Who doesn’t love the sights and smells of a beautiful garden in full bloom? Unfortunately, bee swarms can quickly disrupt that idyllic scene. If you’re trying to avoid them but don’t want to resort to chemical pesticides, there are a variety of natural ways to keep bees at bay. In this article, we’ll discuss some of them.
1. Understand Your Problem with Bees
It’s essential to understand what’s causing problems with bees in order to find the right solution. Here are some of the key causes of bee struggle:
- Invasive species: Bees can have a hard time competing with other species that have been introduced to their native habitats. This means that while some species of bees may be thriving, others are suffering and may even disappear.
- Loss of natural habitat: As human populations increase, more and more natural habitats are being replaced with developments. This leaves fewer places for bees to find the food, shelter and the flowers they need to survive.
- Climate change: Changes in temperature, precipitation and carbon dioxide levels have ripple effects that can affect bee populations. This can be especially damaging to specialist bee species that aren’t adapted to a wide range of climate conditions.
- Pesticides: A lot of modern crops and gardens rely on chemical pesticides to protect them from insects. Unfortunately, these pesticides are dangerous for all sorts of beneficial insects, including bees.
It’s also important to note that some bee species are naturally more susceptible to these problems than others. There are also cases where the environment isn’t to blame, and the problem can be traced back to a beekeeper’s management practices. That’s why it’s essential to identify the source of the issue in order to find the right solution.
By understanding the underlying causes of bee problems, we can start to work towards a more sustainable future for these important pollinators.
2. Consider Plant-Based Repellents
Are you looking for an effective and natural way to deter insects from your home or garden? Plant-based repellents may be the solution! Not only do they provide you with a safe and natural option, but many of the plants used may have benefits that even extend beyond their ability to repel insects.
Certain plants can be used to repel various types of bugs, including mosquitoes, flies, aphids, mites, and beetles. One plant with strong repelling properties is citronella. It is a great natural way to keep your outdoor areas bug-free, all while releasing its pleasant aroma to your garden. Marigolds are also a great choice for insect repellent. Thanks to its strong scent, they are effective against many types of bugs.
In addition to being natural insect repellents, some of these plants are also beneficial in other ways. For example, certain types of mint can be an excellent pesticide against aphids, while also releasing a pleasant scent. Lavender is another option; it is known for its calming properties and its ability to repel mosquitoes.
- Citronella – Effective against mosquitoes and other small insects
- Marigolds – Known for their strong scent and ability to repel many insects
- Mint – Natural pesticide and releases a pleasant scent
- Lavender – Repels mosquitoes and is known for its calming properties
Plant-based repellents can be a great natural alternative to chemical insect repellents and can even offer additional benefits. Consider trying out any of the plants mentioned above the next time you need an effective and natural way to keep bugs away!
3. Assemble Your Natural Bee Deterrent
Now that you are armed with the information and ingredients for a natural bee deterrent, it’s time to assemble it! This step is probably the most fun, and what makes this DIY project so much of an accomplishment. Start by taking all the ingredients you have prepped in the last step out of their containers.
Take the garlic cloves, scallions, and peppers, and put them into the blender. Blend until they form a paste. Once the paste is consistent, take the dish and pour it into the spray bottle. Add the apple cider vinegar to the bottle, as well as the dish soap. Fill the bottle up with water, ensuring there is enough for the paste and other ingredients to be mixed together.
Now give the bottle a few strong shakes to completely combine the ingredients. Your natural bee deterrent is now ready to use! Just remember to shake the bottle before each use for optimal effectiveness.
- Place the garlic cloves, scallions, and peppers into the blender
- Create a paste by blending mixture
- Pour paste into the spray bottle
- Add apple cider vinegar, dish soap, and fill with water
- Shake bottle to combine everything together
4. Identify Likely Haunts of Bees
Knowing the likely places bees hang out is key if you want to find them. With this knowledge, you can significantly reduce the amount of time and energy you spend searching for the industrious creatures or even avoid them altogether.
One of the surest ways to find them is by taking notice of their favorite flowers. Bees are important pollinators, so the presence of them is a tell-tale sign that you’ve found the right place. Whether it’s a suburban garden or a large field, you will typically find bees bustling from one flowering plant to the next.
Where there’s flowers, there’s nectar. Nectar is the main source of energy for bees, so it makes sense that you can find them near places with available resources. If you want to spot them on the regular, try to look for places where the nectar is kept at a steady flow. Common locations for this are typically anywhere near bodies of water, gardens, orchards, or dense vegetation.
If you can’t find bees at any of these places, you might want to keep an eye out for their dwellings. Bees live in colonies and construct their homes in various places. Here are a few areas where you can often find their dwellings:
- Tree cavities or hollow trunks
- Patio posts
- Garden structures
- Freestanding hives
You can also find more than one bee colony in the same area. Shop around and look for different nests to see if you can find a group of bees that might be less defensive and easier to observe.
5. Chemical Repellents – Careful Consideration
When it comes to chemical repellents, one must be very careful in the selection. While these repellents may seem like the natural choice when looking for fast and easy insect-repelling, the chemicals used within them can be quite hazardous. Below are several key considerations to take into account when deciding on a chemical repellent:
- Risks of Application and Ingestion:There is no doubt that the chemicals inside these repellents can cause harm if the user becomes too exposed. Additionally, there is a chance of accidentally ingesting these chemicals, which can lead to serious health repercussions.
- Formulation Strength:Too high of a concentration of chemical within a repellent can be hazardous, and can be absorbed by the skin over time, leading to uncontainable health risks.
- Susceptibility to Environment:The harsh environment around them can make it difficult for these repellents to be effective. For instance, too much light or heat can cause the chemicals to evaporate or break down.
Given these key considerations, chemical repellents should be taken into account with caution. It is wise to do further research, check if these repellents are approved and certified, and consider other methods for insect abatement if possible.
In any matter, make sure to understand and be aware of the risks and limitations associated with chemical repellents.
6. Encourage Natural Predators of Bees
Bee populations around the world are seriously threatened, with habitat loss and pesticide use amongst the leading causes of their decline. But there are things you can do to help encourage their natural predators, so that they can help fight off pests and reduce the need for artificial control methods.
Floating/Solitary Predators – Many species of bee depend on floating or solitary predators such as predatory wasps, ants, beetles and spiders. These predators help to keep down the populations of parasites and other pests that can harm the bees. To encourage these beneficial predators, you can plant flowers in your garden that are attractive to them, as well as leaving some areas of your garden wild and undisturbed.
Ground Predatory Insects – Ground predators like ground beetles and spiders also play an important role in controlling pests and other threats to bees. To encourage these beneficial predators you can:
- Keep your soil loose and aerated.
- Provide shelter and nesting sites for the predators.
- Avoid using pesticides and chemical fertilisers.
By taking these steps you can help ensure that bees have natural predators to help them stay healthy and thrive.
7. Educate Yourself on Bee Behaviour
Bees are incredible, complex creatures, and understanding their behavior can help us appreciate and protect them even more. Here are seven key pieces of knowledge to get started on your journey of learning about these unique and magical creatures:
- Bees are communal. Bees live in large groups and share responsibilities, such as the gathering of food, cleaning, and defending their hives. Workers are usually female and can live for up to six weeks while the queen bee will live for a few years.
- Bees swarm. Swarming is a way for bees to colonize new areas and create new hives. During swarming, some bees will leave the original hive with a freshly fertilized queen. They’ll look for a suitable new space such as a hollow tree or hive box and establish a new home.
- Bees communicate. With an incredible sense of smell, bees can locate food, send warnings, and locate potential nesting sites. By doing a ‘waggle dance’, bees send specific messages about food sources and routes. Male drones also create pheromones, sending out messages about their presence and fertility.
For the more adventurous, beekeeping can be an exciting foray into understanding even more about these fascinating creatures. A good place to start is to find an experienced beekeeper who can provide guidance and information or even take you under their wing. With the right advice, you can gain the confidence to take the plunge into the thrilling and educational world of beekeeping.
Bee behavior can be confusing and complex, but with a bit of knowledge, understanding their intricacies can be an amazing experience. Every little bit of knowledge about bee behavior can help us to appreciate and protect these essential creatures.
8. Turn the Tables – Bee Houses on Your Property
Making your property a safe haven for bees is a great way to add some biodiversity to your backyard. Here are a few ways to turn the tables and reap the rewards of keeping the humble bee in your garden.
- Create bee friendly environment – Planting wildflowers and flowering plants is a great way to create an inviting environment for bees. In addition to this, adding flowering shrubs, trees or herbs such as mint, oregano, and thyme will encourage a wider variety of bee species.
- Construct bee houses – Building a bee house is a great way to ensure your backyard is bee friendly. Using simple materials you can construct your own bee house in minutes. All you need is some wood, nails, and drill. Make sure to seal off any cracks or gaps as bees can get trapped and die if the space is too small.
- Provide water and shelter – Another important aspect of creating a bee friendly environment is water and shelter. Providing water in the form of shallow dishes or birdbaths can help bees stay hydrated. Additionally, you can create shelter by leaving logs and wood piles around your backyard.
Creating a bee friendly environment in your garden has the potential to provide numerous benefits, such as aiding in pollination and providing a safe place for bees to nest and thrive. With the right steps, you can turn the tables and make your backyard a haven for the bees!
You may be wondering, what is the best way to keep bees away from your property? We hope that this article has presented some helpful tips on natural ways to do that. Taking the time to understand the environment and behavior of bees will benefit you greatly in the long run. Keep these methods in mind and you can enjoy your outdoor space without worrying about the buzz of bees.
