how can i get rid of yellow jackets that are living in the ground in my backyard?

Sevin Dust. Get it at any lawn and garden store.

Find both entrances, pour half to one cup of sevin dust into and around holes. They will go thru it and carry it back into rest of nest, killing them. Much safer than gasoline.

Or wait for a skunk ( ro some kind of critter ) to dig them out and eat them.

Take note of where the hole in the ground is that they use for an entrance. Wait until completely dark, and then take a cup of lawn mower gasoline and pour it directly on the hole, then walk smartly away. The gasoline will kill all of them. None will escape.

A cup of gasoline is all you need. Don't over do it.

Black Flag or comparable wasp and hornet spray will artwork superb using fact it has a residual result. lots of the time you wait until they're all in ingredient yet considering it relatively is in the floor you may could desire to get them coming and going so every time they're lively in the process the day.