Keep Those Buzzing Friends Away from Your Pool!
5 Expert-Recommended, Natural Strategies to Deter Bees from Your Swimming Pool
Swimming pools and bees - not a match made in heaven, right? While bees are vital for the ecosystem, they can be a nuisance when they hang around your pool area. But don't fret! Here are some sustainable tips to keep those busy pollinators at bay without causing them harm.
We chatted with Don Shump, the genius behind the popular Philadelphia Bee Co., and David Mizejewski, a naturalist at the National Wildlife Federation, widely recognized for his book on attracting wildlife in your backyard, to get their expert advice.
Here comes our rundown on the top 5 ways to keep bees from crashing your pool party.
1. Offer them an alternative drink spotBees are on the hunt for water during the scorching summer months. Sure, your pool water might do the trick, but why not tempt them with a more bee-friendly option? Set up a shallow water dish or plant saucer near their hive, and fill it with water and pebbles or marbles for a safe landing zone. Refresh it daily, and they'll be sipping on their new watering hole in no time.
2. Change up their daily routineSince bees have their routines down pat, covering your pool for a few days will help throw them off their game. Once their new water source is ready, they'll likely move on to their next adventure.
3. Keep sugary goodness under wrapsBesides water, bees are drawn to sweet snacks, like spilled sodas, watermelons, and those tempting popsicles. Keep your goodies covered or stored away to avoid luring in curious bees.
Speaking of sweet stuff, let's talk hummingbird feeders. If your feeders are leaky or not cleaned regularly, they could attract pesky bees looking for sugar water.
4. Grow some pollinator-friendly plantsInstead of blanketing your entire yard with blooming flowers, plant them strategically to create a bee-friendly garden, but farther from your pool. These vibrant flowers will serve as their go-to source for nectar, and they'll be less inclined to stop by for a swim.
5. Cool it with the aggressive behaviorIt's essential to resist the urge to swat at bees, as it can lead to an accidental sting. Instead, calmly move away to minimize any disturbances. And remember, only domesticated honey bees seek out water from pools - our native wild bees, like bumble bees, won't be drawn to your pool water.
In conclusion, by offering other water sources, disrupting their daily routines, covering sugary foods, growing pollinator plants, and ignoring them when possible, you can create a bee-free swimming oasis while still supporting the Pollinator Squad!
Enjoy a peace Officer Bee-free poolside this summer, bee-lieve it or not. 🐝🏊♀️😂🌸🌹🌺
Enrichment Data:Overall:To maintain a bee-free pool area without harming our essential pollinators, consider creating a dedicated pollinator garden away from the pool. Here's a simple step-by-step guide to get you started:
Step 1:Choose the perfect nectar-rich flowers to attract bees. Some great options include native plants, sunflowers, zinnias, bee balm, and lavender.
Step 2:Place these pollinator-friendly plants in a specific section of your yard, away from the pool.
Step 3:Set up a water source like a shallow dish or birdbath near the plant garden for bees to drink safely.
Step 4:Regularly water and maintain the garden for optimal health and attractiveness to pollinators.
Step 5:Optional: Add natural repellents like mint, basil, or citronella around the pool area to further discourage bees. However, be cautious not to apply essential oils directly on flowers or plants that attract bees.
By adhering to these steps, you can create a beautiful, bee-friendly environment that keeps them away from your pool area. 💚🐝🌺🌸🎉🌞
- Martha Stewart suggests offering bees an alternative drink spot by setting up a shallow water dish or birdbath near their hive to keep them away from your pool.
- David Mizejewski recommends growing pollinator-friendly plants like sunflowers, zinnias, bee balm, and lavender in a specific section of your yard, away from the pool, to attract bees and encourage them to stay at a distance from the water.
- To maintain a bee-free pool area, you can change up their daily routine by covering your pool for a few days, which will likely cause them to move on to their next adventure.
- Instead of blanketing your entire yard with blooming flowers, arrange them strategically to create a bee-friendly garden, but keep it further from the pool, so bees will be less inclined to stop by for a swim.
- Mizejewski also advises keeping sugary goodness under wraps to avoid luring in curious bees near the pool, as bees are drawn to sweet snacks like spilled sodas, watermelons, and popsicles.
- By creating a dedicated pollinator garden away from the pool, and adhering to the steps outlined by Mizejewski, you can support the Pollinator Squad, while still enjoying bee-free poolside relaxation this summer.
