A big (painful) reason for me not to do hugelkultur

So I've been doing "lazy man's hugels" around the place for several years now. Mostly in the form of dumping logs and stumps in strategic places and then covering (or not) with wood chip and cut grass or weeds. Most of the time I'm not planting in them but instead using their beneficial presence to help out neighbouring trees and berry patches. The first one I did alongside a stand of hazelnut and chestnut trees has just about rotted down to nothing in places and the trees seem to have been enjoying its existence.

But I'm currently feeling the itchy aftereffects of a dozen or more wasp stings I got last Saturday when I was wandering around collecting seedheads from red clover and lotus to spread around. I leaned over a fence to grab an armload of dried vegetation and was attacked. Turns out there was a big nest of invasive wasps under some rotting logs and branches that I had piled in that corner. A couple got under my shirt and nailed me multiple times, one falling into my waistband and causing mischief there as well.

This is the fourth time in the past couple of years that I have discovered wasp nests in the hugels. It's exactly what they look for: soft, punky wood that's easy for them to tunnel into and close to the ground (unlike paper wasps, who like to be up at least a meter in trees and brush, on a fence, or up under a roof overhang). The last one I found was back in February under one of the hazelnut trees as I was crouched down picking up nuts...at least I had my wits about me and avoided stirring them up.

So I'm reassessing whether I keep doing this and be more wary, or go back to the "mulch everything" default that works well for me. I don't want to add wasp patrol to my ever-expanding seasonal task list, but maybe I just need to accept that it's like cutting all the baby cherry trees and pulling ivy seedlings: something that needs to be done every year because they keep showing up.

I'm sorry that happened, wasps are brutal.  I can understand why, for you, mulching might work better.

This may sound a little creepy, but wasps of all kinds can recognize people by their scents (of course), and by facial recognition.

I used to do battle with all the terrifying wasps - especially the ground-dwelling variety - same as every other sensible human. Now whenever I find a nest I stand close by, and let them fly over to check me out. If it's a ground nest, I'll flag it with a stick close by to remind me not to stumble over it.

The process seems to work. Twice last tear and once already this season I had the same experience of jamming my hand in a bush or debris pile and causing a cloud response from the wasps. Instead of running, I stood very still, and let them come over to investigate. While they flew around and hovered close to check me out, I could almost imaging them saying, "Oh, that guy. We see him around here all the time."  No fuss. No stings. So far.

I am sorry to hear about the wasp attack.

Were you able to get the stingers out?

Have you tried putting ice pack on the stings?

Apple cider vinegar, baking soda paste or honey are helpful remedies.

Do the wasps like the burried wood or the surface wood?

r ransom wrote:Do the wasps like the burried wood or the surface wood?

They all seem to like rotting surface wood to make paper for their nests. The ground dwelling yellowjackets probably prefer buried wood since it may offer spaces that are easier to hollow out for their hives. I've seen them take over chipmunk nests in and under cinder blocks, in the same season that other colonies dig right down into hard clay only fifty yards away. I guess it's up to the queen to pick the neighborhood and furnishings.

As far as wood piles go, they offer protection for both kinds of nests. I have several piles around our place for firewood, potting soil and dead hedges. I approach them all with a degree of caution, expecting to find snakes, spiders and wasps - hopefully before they find me. The same goes for the blackberry patch: look before you reach.

There are huge differences in types of wasps, and aggressiveness is one of the characteristics. As weird as it may sound, what Arthur said in his post about wasps learning to recognize non-aggressive humans has been my experience also.

The trouble sometime is getting that first meeting completed successfully without getting stung.

Wasps also tend to get goofy when cool weather comes on, as they can't all overwinter. If there's a lot of rotting fruit on the ground, that also increases the risk (the one thing the deer are good at, is picking up windfalls!)

So far, I have not had issues with the wood I've planted in beds, but I've tended to plant it fairly deep. That could be the difference in the particular wasps in your ecosystem. Wasps do have benefits (caterpillar consumption is high on my list and some are pollinators).  Despite reacting on the high side of "bad" myself, I try to find ways to work around them. I will use various non-toxic removal methods if they choose a *really* bad spot to nest.

Jay Angler wrote:. I will use various non-toxic removal methods if they choose a *really* bad spot to nest.

One of the easiest tricks is to tack a small paper bag or wad of newspaper near a wasp nest. They will think it is a bigger colony and relocate on their own.