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It's that time again when nuisance yellowjackets are making an appearance and making outdoor dining a little less comfortable with their threat to sting. But, you can successfully deter these social wasps by using just one plant: mint.
It's one of the easiest and most natural ways to get rid of yellowjackets because these pesky bugs can't stand the scent and essential oils of several mint varieties. By carefully positioning mint plants around your seating area, you can discourage their presence. It can be as simple as placing this peppermint plant from Walmart on your outdoor table.
It is worth noting, however, that this isn't a fool-proof solution on its own. It'll provide protection in the immediate area, but the most effective approach will be combining methods to get rid of yellowjackets from your yard. Here, we explain exactly how to use mint to deter yellowjackets and the best types to use.
How to Use Mint to Deter Yellowjackets
The reason mint is on the list of pest-repellent plants is because many garden pests, including yellowjackets and mosquitoes, can't stand the fragrance of it.
More specifically, mint contains the essential oils menthol, menthone, and pulegone, which disrupt yellowjackets' senses.
These wasps use scent to locate food, so having mint nearby can disguise the smell of the meat, sugary drinks, and fruit they seek.
For this reason, it is effective to place mint plants around your outdoor dining area in summer to prevent their presence.
It's even more effective to harvest your mint plant regularly and crush a few leaves to release the oils and create a stronger fragrance. You can use these herb garden scissors from Amazon to cut the leaves.
Remove the Flowers
One word of warning to note about using mint to deter yellowjackets is that you shouldn't let the mint flower.
These tall spikes are excellent at attracting beneficial insects, including hoverflies, bees, butterflies, as well as yellowjackets, so it can be counterproductive.
The simple solution to this is cutting the flower spikes before they bloom and regularly harvesting from your mint plant to stop them flowering.
Best Mint Varieties to Deter Yellowjackets
While all types of mint will play a part in deterring yellowjackets, there are particular varieties that are more effective than others.
Peppermint (like these peppermint plants on Amazon) is one of the best because it's the highest in menthol content and has one of the strongest scents.
Spearmint (which you can find at Walmart) is also a good choice, though it has a soft, sweeter aroma than peppermint.
Finally, apple mint (like this plant from Amazon) is worth considering. It has a fruity, fresh scent and fuzzy leaves. Its scent is milder but it grow vigorously and offers lots of scented foliage as a deterrent.
It's best to grow these mint plants in containers (I personally love this metal herb planter from Wayfair) as they can spread aggressively. This also makes it easy to move the mint plants around as needed, to keep yellowjackets away from your hosting space.
What to Shop
Fill these wasp traps with sugar water or juice to attract them. They're designed to allow wasps in and trap them. They're also solar powered with LED lights that come on at night.
These wasp nest decoys can be used to trick wasps into thinking there's already a colony present in the area, deterring them. You get four in this pack.
Spray this peppermint oil spray around your patio to deter yellowjackets and other nuisance insects. The strong scent discourages their presence.
While mint is a good deterrent to use for yellowjackets, the most effective solution is combining methods. This includes picking up fallen fruit, keeping bins sealed, and covering sugary drinks. There are also plenty of wasp-repellent plants that discourage the presence of all types of wasps and yellowjackets.
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