The sweet smell of summer is in the air, with its warm days and long afternoons spent enjoying outdoor activities. One of the less enjoyable aspects of summer, however, can be the buzzing of bees that our presence can attract. To stay comfortable in your own backyard, it is important to consider natural methods of bee repellent. Read on for some easy tips to create your own natural bee repellent and recipes to try.
1. Buzz Away – Natural Bee Repellent Tips
Bees may be harmless, but pesky buzzing around your head and garden can certainly make one feel like swatting them away. But before you reach for a pesticide in a spray can, take consideration to natural methods that are an environmentally-friendly way to move the bees along. Here are some tips for naturally repelling bees:
- Keep a clean environment. Bees are attracted to sweet smells, so it is important to keep food scraps, sugary liquids, and pet food away from your house to avoid a bee infestation.
- Use essential oils. Essential oils such as peppermint, citronella, lemongrass and eucalyptus oils have a scent that makes bees feel unwelcomed. Mix 1 cup of water with 15-20 drops of essential oil and pour the mixture into a spray bottle. When you see bees in the area, spray them from a safe distance and the bees will fly away.
- Hang “scary” decorations. Hang ribbons, banners, or other decorations around your garden to create movement and confusion for the bees. Colorful decorations such as bright balloons, flags and spinning windmills can also help.
- Create a bee-repellent solution. Combine water, liquid dish soap, and lemon juice in a spray bottle. Shake well and spray it around doors to keep the bees away.
For many homeowners, having bees buzzing around can be a nuisance; but it is important to remember that bees help with pollination and are both necessary and beneficial to the planet. Providing them with the right kind of environment and respecting their boundaries can make them easy to avoid. With these natural bee repellent tips, you can buzz away and make your home bee-free again.
2. Bee-Gone Recipes You Can Make at Home
Are you looking for a way to get rid of bee infestations without using harsh chemicals? We have just the thing for you. We’ve gathered some recipes you can make at home to prevent bee infestations.
- Garlic Mixture – Create a concoction of equal parts garlic powder, citrus oil, and water. Shake the ingredients together in a spray bottle and apply it around areas where you’ve seen bees. Reapply every three days.
- Mint Tea – Brew a strong pot of tea with mint leaves. After it cools, pour the solution into a spray bottle. Spray the mixture on plants, door frames, spigots, or any other area where bees may inhabit.
- Lemon and Dish Soap – Fill a spray bottle with equal parts water and lemon juice. Add in a few squirts of liquid dish soap. Shake the bottle to mix the ingredients and spray around all access points the bees may use. Reapply every two days.
These bee-gone recipes are all natural and perfectly harmless. With just some simple ingredients, you can easily make them at home and they’ll last for weeks, saving you time and money.
Plus, the smell of the garlic mixture and lemon can actually keep other pests away, like rats and mice. So you’ll get rid of the bees and have some additional protection from other pests as well.
3. Keep Bees at Bay Without Sprays and Chemicals
Did you know that you can keep bees away without using dangerous chemicals? There are several ways to repel pesky bees without using anything harmful to your garden.
- Create barriers: By using plants that bees will avoid, like mint, bee balm, or clove, you can create a barrier that can stop them in their tracks. Plant them near the perimeters of your property to form a natural border that can keep bees away.
- Make noise: Bees avoid loud noises, so if they start to get too close, you can scare them away with strong vibrations or very loud noises. Just be careful so that you don’t disrupt any of your neighbors.
Aside from these methods, you can also purchase traps or other bee-repelling devices from your local hardware store, but remember to check the labels and directions of any products you buy to make sure they are safe and environmentally friendly.
By keeping bees away with non-toxic methods, you will not only save money but also make sure that your garden is safe for everyone. With these tips, it’s easy to have a garden full of flowers and fruits without any pesky buzzers.
4. Gentle Solutions for a Bee-Free Garden
Rather than reaching for a spritz of pesticide, folks wanting to rid their garden of bees can opt for a kinder, gentler solution. Here are four ways to make sure you have a bee-free garden where everyone can enjoy the fruits of their labor:
- First and foremost, skip the pesticides. Not only are these chemicals harmful to bees, but they can also damage other beneficial insects and even your plants.
- Keep your garden clean. Remove any fallen fruit or dead leaves that might attract bees, and trim dead or diseased foliage.
- Keep your hummingbird feeders and bird baths full. Doing so will attract birds, who can help chase away bees.
Adding certain plants to your garden can also naturally keep bees away. Marigolds, lavender, and scented geraniums are some of the most effective bee deterrents. Plant these aromatic flowers near your seating area to create a wonderfully scented, bee-free hangout.
5. Recognizing What Attracts Bees
Bees have been on Earth for millions of years and are recognized for their critical role in ecosystems. To preserve their populations, it is important to provide them with the resources and habitat they need to survive. Here are five recognized means of attracting them.
- Provide food sources: A variety of flowering plants provide bees with the nectar and pollen they need for survival. Planting wildflowers, herbs, trees, and shrubs in your yard will give bees attractive opportunities for food.
- Incorporate water sources: Bees need water for their own use and to disperse on dry days when pollen is scarce. Installing a bird bath, or setting up a shallow container of stones with a thin film of water on top, can provide safe access for bees.
Other small touches of nature will entice bees, and should be considered when creating bee habitats. Planting grasses in addition to the flowering plants will give the bees access to internal egg-laying sites, and logs and stones around the yard add nesting opportunities. A diverse mixture of bee-friendly plants in a yard will add color and beauty, and also provide resources that bees need.
Finally, humans should protect bees from disturbance and predators. Mistletoe, nettles, and other silver-green foliage provide safe hiding spots for bees, while woodpiles and clipped hedges provide refuge and guard bees against disturbances. Such simple changes can make all the difference in a bee’s life.
6. Step by Step Instructions for Natural Bee Repellents
There are many natural ingredients to create homemade and effective bee repellents. Here are six simple steps to create natural and safe bee deterrents:
- Mix 1 teaspoon of liquid soap with a cup of water.
- In a spray bottle, combine 2 tablespoons of vinegar, 2 tablespoons of dishwashing liquid, and ½ teaspoon of cayenne pepper.
- Fill 1 liter of water with 4 tablespoons of eucalyptus oil and shake it until fully blended.
- Mix 1 tablespoon of canola oil with 1 teaspoon of wintergreen oil and 1 teaspoon of cloves in a bowl.
- Rub garlic clove slices on the surface of the wood where the bee hive typically is to eliminate bees.
- Melt some candles in a bowl until the wax is melted and add 1 teaspoon of citronella, 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, and 1 teaspoon of lemon extract. Store the mixture in a container and put it in or near areas where bees appear.
All of these mixtures and ingredients are not only natural and safe for the environment, but they also deliver an effective pest-control solution. When applying any of these natural bee repellents, it is important to remember to reapply them frequently as the smell gradually dissipates. This is a cost-effective and ecological way to control bee infestations without any harsh chemicals or sprays.
7. Staying Away from Unsafe Bee Repellent Options
Dealing with bee infestations is a tricky business. But in the pack of solutions and treatments, it is important to watch out for those that are least safe. Here are seven ways to stay away from unsafe bee repellent options.
- Avoid dangerous chemicals. Some chemical agents out there may seem like a quick fix to dealing with bee infestations, but many of these are actually more hazardous for you and your family than they are for the bees. To be safe, stick to safe, all-natural bee repellents.
- Beware of homemade solutions. Some people attempt to come up with home remedies or crafting homemade repellents. While it is something admirable to at least try to deal with the infestation on your own, these solutions may not actually be effective and could even prove to be dangerous to you and the bees.
- Be wary of ultrasonic products. Ultrasonic products are those that produce sound waves that can allegedly repel any bee infestations. While there is much debate on whether or not these products actually prove effective, there has been no study that proves their success. Plus, they are quite expensive, so best to avoid wasting your money.
- Don’t use sticky liquids. Some homeowners have resorted to using sticky, glue-like liquids to contain the bee infestations. Not only is this cruel but it is a completely meaningless attempt. Sticky liquids do not scare away bees; they just simply stick the bees in place, which intensifies the infestation rather than solve it.
In conclusion, while trying to repel bee infestations is unavoidable, it is important to take the time to evaluate which solutions are safest in order to ensure the protection of you, your family, and the bees as well.
8. Understanding How to Make Your Garden a Bee-Free Zone
In order to make your garden a bee-free zone, you need to understand why they come in the first place and how to remove them. Here are some tips to help:
- Omit Some Flowers – Bees are attracted to flowers with bright colours and moisture. To prevent bees from entering your garden, try to reduce the number of flowers you plant. Furthermore, choose flowers that do not give off an aroma such as marigolds, snapdragons, and asters.
- Eliminate Other Attractions – Avoid providing bees with sources of water in your garden. Don’t leave any plant trays or water containers in the garden for more than a day and make sure all birdbaths have a mesh filter to keep out bees. Sweets and drinks should also be kept far away from the garden since these attract bees too.
- Trap and Remove Inhabitants – Traditional traps aim to catch some bees inside a container. This may not be the most reliable option, but it can help reduce existing populations. Alternatively, you can try an insecticide, but it is important to mix it correctly and in small amounts.
You should also consider introducing some bee predators to your garden such as frogs, dragonflies, and spiders. Finally, consider bee-proof netting. It can be a great way to help keep bees out and stop them from nesting in your garden.
With these natural tips and recipes for repelling bees, you should have everything you need to prevent bees from ruining your outdoor activities this summer. So enjoy your garden parties without the presence of buzzing bees and let’s all give a hearty back pat to the bee population that provides us with delicious, natural honey.
