Ridding the Garden of Yellow Jackets

Reaching for a stone to edge my garden beds, the yellow jacket and his comrades came from out of nowhere. Swatting at them only made matters worse. Before I knew it, war was raged. Before I could get away, they relentlessly stung me again and again. And as luck would have it, I discovered yet another nest soon afterward. Now my own war was raged.

Anyone who's ever stumbled upon a yellow jacket nest knows firsthand just how aggressive these bees can be and how painful their stings are. This is especially true of gardeners. While most people simply use chemicals to control these menacing pests, there are other more natural alternatives that may performed instead. In fact, one of the most effective ways to rid the garden of yellow jackets is to make it less appealing to them.

Remove all pet food. Yellow jackets are attracted to the proteins commonly found in your pet's food. Keeping this and other similar products indoors can alleviate the likelihood of yellow jacket invasions.

Check your garbage. Yellow jackets are also attracted to food scraps, especially fish, fruits, and soda. By keeping garbage cans properly sealed and other trash picked up and disposed of, you can help make your garden area free of yellow jackets.

Consider using traps. Traps can be an effective way to naturally rid the garden of yellow jackets. These can be purchased or made at home. One of the most popular homemade traps uses a 5-gallon bucket filled with soapy water. A mesh screen is placed over the bucket with protein bait suspended from it, dangling just inches above the water. Once the bees try to catch dropped bait, they unwittingly drown themselves in the soapy water below. This concept can also be applied to a 2-liter bottle. Simply cut the top off and set it upside down within the bottom portion of the bottle and secure in place. Fill with sugary water and put it near the perimeter of the garden to catch unsuspecting yellow jackets.

Render their nest uninhabitable. By pouring anything from soapy water to paint down the entry holes of the nest, you can easily make it uninhabitable. You could also cover the nest holes with sturdy objects, such as larges boulders. However, this is best accomplished on cool nights when the nest is less active. You should also wear protective clothing to guard against possible retaliation.

Most yellow jackets nest underground and these are generally the most aggressive types. Unfortunately, many gardeners have felt their stings while performing routine maintenance in the garden. If you should come across these pests, don't swat at them. This will only provoke an unwanted and truly painful attack. Trust me, I know all too well.