Keeping your home bee-free is easier said than done, especially in the summer months when they’re buzzing around the garden and coming close to the windows. What’s the best way to keep these four-winged creatures out of your home and away from your family? Well, it’s time to arm yourself with knowledge about the “celestial scents” that will keep bees away. Read on to find out more about protecting your home from bees.
1. Unwelcome Buzz: Understanding Bee Infestations
Bee infestations can be an unwanted and difficult problem for many homeowners. From inside a wall to a beehive on the roof, these buzzing pests can cause a host of problems.
If a homeowner suspects a possible bee infestation, they should take steps to identify and address the problem as soon as possible. If the presence of bees is visually confirmed, it’s important to identify what species of bee it is to determine the best course of action. Honeybees, for example, should be relocated instead of exterminated because they are important to the environment.
For many bee infestations, the best way to remove the bees is to contact a beekeeper or pest control professional. A beekeeper will be able to safely remove the hive and find a new home for the bees, while a pest control professional will be able to effectively exterminate them. In either case, it’s important to take action as soon as possible to minimize potential damage to the home:
- Inspect the exterior of the home for signs of bee activity, such as swarms or hives
- Identify the species of bee to determine the best course of action
- Contact a beekeeper or pest control professional for removal or extermination
Bee infestations can be a nuisance, but following the right steps can help ensure that the bees are safely removed before the situation gets worse. With the right information and help, homeowners can rest assured that their bee problem will soon be gone.
2. Scent Strategizing: Keeping Bees at Bay
Make use of fragrances. Bees are naturally attracted to sweet smells, so there are a number of smells that can help you keep them away. One of the easiest ways to help keep bees away is by using essential oils, such as peppermint or lemon, which can be sprayed around any outdoor area. You can also use commercial bee sprays or buy tiki torches with citronella oil. Both mixes will be effective in keeping bees away.
Plant deterrents. Planting certain flowers and herbs, such as marigold, rosemary, and lavender, around an area can also help to deter bees from coming in. When planting, make sure to group as close together as possible in order to create a stronger scent. This way, bees will be less likely to enter the area.
Trim hedges and bushes. Bees tend to hang out around areas with dense foliage and bushes, so if you want to keep them away, it’s important to trim both. This will help to create an open and inviting area, while also eliminating any potential hiding spots for bees.
Regularly check your garden. Even if you’ve implemented a number of strategies to keep bees away, you should still regularly check your garden for any nests or colonies. If you spot a hive, it’s best to call a professional pest control team to safely and effectively remove it.
3. Nature’s Perfume: Avoiding Aromas that Attract Bees
While certain fragrances can be wonderful and delightfully alluring, they can also be quite problematic, especially when it comes to bees. In order to keep your distance from those pesky flying insects, it’s important to avoid certain fragrances. To make sure your outdoor experience is peaceful without a fear of bee swarms, consider avoiding the following scents:
- Strong floral scents: By using perfumes and body sprays with floral aroma, you run the risk of also attracting bees. Avoid using these types of products particularly outdoors as much as possible.
- Sugary aromas: Since bees are naturally drawn to sugary smells, it is a good idea to avoid wearing products with a sweet aroma such as bubblegum or strawberry scent. It’s best to avoid such fragrances when you are in an outdoor space.
- Citrus aromas:
The sweet and tart smell of citrus is another aroma that is known to attract bees. Whether you are wearing or using a product containing orange, lemon or lime essential oils, it’s best to avoid such fragrances outdoors.
Moreover, although far less common, any type of aroma associated with alcohol, such as whiskey, rum or wine can also draw attention from bees. This is why it is a good idea to avoid using such fragrances outdoors.
By avoiding certain aromas, you can drastically reduce your chances of getting close to bees and having an uncomfortable outdoor experience. Be sure to keep these scents in check in order to stay away from those pesky flying insects.
4. Creating a Bee-Free Zone: Scents to Steer Clear of
The presence of bees in your garden is not always a happy occasion. While most of us rely on bees and other pollinators to bring a vibrant mix of flowers and fruits to our backyard, many of us don’t want them to get too close. To create a bee-free zone in your backyard, there are certain scents you should try to avoid.
- Perfumes and Fragrances: Strong odors like musks, colognes, and other synthetically fragranced substances can attract bees and make them confused. Even if such scents are benign to most, it can’t hurt to keep such chemicals away from bee activity.
- Essential Oils: While essential oils are perfectly harmless and quite popular for their health benefits, some of them can be attractive for bees. Especially for the citrus scents, it’s best to avoid using these if you have a bee-free zone in your mind.
In most cases, bees won’t cause trouble even if you use the above mentioned fragrances. But, in the rare cases that they do, it can be a nuisance. To be on the safe side, it’s better to avoid having strong scents near where the bees are present.
Additionally, you can look into planting certain types of flowers in your garden that can be helpful for reducing bee activity. Natural oils, such as lavender, citronella, and neem have insect-repelling properties and can be a great way to protect your backyard from bee activity.
5. Celestial Aromas to Avoid
Burning Sage
Celestial aromas come in all shapes and sizes, but none are more deceiving than the smell of burning sage – its effects more like those of a smoky campfire. Sage has powerful purification qualities, yet it can be quite harmful in the home. Burning this herb has been linked to exacerbating asthma and causing headaches. The ashy residue from a smoldering bundle can also cause respiratory irritation, particularly to those sensitive to smoke.
Mildew-Soaked Fragrances
A mildew-soaked atmosphere can be incredibly off-putting, and the result of it is rarely a pleasant one. Mold––a common component of mildew––is dangerous to breathe in, as it can cause skin, nose and throat irritation, as well as severe respiratory problems. Whether holding onto an old perfume or using too-damp incense sticks, steer clear of anything smelling musty and mildewy.
Nag Champa
Nag Champa incense is often one of the most requested fragrances. Originally imported from India, it is composed of a mixture of herbs, honey, resins and fragrant flowers. Unfortunately, its extremely strong scent can be the source for headaches, dizziness and significantly hamper breathing. Avoiding this type of incense can be beneficial, if not necessary.
Knock-Off Candles
Nothing kills a cozy mood quicker than inferior candle wax – it’s all smoke and mirrors without the heavenly ambiance. Lower-grade wax has a tendency to create chemical scents that trigger nausea and allergies. No matter how good the price seems, splurging on quality candles is a surefire way to get the most out of your at-home aromatherapy.
- Burning Sage
- Mildew-Soaked Fragrances
- Nag Champa
- Knock-Off Candles
6. Choosing Fragittance Wisely: Making Your Home Bee-Proof
Do you have an aversion to bees? The last thing you want is unwelcome bee visitors inside your home. The best defense against them is to take a few preventative steps by avoiding any fragrances that might be attractive to the buzzing critters. Here are a few tips to help you choose your scents wisely when deciding which to place in your home.
- Identify Favorite Scents – Certain fragrances such as lavender, honey, citrus and jasmine are attractive to bees. Avoid these scents since it can become a nuisance for you and your family.
- Avoid Strong Scents – Sweet scent and floral fragrances act as an alluring invitation for bees. So opt for natural items and ingredient that hold pleasant but subtle aromas.
- Go Unconventional – Instead of opting for the popular scent, try something a bit more unconventional. Cloves, rosemary and basil can make a great addition to your home that won’t also attract bees. Plus, these fragrances also act as antibacterial, antifungal and other medicinal qualities.
Taking precautionary measures against bees is a necessary step, especially if you don’t want to risk being bothered by their presence in your home. Taking notice to which scents you choose can help avoiding any uninvited guests. Fragrance plays an important role in the comfort of your home, so why not make it one that’s bee-proof!
7. Natural Remedies for Preventing Pollinator Problems
Do you want to reduce the potential for pollinator problems in your garden? A good strategy is to make sure that your plants are healthy and that they have some natural ways of defending themselves. Here are seven natural remedies to help you keep potential pollinator problems away:
- Encouraging beneficial insects: Beneficial insects, such as bees, butterflies and ladybugs, help to keep away invasive pests. Planting flowers that attract these beneficial pollinators can help to ensure that your garden remains free of damaging insect pests.
- Building healthy soil: Healthy soil is rich in beneficial bacteria and fungi, which help to deter pests. Fertilize your gardening with organic compost and mulches to help maintain a healthy soil profile.
- Removing invasive plants: Invasive plants can be a magnet for certain pest species. Removing these plants from your garden can help reduce the number of pollinators that may be drawn to the area.
These simple strategies can help ensure that your garden remains free of pollinator issues. A little bit of effort now can save you from a lot of frustration further down the line.
Take the time to regularly inspect your garden and address any pollinator problems as soon as they arise. This can help you get ahead of any potential issues and ensure that your garden stays healthy and productive.
8. Bee Alert: Taking Action for Home Safety
At a time when Bees are pondering the safety of their homes, actions for home safety should be taken.
Protect the Structure:
- Keep trees, branches and shrubs away from the structure as a preventative measure
- Regularly check the structure for holes and openings that could potentially be entrance and exit points for Bees
- Cover and seal any openings with the appropriate grade of material or mesh wire, thick enough to prevent them from entering
- Trim or prune trees and other vegetation near the home and patio to reduce attractive nesting sites
Protect the Yard:
- Clear away debris, garbage and tall grass near the home to reduce the potential hiding spots for Bees
- Learn to recognize the natural nesting sites of Bees, such as tree hollows, old patches of wood, under stones and so on
- Keep pet or plant food sealed and away from the home to prevent an attractive food source
- Keep food containers away from doors or entrances and close any potentially unpatrolled gaps
Protect with Advanced Technology:
- Install motion sensors and lights around the perimeter of the home to alert you to any intruder
- Hire an exterminator if the Bee infestation is too difficult to handle by yourself
- Use bait station traps with an attractant to capture and dispatch Bees who wander into your perimeter
- Install fly screens or metal wire mesh to windows, doors and ventilation holes around the home to deter any potential Bee intruders
By taking these steps, you are taking action for home safety to protect your family and property from the intrusions of Bees.
Adding scents to your home to ward bees away is an easy and inexpensive task and a great way to keep your home bee-free and your family safe. Try a few of these heavenly scents and you’ll be sending the pesky creatures on their way in no time. Bee gone!