How do you safely get rid of ground bees near a house?

Depends on the bees, specifically what kind they are. If they are only digging holes to lay eggs then the problem should be just about done with until spring. If several are using the same hole it becomes a different ball game, as they are building a nest.

Assuming we are talking about a nest of bees (even in the ground it can be called a hive) then you need to see if they are bumblebees, which are huge, or honeybees, which are golden and fuzzy, or yellowjackets, which are yellow and smooth. All these have black stripes, so that doesn't help.

If they're honeybees, you need to call a beekeeper (try the yellow pages or an exterminator's office to find a number) to come collect them. Honeybees are in trouble right now and saving even one queen could mean a nickel a quart in the price of milk.

The other two can be dangerous. If you're allergic check the expiration on your epi-pen and call an exterminator so you don't have to be exposed to mad bees.

If you're not allergic, watch them. They will have more than one entrance and you will need to find all of them. Before daybreak, pour at least two quarts of gasoline in each hole. DO NOT light it. You want the fumes, not the flames. This will kill your grass for about a year, but it should get all the bees.

Again, make sure they're not honeybees or solitary wasps before you do anything.

We had a recent post where someone used a few teaspoons of liquid Seven in a gallon of water because gas killed the grass.

Delta dust works too.

The problem with liquids is that many ground nesting bees dig down and then turn upwards to escape flooding by both rain and pesticide. DeltaDust will do a good job if its blown in with enough force to remain airborn. Petroleum as a fumigant is the safest for a first time DIY homeowner, providing there's NO OPEN FLAME. Sorry to shout, but that cannot be emphasized enough.

Found that out the hard way. Used the leaf blower and put the dust through the intake wearing a respirator and goggles.

Where did you get a nozzle small enough to blow into the hole?

It didn't seem to matter. I didn't know where the hole was. It was somewhere under the ivy bush growing on the post lamp. It seemed to take care of them though.

I do have this bellows duster, though: http://www.doyourownpestcontrol.com/bellows.jpg

That one will put your hand right in the entrance. Call me coward, I like a little more distance. The large pump duster does a good job.

B&G 2 Quart Hand Duster - M1152A

That's a duster, all right, but then so was my leaf blower. It dusted everywhere.

I have one of these: YouTube - Stihl SH85 Blower/Vac Cold Start

Hence the respirator. Kind of uses a lot more dust, too.