Question
Hi there!

I recently observed wasps, some look like yellow jackets and some are a solid dark color, swarming around my potted fern on our back deck. The fern is rather old and extremely large. It's in a 14" pot and I wanted to transplant it to a larger one, but the wasps are deterring me from doing so. I got close to the pot and the wasps didn't seem to notice or care than I was there. I can smell the nest when I get closer to the plant and have observed wasps crawling into and out of two spots on either side of the fern more frequently than other places. In the morning when I water the fern, I never see any bees, but later in the day they are everywhere! How do I get rid of these wasps? They are extremely close to our covered porch and house and I don't want anyone to get stung. I also don't want to harm the plant, as it has been my "baby" for three years now. I also need to make sure they are gone before I bring it in for the winter. Any advice would be much appreciated. Thank you!

Answer
Sara
I am a certified pesticide applicator and pesticide operator trainer...I have 2 licenses to allow me to legally do this type extermination and charge for my services...If you are allergic to stings or too afraid of stinging insects you need to contact a local pesticide control business...

I would recommend hiring a licensed professional...

That said, if it were me and at my house...
1. I would wear protective clothing including head and facial protection (like a bee keeper hat), long pants, long sleeve shirt, gloves, etc...
2. Early in the AM just before sunrise I would spray hornet and wasp spray at the entrance/exit holes the insects use to get in and out of the plant trying to get as little spray on the foliage as possible...
3. Later in the day (around noon) I would check to see if any live insects were present...Stand back and hit it with a pole...
4. If yes...Wait till the next morning and do it again making sure to hit he holes with more hornet and wasp spray...
5. Repeat the process...If they are still there the next day trash the plant or call a professional...
6. If you check and they are not present spray the plant with your hose to wash off the foliage and any residue still on the plant...Cut the root ball in 1/2s or 1/4s and repot it into other pots...Look for the nests in the soil or under the foliage and remove them to the trash can...
Good luck...Let me know what happens...
Rick in southern NJ