dining table to keep wasps away.

Essential Oils

The concentrated scent of the biochemical molecules found in certain essential oils—such as lavender and geranium—acts as a repellent for several insects, including wasps. Simply pour a few drops into a container and place in the middle of your patio table.

Incense 

As previously mentioned, wasps aren't the biggest fan of strong smells. The intense scent of lit incense is an easy way to keep them at bay—plus, it smells great!

Coffee

Perhaps wasps are more tea fans? Lighting up some coffee grounds in a container—sans flame, since grounds burn by incandescence—gives off smoke that scares away the wasps.

A False Nest

Boo! Realistic, fake wasp nests have a deterrent effect on territorial wasps, as it's rare to see two nests in the same area. That said, this method doesn't work with all types of wasps, as nests differ from one species to another.

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