If you're afraid of wasps, the summer months can be a nightmare. This is when you're most likely to see them flying around your home or garden, and they aren't always the easiest to get rid of. 

Generally speaking, if it's a wasp nest you're dealing with, this should be left to the professionals. But if you're looking for an easy way to drive wasps away from your outdoor space, then adding one thing to your garden can really help. Joshua Houston, Pest Control expert at WhatCost, has identified wasps as one of the key nuisances that everyone should be looking out for this summer. 

It's estimated that there are over 9,000 species of wasps in the UK. They do come in handy in terms of pest control and pollination, as they are vital for maintaining healthy ecosystems. 

But to most people, wasps are simply a nuisance, and there's always the worry that you'll get stung. 

Unlike bees, wasps don’t die after they sting, so they are more aggressive to humans.

People often struggle to relax with wasps around them, so having a nest close to your home can be a real nightmare.

If you want to spend time outside this summer without worrying about wasps flying by, then you'll want to grab a mint plant from your local supermarket. 

According to the experts at Clancy Bros Pest Control, wasps and hornets 'hate' the smell of this popular herb, so planting it in your garden or in pots is a great natural deterrent - not only for wasps but for other pests such as ants and rats too. 

If you fancy something a bit stronger, peppermint oil is the way to go.

Again, wasps hate the strong smell, so it's an effective natural way to keep them away from your home and garden.

All you need to do is take a cotton ball soaked in peppermint oil and place it near areas where you've seen wasps and hornets.

You can also add a few drops of peppermint oil to a spray bottle filled with water and use it to spray any affected areas.

Aside from mint, cinnamon and cloves are effective in keeping wasps and hornets away too - so you can try a few options in your garden to see what works best.