How To Get Rid Of Bees Without Killing Them

When people think of bees, they tend to think about them negatively. While these creatures may sting us, it is important to know that they do it for defensive purposes. In fact, bees aren’t as dangerous as you think. Indeed, they can benefit your garden by promoting pollination.

So how could you be safe from bees without using toxic chemicals? Keep reading to learn some useful tips on how to get rid of bees without killing them.

Find out the type of bee you are facing

Before starting, it is necessary to figure out which type of bee you have to deal with. This will be helpful in anticipating the required work to complete the task.

Basically, there are many ways to distinguish bees from similar species such as hornets or wasps. The easiest tip is to look at their appearance.

All bees typically have hairs, while wasps often have a smooth exterior. The pests or hives of honey bees are constructed from wax with honeycomb formation, while other stringing species build their nests from mud or fibre.

If you can’t identify based on these features, then it’s better to seek professional support.

Effective techniques to get rid of bees

1. Use smoke

One of the simplest yet most effective ways to get rid of bees without killing them is to smoke their hives. When they notice smoke, bees will immediately start the migration process and search for a new place.

Collect materials like rotten wood, cardboard, or papers and burn them in a space using an incinerator where the smoke can directly reach the hive. Since bees are day creatures and inactive at night, you should perform it during this period to make sure all bees are in the hive.

Keep in mind to close your windows and doors before smoking to prevent bees from penetrating your home. Depending on the population and hive’s size, it might take around 8 to 10 hours for all bees to migrate.

2. Relocate the bees

If the hive is located in a tree, then a simple solution is to cut out the part containing these bees and move to a secluded area, away from your garden.

Keep in mind to do this as soon as possible before the total population increases considerably. Cover yourself with protective clothing because bees would get aggravated by chopping or sawing near their hive.

Another way to relocate the bees is to use attractants like sugary substances, drinks, or fruits. Just place them 5 meters away from the active area of the bees. Keep moving the substances attractants away weekly until they build a new hive somewhere far away from your garden and stop visiting the old one.

3. Use a bee trap

If you are dealing with a small number of bees, then the trapping strategy seems to be a good idea. It is simple to find and purchase a trap at the local garden shop. Just place it in the area where bees often visit and wait until all of them get stuck inside. The bees then would be relocated with the support of a professional.

It is necessary to know that bees would become relatively aggressive when being trapped. Thus, you should handle it with care to avoid any accidents. Compared to previous methods, this can be a time-consuming process which should be used only when you aren’t in a rush.

Here’s how it works:

4. Wait it out

In case the bees have already set up a large hive that can be difficult to relocate or remove, then waiting might also be a solution. You just need to leave the hive alone and allow the bee season to come by. Bees aren’t typically so aggressive unless they are under threat, so there won’t be any issues if you leave them alone.

When the winter comes in, worker bees will die and force the new queens to leave. At that time, you could safely get rid of the nest. Of course, this option is only possible when these bees aren’t interfering with your daily activity in the garden.

How to prevent bees from returning

Once you have removed all bees from your garden, it is essential to take preventive measures so that they won’t return in the future. Here are a few things you can try:

Remove all traces of beeswax and honey

Bees are typically attracted to areas where the others have earlier set up their hives because they would smell traces of beeswax and honey. Thus, it is necessary to remove those substances completely with a power hose or any strong cleaning product.

Apply bee repellents

A simple way to prevent bees from infesting in the future is to apply natural repellents. For example, you can grow citronella in your garden or burn citronella candles since its scent can ward off wasps and bees. Similarly, you can sprinkle cucumber peels over your flower beds or lawn to deter bees and fertilise the plants as well

Clear your garden of ideal spots for nesting

It is also important to limit the number of areas where bees could build their nests. Start with removing any unnecessary junks which have built up and could provide bees with perfect spots to live. Also, put your compost into a confined space, ideally a container, instead of leaving it in an open pile. Don’t forget to remove hollowed logs and trees, which are ideal places for bees to build nests.

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