We have had a bit of a wasp problem over here. The past two years it has been ants in the Spring time, but last week hubby found 2 small yellow jacket nests forming under the edge of our above ground pool, near the ladder and on the swing set and this week we had wasps hanging out by the front door.
I HATE chemicals and try to avoid them when and where ever possible so I started researching how to tackle these buggers (pun intended) naturally.
ANTS-
For ants try checking out my post on 10 NONTOXIC WAYS TO COMBAT ANTS
YELLOW JACKETS AND WASPS-
First we had little nests, just starting to form around the pool so we felt we could handle this ourselves and wanted to do it using as little toxins as possible. My researched yielded using basic dish washing soap would work. So we purchased a garden sprayer for the hose and added our Shaklee Dish Wash Concentrate into it (about 1/2 cup) filled with water and sprayed first somewhere away from nest until the soap starts to come out. Then sprayed the hell outta that nest!!! We did this about 2-3 times over 2 days. It dries up the nest and suffocates and dries up the wasps. Once we were convinced they were gone, we took down the nests and crushed them then bagged them and disposed of them. Then the following week the nests were back on the other side of the pool. So we sprayed again with the soapy water, this time after we knocked the nests down we went around the pool and sprayed DW-40 in the areas the seemed to like and so far two weeks later, still no nests. Then we noticed very tiny yellow jackets coming out of the kids play set. We hit this with water several times and have seen less of them, but they are not totally gone because the nest is not exposed. So we found the soapy water will kill them and the nest, however it doesn't do much to keep them from coming back. Using DW-40 on areas they seem to like has done the trick and killed one on the spot when the hubby had one come at him.
Am I happy about using DW-40, well... I feel it it safer than MOST of the sprays for yellow jackets and wasps... so I guess I am OK with it.
Then this past week we had wasps congregating and trying to get in the front door. OK! This is where I DRAW THE LINE!!!!! It was time to call in the professionals. I called a local company that was GREEN SHIELD CERTIFIED this means they have technicians that are trained in using options that are safer, and employs methods that use physical, mechanical and biological options using less toxins and reducing your exposure.
So in the end if you feel backed into a corner by pests (or in our case, backed into using the back door) look for a GREEN SHIELD CERTIFIED exterminator or try searching natural or ecobased companies and products like EcoSMART because there are less toxic ways to deal with these intruders.
You might also like:
Try going blue, Haint Blue that is. Down south they paint their porch ceilings blue to mimic the sky and help prevent insects from setting up shop.
Apply DW-40 to the area to help repel insects.
How to Kill Wasps Naturally
EcoSmart which is a company that uses plant-based products as safe pesticides.
Here's to enjoying the great outdoors this summer without pesky pests bothering you and without having to resort to toxic chemicals!!!
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