There's a hornet nest right near the backdoor of my house in the garden. it's pretty big. Basketball++ size. Normally I wouldn't care if they were say up in a tree but they're under my roof near the patio and door. I'd like them gone but I hate to just kill them if it can be avoided. Problem is of course I'm not equipped to relocate them. So my options are... Buy some spray and get busy or get some people out to relocate them. That's $150 so not cheap. Any other gardening comrades have thoughts on how to handle?
As the others pointed out, those are your standard yellowjacket. As far as stinging insects go, those can be a little spicy if you mess with them in the afternoon. There are a bunch of different products you can use to get rid of them.
Hardware store method: Wait until it's dark or early morning, and spray the entrance of the hive with wasp killer from the hardware store. They are pretty docile when it's dark out, especially if it's below 70f. So they shouldn't even acknowledge that your spraying them. But you still should keep your distance.
If you poison the entrance, they'll be exposed to it as they come and go for the next few days. You can reapply every night if you want. After a few days, go watch the nest for a few minutes during the afternoon. Most of them should be dead, and the hive should be a lot less active. If the nest seems like it's mostly dead, you can start knocking it down and removing it. You should probably still do this when it's dark.
The other option is to use something like CB80 to fog the nest for some instant gratification. The only problem with that option is that it's best done with a "can on a pole" adapter and an extension pole. That's how I deal with them, but I already have the pole and can adapter.
To be honest, an extension pole and can adapter are useful tools to have around. I think I spent $50-70 total for both, and I use it pretty regularly to take care of wasps at my house, and my friends/family. It gives you all the breathing room you need, and the can keeps them focused on the other end of the pole. So they mostly ignore you.
Sweet thanks for the suggestions. I figure I'll just do hardware store option since these nests (yes Ive spotted another much smaller one in the same area) are close to the ground. The can on a stick seems useful though may get/make one for future needs
The biggest tip is to do it at night/early morning. They are so much more docile when they're asleep. Especially if it's a cool night. All insects are cold blooded, and flying takes a lot of energy. Under 60 degrees, they act like they're drunk and can barely fly.
When I did pest control, I always scheduled the wasps and hornets as early in the morning as the customer would let me.
Looks like it'll be below 70 between about 11pm and 6am here so that's the plan