This article will be on plants that repel yellow jackets. There are several such plants.

Encounters with yellow jackets can be dangerous and fatal. Most worrisome is having them take up residence in or around your home. Getting rid of them is the immediate thing that comes to mind.

Now, there are different ways of doing this.

These have been used with success in several situations and can help you get back control of your home surroundings.

What Plants Deter Yellow Jackets?

Several plants have repellant properties and are suitable for yellow jacket problems. These will need to be planted around your home. What happens when these are planted around is that the scent given off irritates yellow jackets.

For humans, such scents are pleasing thus increasing your home’s appeal.

7 Yellow Jacket-Repellent Plant Species

Some yellow jacket repellant plants include Wormwood, Spearmint, Thyme, Eucalyptus, Lemongrass, and Pennyroyal.

Others are Basil, Marigolds, Citronella, Pitcher Plants, and Cucumber. These are a few of several plants that can be used to keep yellow jackets at bay.

  • Wormwood

Apart from having a pungent smell, the wormwood plant also has or contains absinthe. This is a substance that is toxic to insects.

It is important when planting wormwood to do so in areas that are clear of other plants as it can easily kill off any plants which are close by.

How Wormwood Works

Wormwood plant gives off a strong and pungent smell that irritates yellow jackets.

What more? The absinthe contained in this plant poisons yellow jackets if they get too close. This helps create a barrier around your home that prevents these wasps from hanging around.

How to Use Wormwood

Using a wormwood plant for yellow jacket control is easy. All you need to do is plant this evergreen shrub around your home’s perimeter.

Another way is to have planted around the patio. This should do the trick. Before long, yellow jackets will find your surroundings unwelcoming.

Side Effects

While there are obvious benefits to having this shrub planted around your surroundings, there are also downsides too. Wormwood should never be ingested.

Ingesting it could lead to poisoning. Plus, it never has any repelling effect on yellow jackets when ingested.

  • Spearmint

Spearmint plants can be quite invasive, hence the need to have them planted in areas where they don’t pose a problem. This spreading rhizome plant smells pleasant to humans but very irritating to yellow jackets.

How Spearmint Works

Spearmint works in a much similar way to other yellow jacket repelling plants. The pungent scent, given off, though pleasant affects these wasps and drives them off.

Based on this fact, spearmint should be planted around affected areas for easy relief.

How to Use Spearmint

Using spearmint for yellow jacket control is easy. Have them planted at strategic locations around your home.

Such areas could include the perimeter of your home as well as other areas where you’ve encountered a nagging yellow jacket problem.

Side Effects

Are there side effects associated with spearmint plant use? There is hardly any.

However, we won’t ignore the possibility of having an allergic reaction to the spearmint plant. When this happens, urgent medical attention should be sought.

  • Thyme

Thyme is a popular cooking spice that also has insect repelling properties. It has been used successfully to repel yellow jackets and will serve the purpose of keeping your home surroundings free of these stinging insects.

How it Works

The scent given off by this plant will effectively repel yellow jackets without delay.

It doesn’t matter whether you use cut & dried thyme or fresh plants. The effects are much similar. These will need to placed or planted in areas with yellow jacket presence.

How to Use Thyme

Yellowjackets will always hang around areas they consider suitable. You’ll need to intervene by making such areas unwelcoming to them.

Introducing thyme plant acts as the game-changer. The scent given off repels them off. In planting or placing thyme in affected areas, care should be taken to avoid yellow jacket stings.

Side Effects

Thyme has little (if any) to no side effects at all. Some people might be allergic to thyme plants while others might not. It’s important that you know what works for you and seeks medical assistance where necessary.

  • Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus trees serve to protect from yellow jacket problems. The fragrance given off by this plant does the magic when it comes to repelling these stingers.

You’ll need to get the needed or sufficient number of plants to place them around your property for the best results.

How it Works

The working principle of the eucalyptus plant in keeping yellow jackets at bay is a no-brainer. This plant is known for its pleasant scent.

While we consider this as smelling good, insects (including yellow jackets) don’t find it attractive at all and will rather keep a distance.

How to Use Eucalyptus Plant

To repel yellow jackets, all you need to do is have a few planters which should be placed at strategic points (areas having the most frequent infestation).

These few Eucalyptus plants should give you the much-needed relief you seek from yellow jacket problems.

Side Effects

Cases of irritations from the use of Eucalyptus plants are rare.

In other words, this plant can be considered safe for use by anyone. However, there’s a possibility that some persons might experience adverse reactions when their skins come in contact with this plant. Medical advice should be sought immediately.

  • Lemongrass

Wherever lemongrass plants are found, there’s hardly an insect problem. This serves as an effective yellow jacket repellent you can use to keep your home free of these stingers.

The best part is, lemongrass is easy to grow. It’s also used as food (for tea etc).

How it Works

The lemongrass plant gives off a strong scent. This scent is pleasing to most people. However, it’s irritating to yellow jackets and other insects alike.

With such knowledge, you only need to have them planted around your home surroundings if you have a yellow jacket problem.

How to Use

To take back control of your property, have lemongrass planted around your home. This plant can be bought potted.

With such, you only need to place them around your yard. Potted lemongrass plants are easily moveable. You can move them to wherever you notice yellow jacket nests.

Side Effects

There are no side effects associated with the use of lemongrass plant as a pest repellent. If there’s a negative reaction to it, consider using any of the other plants listed here.

  • Pennyroyal

Another plant that is very effective in repelling yellow jackets is Pennyroyal. This has a similar scent to mint.

Yellowjackets keep their distance from areas where these are found. It is also easy to plant with well-drained soils serving as the best soils for planting.

How it Works

Pennyroyal works much similar to mint plants. In other words, the pleasant scent it releases serves as the main repellant that keeps yellow jackets at bay.

You’ll need to have these planted at different points around your property for the best results.

How to Use Pennyroyal

Yellowjacket control using the pennyroyal plant is quite easy.

Get a couple of plants and have them planted around your yard. Planters can also be used to grow these plants. As long as they are cared for (watered), pennyroyal plants will always give off scents that repel wasps.

Side Effects

There are no clear side effects relating to the use of this plant. However, if any is noticed, it’s best to go for other alternatives available.

This article includes several of these alternatives.

  • Basil

Aside from serving as a kitchen resource, basil plants are also very useful in pest control.

This plant has successfully been used as a repellant for yellow jackets and you can use it too. Its strong fragrance is quite pleasing to humans but harms insect pests. Basil plant thrives best in well-drained soils and hot climates.

How it Works

Much like other plants having repellent properties, the strong fragrance given off by basil serves to drive away yellow jackets. This means you’ll need to have basil plants around your surroundings for its maximum effect to be felt.

How to Use Basil

Using basil plants to repel yellow jackets isn’t as complicated as some people think. Get these planted in pots or locations around your yard or garden. Areas with difficult yellow jacket problems should be targeted.

Side Effect

It is not clear yet if basil has any negative side effects on people. If it does, it’s best to change strategies by using other plants to repel these insect pests.

These are just a few of several plants that can be used as yellow jacket repellents. Marigolds, cucumber, pitcher, and citronella plants are additional plants that can be used for the same purpose.

The best part with plant use for yellow jacket (including other insects) control is that it’s entirely natural and poses limited harm if any at all.

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