August is the time when wasp and yellowjacket activity ramps up. These social bugs become more aggressive in August and are more likely to sting. That being said, wasps are important pollinators for gardens. These insects are naturally driven to hunt other bugs, especially caterpillars, and make great organic pest control. Thus, in this article, we’ll present methods that don’t kill these helpful bugs, just deter them instead.

About Wasps & Yellowjackets: Under-Rated Pollinators

Wasps, believe it or not, do contribute to pollinating your garden. Like bees, they perceive the world in ultraviolet and are attracted to blue and purple flowers (Maryland). In certain studies, the Western yellowjacket is a more efficient pollinator than the honey bee (Maryland). Wasps are carnivores yet require sugar and water for fuel, as it’s a high-energy substance (Maryland).

Wasp and yellowjackets’ carnivorous tendencies ramp up in August as they prepare for winter and wish to feed either their larvae protein-rich foods or themselves. Wasps & Yellowjackets live similarly to bees, meaning a dormant queen wakes up in spring and spends much of the summer laying eggs and creating sterile workers (Polistes). Eventually, old queens create new queens, which leave their original nest to establish their own, intensifying the competition between wasps (Polistes).

While established queens use scavenged meat, whether that be roadkill or something from your picnic, to feed their larvae, new queens consume this protein-dense food for themselves in preparation for hibernation. However, all wasps still rely on flower nectar for a quick energy boost. Naturally, these social insects prefer to hunt caterpillars and other insects amongst the garden, and, unfortunately, non-pest insects as well, because wasps are carnivorous generalists (Maryland). With the wonderful and clear weather, you’re likely enjoying meals on a patio or porch. Wasps’ opportunistic feeding nature makes them bold enough to pursue food from your plate. This is obviously annoying and potentially dangerous to those allergic to stings.

Landscaping & Yardkeeping With Wasp In Mind

If you’re building a garden or plan to, create a spot for these social pollinators that avoid human spaces. Blue and purple-colored flowers are always popular with pollinators, yet depending on the wasp, some are likewise attracted to white/yellow, shallow flowers on account of a short proboscis (Maryland). Don’t plant beebalm, penstemon, and other wasp favroites by the doorway, garden gates, or patio. Instead, keep these plants in less-trafficked areas of the garden, like a bright corner, while planting red and pink flowers where people frequent. Limit pesticide use, which may bring unwanted insects into the garden, yet will distract wasps from your plate by providing them with their original prey. Plus, ladybugs, lacewings, and spiders will likewise take care of garden prey and pests too small for wasps.

Similarly, keep access to water and hummingbird feeders away from people-populated areas. Still water is preferred by wasps, so adding a bubbler to a water feature will deter them from frequenting the area. As for hummingbird feeders, cleaning them regularly and keeping them near screened windows is ideal to maintain visibility when observing hummingbirds.

Keep the garden and yard tidy to avoid attracting these insects. Wasps and Yellowjackets are not picky and will even scavenge from the trash can or compost (Green). Similarly, they will scavenge discarded fruit from trees (Green). Prioritize keeping the yard free of fruit debris, cleaning trash cans, and proper composting so the wasps will not be a problem.

Knocking Down Hives

Wasps and Yellowjackets naturally build their nest in hollowed-out trees, on cliffs or sheltered rock faces, and (for yellowjackets) in underground holes (Laucher). Human homes have become a new favorite for these bugs, and wasps often seek gutters, window frames, garages, porches, and more as potential nest locations. Wasps prefer unbothered locations and to be sheltered from the rain. If you notice signs of hive building, such as a small comb being built, we recommend removing this structure with a large stick at night, as wasps have poor night vision (Green). For your safety, we recommend wearing protective clothes (Green). If you happen to own a red-spectrum light, use it, as it will mask your approach, as wasps cannot detect this visual wavelength (Green). You may have to repeat this action to deter them for good. If you don’t wish to get stung or are severely allergic, you can use a wasp spray to take care of the job. Wasp spray will unfortunately kill any larvae within the comb, along with adult wasps. We recommend using that as a final option when none others work.

As for Yellowjackets and their underground nest, there are very few options for controlling them without extermination. The destruction of their nest likewise must be conducted at night for your safety, with ground-nesting insect spray being the best option (Green). Yellowjackets and wasps found within attics, wall voids, or high-up structures should be left to professional care, and beekeepers should be called to handle the situation (Green).

Faux Nest: Do They Work?

You may have heard that a decoy wasp nest will deter others from searching for a new home. Whether made from paper or crocheted, hanging a faux wasp nest implies your yard is “owned” by another colony of wasps or yellowjackets, creating a non-existent territorial rivalry. Sadly, this isn’t true, as different wasps from different colonies have been observed living in proximity (Polistes). While there are no official peer-reviewed studies on decoy nest effectiveness, wasps have been observed in nature establishing hives in close quarters or even inside/on top of an abandoned nest (click here to scroll and see: click me). In fact, wasps may find the decoys to be excellent new homes and build their hives inside them! Thus, we don’t really recommend a faux wasp nest to deter these insects.

Other Friendly Deterrent Methods?

Unfortunately, the internet is filled with nonsense treatments for keeping wasps away. Peppermint oil partially works, but is limited to the certain oils’ effectiveness, as revealed by this study: click here to see: click here). Citronella is also an effective temporary deterrent, primarily in oil or incense form*. Other than that, there isn’t anything particular that will ward away wasps permanently, as these options are temporary solutions.

Wasps, even though they are generalist carnivores, hunt prey insects and pollinate flowers. They are surprisingly more beneficial to gardeners than we think, but at the same time nuisances and potentially dangerous. A combination of gardening and landscaping with wasps in mind and removing hives is the most effective method of keeping these pollinators distracted and away.

*Keep in mind we are on a fire ban. Incense must be kept away from flammable substances and monitored at all times.

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Green, J. P. (2020, June 11). Jody Green, PhD. GRO Big Red. https://grobigred.com/2020/06/11/whats-up-with-all-the-wasps/amp/

Laucher, Daniel. “How to Control Yellowjackets without Harming Bees!” (2016, August 2). Fort Collins Nursery. https://fortcollinsnursery.com/fcn-blog/how-to-control-yellowjackets-without-harming-bees/

“Wasps, Surprisingly Cool Pollinators” – Maryland Agronomy News. (n.d.). In blog.umd.edu. Retrieved July 23, 2026, from https://blog.umd.edu/agronomynews/2020/08/31/wasps-surprisingly-cool-pollinators/

Polistes fuscatus. “Do Wasp Nest Decoys Work?” Ask an Entomologist, 15 July 2020, https://askentomologists.com/2020/07/14/do-wasp-nest-decoys-work/. Accessed 31 July 2026.

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