How To Keep Bees Away From Your Playset
Nothing is more disappointing than walking out into your backyard to take advantage of the nice weather and play on your playground, only to discover it is covered with bees. Most of the time, bees will not disturb you, but some species may be hostile, mainly if you are near their hive.
How can you prevent bees from getting inside the playset? It is impossible to completely prohibit bees from entering your backyard occasionally; however, there are several precautions you can take to reduce the likelihood that bees will make a habit of visiting your playground. Sealing the wood of your garden and maintaining a clean play area will go a long way toward preventing bees from settling down on your play structure.
You may take various practical preventive steps to keep bees away from your playground and discourage them from constructing nests. These steps can also prevent bees from making nests in your playset. Keep reading if you want to discover some easy measures that you may take.
What Attracts Bees to the Playset?
It’s been said that a little preventive is better than a lot of treatment in the long run. Bees are likely to only bother with the playset if nothing in it may draw them to it in the first place.
On the other hand, if you already have bees visiting your playset regularly, you should take these precautionary steps to see whether they are sufficient to drive them away.
Nesting Spots
If bees areng about the playground, a nesting place in or close to the nest probably states the obvious, but it’s possible. Wasps and bees are capable of building nests in confined spaces. Perform a careful search of the playset, paying close attention to any areas that could contain a nest.
Bees may construct their nests in various areas, including fissures in the wood, bars with open ends, metal or plastic tubes, open-ended bars, and crevices between wood panels.
Do not provide them with enticing sites to construct a nest. Remove or cover up as many potential nesting spots as you can. Fill up any cracks, and ensure that any pipes or tubes you see have their ends capped. Be on the lookout for any evidence of bee nests on the playset frequently.
Flowers
Bees are guaranteed to visit your garden if you have substantial flower beds to pollinate the flowers. If you are a dedicated gardener, you will want those bees to assist in pollinating your flower beds and vegetables.
It is strongly recommended that you should not place blooming shrubs or flowers anywhere near your playground.
Additionally, maintain a short length of grass by cutting it often so that blooms do not begin to emerge.
Food
Wasps are a different species than bees, and they are not drawn to sweet items like abandoned ice pop sticks or spilled juice in the same way bees are. Wasps get the nutrition they need to survive by hunting and devouring other insects, but they won’t turn down the opportunity to feast on your ham sandwich either.
Bees may be avoided by ensuring that your trash cans have lids and that there is no outdoor area where food is often abandoned in crumbs or spills. This will discourage bees from visiting your property.
Water
Because bees must drink water, they place their nests near water sources as they construct them. This might be a river, pond, birdbath, or even a puddle caused by a hosebroken connection hose.
If it is practicable, you should relocate any sources of water that might be attracting bees. You also have the option of relocating the playground such that it is no longer near any water.
The Wood
Carpenter bees are an exception to cedar’s inherent resistance to most other insects; cedar is not naturally resistant to carpenter bees. You should apply a sealant on your playground once yearly to prevent carpenter bees from making nests and using it as a home. Using a sealer may increase Your playset’s lifespan; thus, doing so is a win-win situation.
Identify the Bee
If you already see bees flying about your playset, the first step you need to do is to attempt to determine what kind of bee you are dealing with before you take any more steps.
If you can identify the bee, you will be able to determine whether or not the bees can sting, whether or not they are aggressive, and whether or not they may cause property damage.
Wasps and Hornets
Wasps are often more slender than bees and have waists that are more squeezed in and tight. They also do not have the same degree of fuzz as bees. Wasps do not depend only on nectar for nutrition and would gladly dine on human food if it is left out. Nests of wasps are often made of paper.
Hornets and wasps have a reputation for being hostile. They may all deliver a painful sting if provoked. In most cases, they do not result in any harm to property.
Bees
Bees often have far more fuzz than wasps, and their waists are not nearly as tightly compressed as those of wasps. Most bee nests are made of wax, although some bees build their homes underground or in wood. They are only interested in sugary items that have yet to be forgotten.
Although bees are often considered less violent than wasps and hornets, any bee will turn hostile if it perceives a danger to its hive; even though we may not appreciate this behavior, we can certainly comprehend it. The majority possess the ability to sting.
Carpenter Bee
The abdomen of a carpenter bee is glossy and black, and the bees are enormous. Bumblebees are sometimes mistaken for these bees. However, bumblebees are a little smaller, and their abdomens are not as sparkling as this one is. The most straightforward method for recognizing carpenter bees is to look for precisely round holes drilled into the wood by the bees.
Even though carpenter bees do not possess stingers, they will attempt to fly at your face if you endanger their colony. They do this by boring holes in the wood and constructing their nests within the gaps. This results in property damage.
If you have a massive infestation of aggressive bees, you may need to engage a professional, but if carpenter bees are present, you may safely get rid of them on your own. Carpenter bees are less aggressive and do not sting.
DIY Bee Solutions
Shiny Objects
To begin, pour water into a sandwich or freezer bag until it is almost halfway complete. Put a few of those bright coins in there. Put the sack in an area where wasps or bees are often seen.
Although no evidence from science supports this treatment in any way, many individuals swear by it. If bees have already started building nests, this strategy will likely be of little service to you, but if you only want to stop them from flying about your playhouse, it might be effective.
Homemade Wasp Trap
A handmade wasp trap will capture a few wasps or bees flying by, but if other alternatives are more tempting, they may not be drawn to the homemade web.
Wasps may be caught using a simple trap from a soda bottle, jam, and water. Even though it lacks aesthetic appeal, this solution may be helpful quickly.
Homemade All-Natural Bee Repellant
If you produce your bee repellent, you will know precisely what ingredients go into the container, and you can be confident that it will not harm your children or your pets. Applying the insect repellent on the play area and the playset will help to keep bees and other insects at bay. This will need continuous reapplication in the future.
On the playground, give this homemade, all-natural bee repellant a try.
Products
- Nests of artificial hornets, wasps, or both. Wasps and hornets are territorial insects, and as a general rule, they will avoid going near a nest that is not theirs. It would be necessary to suspend the nest at a location from where they could see it.
- Natural remedy for warding off insects. These insect repellants, similar to the DIY bee repellent, may be used safely around children and, in most cases, animals. They have the advantage of helping to keep other insects away, but they do not kill any insects they encounter.
- Traps for wasps, hornets, or yellow jackets. Some more aggressive types of bees will get trapped and eventually die. It is necessary to empty them, and fresh bait must be acquired.
- Poisonous to insects. Because it includes potentially dangerous compounds, insecticide should only be used as a last option. Insecticides are not picky about which insects they kill. They are effective against all types of insects. However, many should not be used in areas with children or animals.
Saving Pollinators
Bees play an essential role in the health of our ecology. If you want to avoid killing them but have some nests that need caring, several businesses specialize in “bee rescue.” You may contact them if you have any questions. These locations will remove the nest and transport it to a different property where it will not threaten people’s health or safety. They may often be obtained at a lower price than an exterminator.