How to Eliminate Underground Wasp Hives

Learn how to safely combat wasps and other insect pests that burrow in the soil.

Price and stock could change after publish date, and we may make money off these affiliate links. Learn more.

Ground bees and wasps (such as yellow jackets) do lots of good for the garden and landscape, which is why it pains us to the core when they decide to nest in our family’s most frequented outdoor living areas.

Photo by: Shutterstock/Nannycz

Shutterstock/Nannycz

Pests can be most troublesome when they’re in the grass or in between our patio stones. We typically don’t like to disrupt them unless it’s completely necessary, but because our sandy soil is like a magnet for easy digging, we find their snuggly little lairs all over our yard. They do not like lawnmowers, or swinging hammocks, or anyone in their immediate vicinity.

Yellowjackets often nest in areas near human activity.

Learn How to Kill Wasps and Bees That Live Underground

Kill underground wasps and bees with these DIY tips.

Photo by: Emily Fazio

Emily Fazio

When it’s possible, we try and keep their nests intact. Bees and wasps help with garden pollination, after all, and we need them around to some degree. We love the bees! To encourage them to build nests above ground rather than underfoot, some experts will advise you to exercise prevention by soaking your grass thoroughly — all season long — because it’s harder for the ground bees to dig in dense, saturated soil. But when that method doesn’t work, what should you do?

Ground wasps such as yellow jackets build their nests underground.

Learn How to Kill Wasps and Bees That Live Underground

Kill underground wasps and bees with these DIY tips.

Photo by: Emily Fazio

Emily Fazio

Before you go straight for the poisonous sprays (and yes, they work), consider these alternative techniques for ridding your backyard of pesky bees, wasps and yellow jackets that nest underground,

Cover With Diatomaceous Earth

A very soft powder called diatomaceous earth is actually made of crushed fossilized remains called silica. While soft to the touch for humans, this powder is often compared to “little shards of glass” against the bodies of insects. Its abrasive nature will not only damage the wings of the pests, but it’ll gradually kill any other insects that come in contact with it, and with time, treat the whole hive.

Dust it generously atop and inside any visible hole that certainly contains pesky ground wasps, and as they come and go, they’ll come into contact with the powder.

Diatomaceous earth is abrasive to yellow jacket wings and bodies.

Learn How to Kill Wasps and Bees That Live Underground

Kill underground wasps and bees with these DIY tips.

Photo by: Emily Fazio

Emily Fazio

If you dump a half-cup into the ground hole at nighttime (when the insects are “home” and less active) and then cover the hole with a flat rock, you will surely see a difference in activity the next day. The diatomaceous earth needs to be reapplied after rainfall, or every few weeks if the insects return.

Treat With Soap and Water

At nighttime (again, when the insects are in their hole and less active) cover the hole carefully. A screen or a piece of landscaping fabric works well for this, as the goal is to cover the hole so that the pests can’t escape, but water can still flow in. Landscaping pins, scrap pieces of lumber, or extra pavers will all be helpful at keeping the fabric in position and escape routes to a minimum.

Cover yellow jacket nest holes at night with landscaping fabric

Learn How to Kill Wasps and Bees That Live Underground

Kill underground wasps and bees with these DIY tips.

Photo by: Emily Fazio

Emily Fazio

Use a blade to cut a small slot into the top of the material over the hole — it’ll help the water flow in fast without giving the pests an easy spot to escape.

Cut a hole in the fabric over the yellow jacket nest.

Learn How to Kill Wasps and Bees That Live Underground

Kill underground wasps and bees with these DIY tips.

Photo by: Emily Fazio

Emily Fazio

Mix water and dish soap into a one-gallon container. Alternatively, you can squirt dish soap into the cut in the fabric, and then follow up with a blast of the hose. The soap affects the wasps' ability to fly, the fabric will trap them, and the water will drown out the hive.

Pour soapy water into the yellow jacket nest to drown the hive.

Learn How to Kill Wasps and Bees That Live Underground

Kill underground wasps and bees with these DIY tips.

Photo by: Emily Fazio

Emily Fazio

Additional Alternatives to Consider?

Above-Ground Traps

This wasp trap from an upcycled wine bottle is a trap I made several years ago. Keep it maintained with fresh sugar water (1-to-1 ratio of water and sugar diluted into a simple syrup) and you’ll keep the pests at bay, though it may not be enough to kill the whole hive.

Make a DIY wine bottle wasp catcher.

DIY Wasp Catcher Made From a Wine Bottle

Upcycle a wine bottle into a wasp catcher to improve your outdoor entertaining area.

Photo by: Emily Fazio ©2016

Emily Fazio, 2016

Build Bee Hotels

To invite solitary bees to make their home in a specific location, such as near your wildlife-friendly garden, consider building them a pollinator house.

pollinator house

A Finished Pollinator Habitat

It's easy to create an environment that shelters the pollinators so essential to a garden's eco-system.

Photo by: Image courtesy of Ashley English

Image courtesy of Ashley English

Next Up

Why Are There So Many Stink Bugs in My House?

Brush up on stink bug basics and say so long to these indoor invaders with these quick, natural ways to keep stink bugs at bay.

How to Get Rid of Clothes and Pantry Moths

Remove and prevent pantry moths and clothing moths from your home with these simple, effective techniques.

How to Get Rid of Mealybugs

Learn what you need to know to get rid of mealybugs and protect your plants from this pest.

How to Get Rid of Ladybugs

If they want to come in your home, it's nearly impossible to keep the ladybugs out. Learn the best way to get rid of them.

How to Build and Install a Bat House

Learn how to build and install a cedar bat box with these plans. Bats have many ecological benefits, including reducing the mosquito population and eliminating pests that ravage organic gardens.

How to Get Rid of Silverfish

Find and eliminate sneaky little silverfish in your home, basement or office.

How to Get Rid of Carpenter Bees

These big bees chew holes in your fence, deck and outbuildlings, but they're pollinators. Here's how to manage carpenter bees, along with some reasons why you should consider co-existing with them.

How to Get Rid of Skunks in Your Garden

Learn how to get rid of skunks while protecting yourself from their best defense.

How to Get Rid of Roaches

Here's what to do if your home has cockroaches, plus learn how to prevent these bugs from ever coming back.

How to Get Rid of Earwigs

Earwigs aren't pretty, and they can eat your plants and invade your home. Learn how to make earwigs bug off.

Go Shopping

Get product recommendations from HGTV editors, plus can’t-miss sales and deals.

On TV

Follow Us Everywhere

Join the party! Don't miss HGTV in your favorite social media feeds.