How to discourage bees in your flower beds
When summer rolls around, many gardeners become frustrated by the number of bees that appear in their gardens and flower beds. While bees can be helpful in gardens, some people don't like them for fear of being stung, because they have allergies, or they are have young children who play in the flowers and don't want them to get stung.
Whatever the reason, if you don't want bees in your flower beds, the following are a few tips for keeping them away:
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Find the source directly
If you have a large number of bees in your flower beds, chances are there is a hive nearby. When this is the case, the best way to discourage the bees is to get to the hive directly. The best way to discourage bees without killing them is to smoke the hive, particularly during the night time hours. You can locate the hive by following a bee to its hive during the evening. From there, the controlled smoke is used to remove the bees safely and without harming them. If you would like to use this method, it's a good idea to consult and exterminator or a bee farmer; often they will offer their services.
Use a trap
You can purchase bee traps almost anywhere, from drug stores to garden shops, or you can make your own trap. Many people have had success by taking a 2-liter soda bottle, cutting the top off of it, then inverting it and inserting it into the ground. Put a few ounces of soda, such as Mountain Dew, at the bottom to attract the bees. Bees will go straight to it instead of the flower beds. You can empty and replace the trap once a week.
Drive them away
Another way you can keep bees from your flower beds is to drive them away, instead of drawing them in with a trap. One way to do this is with mothballs. This is an excellent deterrent for bees. Hang some mothballs in a knee high or pantyhose, and hang it in a discreet place by your flower beds. This will keep the bees away without harming them.
Prep your yard
One way to keep bees and other stinging insects away from your flower beds and yards altogether is to make your yard and home an area that doesn't draw them closer. For example, make sure the lids to the trash cans are secured tightly and any outdoor food or picnic items remain covered so there are no food sources for the bees. Keeping the lawn cut short and getting rid of dandelions is another way to keep bees from your flower beds and yard.
Use a spray
If bees in your flower beds have become an intolerable nuisance, or if you have family members or friends who are allergic to them and you fear for their safety, one option is to eliminate them completely with a spectracide. This is a spray you can get from a local hardware store and will kill the bees. Make sure to follow the directions on the label closely.
Bees in your flower beds can be a nuisance and even a danger if you have allergies. However, the above tips are useful, safe, and effective ways to discourage bees from your flower beds.
