Keeping Yellow Jackets Out Of Your Yard This Summer

We can all agree that being stung isn’t an enjoyable experience; even people who have never been stung steer clear of stinging insects altogether to avoid the painful result of getting stung. Unfortunately, yellow jackets are harder to avoid than many other stinging insects, are more aggressive, and are known for being extremely protective of their nests; perhaps they could be compared to someone who is not a morning person and has not yet had their first cup of coffee. You know the type: mumbles a bit, grumpy, and quick to be annoyed until the caffeine hits their system. While you cannot completely stop yellow jackets from visiting your yard, you can make it less appealing to these stinging pests. If you are interested to learn more, stick around.

Why yellow jackets in New Jersey become a major problem the longer summer sticks around

If you were to build a tower of Legos, would it be taller after one minute of building or five minutes? It would be taller after five minutes, right? If yellow jackets die off during the winter and start fresh in late spring, would they be worse at the start, or at the end of summertime? At the end, of course, because of the time they have had to build nests and reproduce. Naturally, the more time they have, the larger their populations will get, and the more of a problem they will be around your home.

How to keep yellow jackets away 

Before we get into tips and tricks, there is something we should mention. If you already has a yellow jacket nest in your house or on your property, none of these prevention tips will do a thing to help you. In that case you should contact a pest control company that specializes in stinging insect control.

Now with that piece of housekeeping tended to, here is a list of yellow jacket prevention tips our New Jersey pest control company has put together to help you keep yellow jackets away from your home and property.

• Keep a lid on your trash can
  An open garbage can full of food scraps and liquids will bring the yellow jackets which is why it’s best to use a receptacle with a secure cover. Also, we highly recommend moving the trash can away from the area(s) where people are likely to congregate.
• Clean up thoroughly after outdoor gatherings
  If you leave anything trace of sugar, protein-heavy foods, or drinks, yellow jackets will come calling.
• Don’t leave pet food and water bowls outside
  If you happen to feed your pets outside and don’t bring in the bowls after each feeding, you risk the possibility of attracting yellow jackets.
• Plant flowers that repel wasps
  Geraniums, marigolds, and pennyroyals are an excellent choice if you want to garden but not necessarily attract yellow jackets as well as other wasps and bees. Their fragrances, or in the case of red geraniums their color, are not at all appealing to these pests.
• Pick up rotting fruit
  Yellow jackets have a tendency to hang around fruit trees because the rotting fruit that falls from their limbs appeals to the thick hairs on their legs (in other words, the human equivalent of taste buds). Be sure to pick up dropped fruits regularly.

Why professional treatment is the best way to deal with yellow jackets and other stinging insects 

If you’ve found a yellow jacket nest in a spot that is too close for comfort or have found yourself encountering these stinging insects in your yard, contact Arrow Pest Control. Providing effective home pest control in Paramus, Roseland, and Old Bridge as well as throughout our multi-county service area, our highly trained and fully licensed pest management specialists have the tools and know-how to remove yellow jackets and other types of wasps from your property.

Home Protection Program

Service consists of the elimination of your current pest or rodent problem, complemented by both interior and exterior year-round protection of your home, which is inclusive of three seasonal visits. The program covers your entire property including attics, mailboxes, playsets, sheds, and fences.

Pests targeted with Arrow’s Home Protection Plan services include ants (excluding carpenter ants, pharaoh ants and acrobatic), bees, boxelder bugs, carpenter bees, carpet beetles, centipedes, cicada killers, clover mites, crickets, digger bees, earwigs, fabric & paper pests, fleas (inside only), ground beetles, hornets, mice, pillbugs, millipedes, rats, roaches, silverfish, sowbugs, spiders, springtails, stored product pests, and wasps.

*If you have a pool house that requires service, pricing would increase based upon the size of the structure.

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This blog was originally published on July 16, 2019 but has been updated to reflect the most up-to-date information.