How to Get Rid of Multiple Hornet Nests in a Bush

Locate all of the hornet nests in the bush during daylight hours, an try to identify each nest's entrance and exits holes by observing the hornets as they enter and exit the nests. Stand as far from the nests as possible to do those tasks, and use binoculars if desired. Usually, only one hole is at the bottom of a nest, which is football-shaped, but some nests have multiple holes that provide emergency exits for hornets.

Return to the bush at night or in early morning when the hornets are least active. Wear a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, socks, covered shoes, a hat, a protective face covering and gloves. Tuck your sleeves inside the gloves and your pants inside your socks; wrap tape to seal those locations if necessary. Drape a mosquito net or cheesecloth over your hat, and tuck that material inside your shirt. It will prevent hornets from stinging your face and neck.

Stand as far from the nests as possible with two cans of wasp and hornet killer insecticide spray, using as a guide the distance of the insecticide spray's stream indicated on one can. You may be able to stand 20 to 30 feet from the nests while you spray, depending on the brand of wasp and hornet killer.

Practice your plan of attack, moving from one nest to the other nests in the bush. Begin with the largest nest because it houses the greatest number of hornets. Move to the closest nest after treating the previous nest until you finish spraying all the nests. Another order you may wish to follow starts with spraying the largest nest then the nest on the bush's far side and working your way closer to your house. You may feel silly performing the practice pantomime, but it's actually important; it will help you work quickly, especially because you can't use a flashlight or the hornets will know where to find you if they swarm.

Spray the wasp and hornet killer into and around the largest hole found at the bottom of the first nest. Move quickly to that nest's secondary holes as soon as the first hole is saturated so hornets that try to escape will freeze before they can swarm. Spray the rest of the nest until its papery material is well-saturated with the insecticide.

Move quickly and carefully into position to spray the second nest. Spray its main hole first, followed by the secondary nest holes. Spray the nest's entire exterior. Keep a second can of the wasp and hornet killer spray on hand so you can spray continuously. You'll go through more insecticide than you'd expect, especially if you're dealing with a hornet's nest the size of a basketball. Repeat this process with all remaining nests in the bush.

Observe the area around the bush for hornet activity the following day without getting close to the bush. Stay as far back as possible. If any hornets are flying around, they could sting. It's also possible that some hornets weren't present in the nests when you sprayed them.

Return to the nests at night, and saturate them a second time with the insecticide spray, beginning with their access holes. Observe the area for hornet activity the following day, and spray the nests a third time at night. Spray the nests at least three times even if you don't see hornets when you check the nests.