Anyone know an environmentally friendly way to get rid of wasps?

[intheflow]

Some wasps are attempting to build a nest under my patio table, which is right next to the dog door and where my dog naps outside. I don't necessarily want to use something like RAID on them since it's obviously a toxic pesticide. (Though I will if I have to, because I hate those yellow-jacketed f*ckers.)

Anyway, any suggestions are welcome. :hi:

[Archae]

1. This is the most effective.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dmE-emrrAs

:D

Seriously, there is no environmentally safe yet effective method for getting rid of a lot of 'em.
You want 'em dead and you want 'em dead NOW.

[intheflow]

2. There's probably only about 10 of them now.

They're building their nest under a glass top table I walk by every day. I first noticed the beasties yesterday, today I saw the nest. At this point, it's smaller than a hockey puck.

[femmocrat]

3. For a small nest, you can just knock it off and dispose of it.

Wait until it is almost dark, and knock it off with a long pole or something. They are inactive at night, so they will be less likely to attack you. You should still wear protective clothing though!

Then you can shovel the nest into something and put it into the trash. (You could also spray it with hairspray to keep any loose wasps from flying.) I have done that with small hives, such as on door frames. They don't seem to come back to that spot.

[intheflow]

9. If the hose idea proposed below doesn't work,

I'll try this in a few days when the heatwave passes. I didn't see these guys settling down much around twilight tonight.:scared:

[kwassa]

4. we used a hose

We would get them nesting up high under the eaves of our house. A high pressure jet of water would knock the nest down, and we would be far enough away that the angry wasps would be no danger to us.

[femmocrat]

5. Good idea!

I have to get rid of some in a storage shed that is difficult to access. I will try the hose! Thanks!

[intheflow]

7. I like this idea!

The hard part will be getting up under the table. It's on a small deck near the hose but the angle might prove tricky. I'll give it a shot, though. Thanks! :hi:

[Kaleva]

6. Don't worry about the method when launching a preemptive attack

There's a wasp nest on the roof of our front porch which my wife wanted me to destroy. I refused and while she wasn't happy she accepted my stand as she knows I'm a person who'll rescue drowning worms from pools of water on our driveway after it rains. I can adapt and change my routine while wasps cannot.

[intheflow]

8. I also save worms.

And while I can change my routine, I can't expect my dog to change his. This is next to the only door out to my very small urban yard. He also likes to chase bugs. I don't want them flying in my dog door or stinging my dog as he tried to catch them. If the nest was being built in my roof, I wouldn't destroy it, either. But right next to one of the two exits to my house? They have to go.

[Kaleva]

10. I can now tell my wife I ain't the only one who rescues worms!

I hate killing anything. Even bugs. But in your situation, it looks like the wasps have to go.

[Kali]

11. they will actually get used to the normal traffic adn probably not attack the dog or you

but a spray of soapy water should immobilize them or as mentioned wait until well after dark and just knock the nest into a paper bag or something and then wrap it all up tight for disposal. This is not a catch and release situation (even though I never recommend that anyway)

[barb162]

12. this will perhaps help

http://eartheasy.com/live_natwasp_control.htm

[intheflow]

13. That had a lot of good information in it.

Thanks! :hi:

[MiddleFingerMom]

14. Tell them there's a 75% off sale at Bed Bath & Beyond and then...

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...step aside quickly so Biff and Brittany don't trample you in
their rush to get out the door.
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You only need a high-pressure garden hose if you see them outside
trying to reproduce.
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(I can't BELIEVE I'm the first one in here with this. You folks are SLIPPING!!!)
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[blogslut]

15. I've hear that wasps don't like the smell of cinnamon

You might mix something like five parts water to one part vinegar (as a natural solvent) and a half teaspoon of cinnamon oil in a spray bottle. Then spray around the wasp nest (not directly on it) and see what happens. If it makes no difference you'll at least have a nice-smelling patio table.

[SoxFan]

23. Or you can throw donuts at them. Your choice.

[douglas9]

16. Try This ...works like a charm

http://www.ehow.com/how_4447281_kill-wasps-safely-naturally.html

[intheflow]

17. Hmmm... I wonder where I can get a super-soaker...

Because this does sound like the best solution so far, a mix of advices given upthread. Thanks! :hi:

[douglas9]

18. Try Garden Hose Attachment as shown in the link. Cheaper and Easier

http://www.amazon.com/Ace-Dial-a-mix-Hose-End-Sprayer/dp/B000UGVBVG

[gvstn]

19. I just want to say I used Raid spray once 5 years ago

and have never had my wasps come back. I had three small nest two in the garage and one under an eave and one soaking shot each and they are done. I think the next season I had to respray one area as they were building a nest nearby.

I hate pesticides in the house but outside away from me I'm not that environmentally conscious.

Full disclosure: I ran over a yellow jacket nest with the lawnmower as a teenager and was viciously attacked. The sound of bees puts me on edge even to this day. I'm just saying those cans spray like 15 to 20 ft. and in a few seconds it is over for the summer.

Good Luck either way! :)

[intheflow]

22. I know, it's tempting.

But I know all pesticides really do is make ever-more pesticide-resistant wasps, only now those super-wasps are pissed you ruined their home. :scared: So going to try the natural ways first.

[datasuspect]

20. fire

[intheflow]

21. I would start a fire on my wood deck,

so the smoke would reach under the table, but I'm sure that would violate my lease in my landlord's eyes.

[pscot]

24. Water. Lots of it. After they've gone to be.

They hate that.

[meow2u3]

25. I know one thing--I won't visit you until those damn wasps are gone!

I'm scared to death of wasps--it's a phobia!

[gvstn]

26. Wasps and yellow jackets seek me out

Besides always being the one to step on a bee as a kid (sometimes a second or third time after just having finished baking soda paste treatment for my first sting)my first experience with a wasp was when I went to a shooting range and pulled the trigger on the enormous rifle type gun and of course there was a wasp on the trigger. Ouch. :(

[Old Troop]

27. Send them an invitation to one of those time-share presentations.

You'll never see them again!

[jobycom]

28. Play them a video of William Shatner reading a Sarah Palin speech.

When they fall off their nest from laughing, scoop them up and relocate them to a better location.

I usually just knock the nests down. They rarely rebuild in the same place.

[madinmaryland]

29. snort! That's a good one!

:rofl: