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I have said too many times how things happen or someone will call me, giving me an idea for the next weeks’ topics. Seeing how the yellow jacket bees are eating my neighbors’ raspberries gave me the topic for this article.

If you are a senior citizen, as I am, you don’t remember yellow jackets when you were young, and for good reason. They were introduced accidentally to northeastern United States in the late 1960’s. They have been in Minnesota for about 25 years.

There is more than one kind of yellow jacket but it’s the German yellow jacket that is sharing your picnic lunch with you.

Yellow jackets are usually considered beneficial insects in the garden. They begin their life cycle as meat eaters of insects such as aphids on rose bushes and worms on ripening apples.

In September the drones, or worker bees, are banished from the hive. They are no longer needed and they eat too much of the honey that is being saved for the winter. This means more bees are patrolling your yard and garden at this time of year looking for food thus increasing the risk of stinging.

As summer ends, the yellow jackets experience a shortage in their food supply (insects such as caterpillars and maggots). They also can get into fermenting fruit and become intoxicated. Intoxication changes their behavior and they become mean and aggressive. Yellow jackets are social insects and fiercely territorial, whether they are defending their nest or taking a drink from your pop can.

I’m glad I researched the yellow jackets because up until now I thought they were as worthless as mosquitoes. I spend a lot of time in my raspberry patch in the fall because it’s my main cash crop. Since I have everbearing raspberries, the fall crop is constantly blooming until the frost. The honey bees and bumble bees are busy pollinating blossoms from dawn to dusk. The yellow jackets occasionally pollinate but mainly they are looking for food.

I used to believe the false concept about yellow jackets that they are just a nuisance bee. However, an article from the Associated Press states that the yellow jacket is the most dangerous stinging insect around. It is blamed for between 50 to 100 deaths each year. There is another serious downside to this type of bee. The honey bee can only sting once because it loses its stinger after stinging. However, the yellow jacket can sting multiple times. I’m not going to get into allergic reactions from bees because I know very little about the subject. I do know that bee stings can be a little like poison ivy. There comes a point where repeated exposures or multiple bee stings can result in an increased risk of allergic reaction.

The best way to control the yellow jacket is to find their nest and proceed from there. The main problem with this particular bee is that it’s not fussy about where it builds its nests. Also, if it’s true that drones get evicted out of the hive, they may have a home away from home.

If you find the nest on the ground, first try pouring a soap and water solution into the hole. Any type of detergent will do. If that doesn’t work, sprinkle chlorpyrifos dust into the opening or mix a liquid concentrate such a Sevin and pour it into the nest opening. Be sure the product you use has been cleared for lawn or soil use. Some use the Sevin in the power form and sprinkle it outside the nest.

Hanging nests on trees, shrubs or on buildings can be sprayed with an aerosol insecticide, such as resmethrin or propoxur (ex baygon) into the opening. Do this at night when bees are not so active. Repeat several times if necessary. Aerosols don’t work well in hidden areas like behind walls, in attics, etc.

Upcoming Classes and Events

The last free class sponsored by the Chisago County Master Gardeners this year will be at the Senior Center in North Branch this Tuesday, October 25. The hour-long session begins at 6:30 p.m. For more information call the Extension Office at 674-4417.

Buckthorn and Other Invasive Woody Plants, presented by Dr. Patrick Weicherding, Regional Extension Educator from the Andover Regional Center.

Did you know that nearly all woody plants which have become invasive have been introduced intentionally by horticulturalists, botanists, foresters, or gardeners? Buckthorn, for example, was introduced into America in the mid-1800s as a very popular plant material for formal hedges. The nursery industry has stopped selling it, but it is still very common in older neighborhoods and it has become a major problem in the landscape. If you want to learn more about invasive woody plants and their control then plan to attend this seminar. You may also bring samples to be identified.

In Your Yard and Garden

This stretch of beautiful fall weather has extended the bloom season of many fall perennials and hardy annuals. We've also received enough moisture to keep them growing well. Hopefully, it also means you've spent some time getting your landscape ready for winter. Some people like to cut everything back, while others leave some things standing for winter interest.

Sunflower, heliopsis and coneflower seed heads are a treat for the birds. If you don't want to leave them standing you can cut them down and then bundle them like corn husks and hang them near your bird feeders. I will often see finches clinging to the branches of my spirea bushes to pick out those tiny seeds.

It is recommended that ornamental grasses be left standing through the winter, but cut them back very early in the spring before new growth starts. If you do cut things back in the fall, leaving 3-4" of stalks will let you know where that plant is in the spring and also help catch any stray leaves or blowing snow which will help insulate the plant.

Ways to Access Information

The voice mail is checked year round. Leave a message at 651-674-4417 ext. 18, and a Master Gardener will return your call.

www.extension.umn.edu/county/chisago Check out the 'Hot Topics' box in the middle of the page for current Chisago County Master Gardener news and events.

You can also click on 'Ask a Master Gardener' next to the cute little flower on the right hand side of the page. Here you can search 1000's of answers from Master Gardeners around the state. If you don't find your answer you can submit a question online or search for University publications.

Bell Museum of Natural History: For information about snakes, skunks, raccoons or other wildlife around your yard, call the wildlife information line at (612) 624-1374 or www.bellmuseum.org.

To see the latest Yard and Garden newsletter, go to: http://www.extension.umn.edu/yardandgarden/YGLNews/YGLNews.html.

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