Please help; I have a bee problem?

Question

I planted a perennial garden 3 1/2 years ago, after we bought our house, and have never had anything but butterflies and hummingbirds. A few days ago, I noticed we have some new visitors (or residents, I should say). They look like regular honey bees and they are only in our sage bushes, in the back. If I had to guess, I would say there are at least 30 bees on each bush and we have 6. What's the best way to get rid of them???

Here is a picture of the sage bush I'm referring to:

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj223/ludwigsmama/sage.jpg

This picture was taken a while back (for a different reason). The bushes are currently loaded w/ blooms. But, they have been full of blooms before & we've never had this problem.

Thanks!

Answer 1

Look up a local beekeeper and tell him that you are planning to kill the bees, but you thought he might want them and if he does, they are his to have.

There are sprays that work very well. Also, I read this earlier. Take a 2 liter soda bottle, cut off the 4 inch top, insert it upside down in the soda bottle, hole punch a few holes, place string through the holes so you can hang it, fill it partially full with something sweet. It is a free bee catcher.

We have wasps and they are high up. They keep on buzzing me today. I poked their nest yesterday and they are not happy campers.

Answer 2

Try to contact a local beekeeper to help you remove them safely, but by no means try to kill them. Crops worldwide are being affected by the decline in the number of bees in the past decade. It could lead to a deficit in produce which will drive food costs up. We need the bees. As long as you walk by without disturbing them, they will not try to defend themselves by stinging you.

Answer 3

Why would you want to get rid of them?  Bees are nature's best pollinators.  They are there to help your garden.   Currently the Bee population is on the decline.  Scientists aren't sure why but it is predicted that if numbers don't go up we may suffer food shortages.  Be happy your garden has bees, it means you are doing a good job with it.  Most likely they'll only be there while your sage bush is blooming.  Once the blooms fade the bees will move on.

While the bees are there, avoid wearing perfumes or anything scented that will attract them. If you are sure they are bees do nothing.  If they are wasps or yellow jackets then you may want to install traps that you can purchase at any nursery.   Bees are usually not agressive but wasps and yellow jackets can be.  

If you did not have a bee problem before it is possible that someone in your neighborhood has taken up bee keeping.  

Another harmless suggestion:  bees don't like smoke.  Light a citronella candle or some incense.  Good luck.

Answer 4

I understand your situation and a reason to worry since you have children, that can have a bad reaction if stung by bees, or alot of bees, if you can safely trim the bushes down so they are not that large, look for any hives the bees made have made inside the bush... get a professional to remove the bees, they can implant the hive in the woods somewhere... bees are fine for your garden just not as pest, your gonna bee bzzzy

im allergic to bees...

Answer 5

they will not sting you

if there is not a nest near by you will be OK

but if they really bug you you can spray them with soapy water solution.

in Texas it's against the law to poison honey bees

or at least that is what i was told be a pest control person

i work outside and they will not bother you

the soapy water, just regular dish soap with water will melt their wings, and they will die

don't put any poison

Answer 6

they're only there for the blooms..... they're not interested in you at all.... if it's that big of a problem to walk past and you don't have a back door, then cut down the sage to remove the blooms.. at late dusk when theyr'e gone or very early morning before they get there..... don't hurt the bees... we need all the pollenators.....and it won't hurt the sage to lose those flowers.....