How to Get Rid of Ground Bees
"How to get rid of ground bees" is a question many homeowners face during the summer months. While ground bees are not normally aggressive and the male cannot sting, it can be unnerving to have numerous bees buzzing low around an otherwise peaceful backyard lawn--especially during a family picnic. In addition, the presence of ground bees can indicate an unhealthy lawn. Finally, some of those bees in the lawn may actually be aggressive wasps! This site is designed to give a quick and informative summary for those experiencing a problem with ground bees.
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Ground Bees: How do you know if you have them?
Do you have ground bees? You'll notice low flying bees in and around your lawn. There will be a series of mounds the size of ant hills, but with larger holes with just one bee emerging from each mound. In addition, the lawn will most likely be dry and unhealthy looking (above image credits: NCSU.edu). Ground bees tend to prefer south facing slopes composed of sandy soil. Thousands of ground bee nests can appear in a small area on your lawn.
Ground Bees, What Do They Look Like? Ground bees are 1/2 to 3/4 inch in length. T'hey have a metallic look which might appear green, reddish, purple, blue, yellow or black.
Are Ground Bees Dangerous?
Most of the ground bees buzzing around your lawn are males looking for females. The male ground bee cannot sting. The female ground bee can sting, but only does so if you grab her, or step on her. On the other hand, ground bees actually provide a beneficial service by pollinating all the nearby flowers!
How Did The Ground Bees Get There?
Your lawn was likely unhealthy, sandy and sloped south. (image credits: osu.edu)
Preventing Ground Bees
Your first line of defense is prevention:
We're assuming your lawn is unhealthy, and tends to be dry and sandy.
- Spread about 2-4 inches of mulch over your lawn.
- Add a high quality fertilizer.
- Rent a tiller and till the mulch/fertilizer mixture into the soil.
- Rent a large lawn rake and rake away the bumps, divits, and any old debris.
- Replant your lawn with a good quality lawn seed that is made for the climate conditions of your area, the soil type and the amount of sunlight your lawn receives.
- With the above mentioned rake, lightly rake the seed into the soil.
- Get a few square feet of peat moss and lightly scatter it over the top of the seeds.
- Rent a large roller (most garden stores have them) and roll the lawn area until it is near perfectly smooth.
- Water the area well, not letting it dry out for the first 21 days. After that you can back off a bit on the water, but continue to encourage a lush green lawn.
Do the above 5 things (we suggest early spring or mid-fall as the best time) and you will have more than a 90% chance of never seeing a ground bee in your lawn.
On the other hand, if you already have a ground bee problem...
Getting Rid of Ground Bees
To get rid of ground bees -- those thousands of low flying bees in your sandy, south-facing slope of a lawn -- don't use chemicals. Pesticides can be dangerous to humans, and to beneficial insects. Who wants to have a backyard picnic on a lawn sprayed with pesticide? Fortunately there's a simpler way to get rid of ground bees. Put lots of water on them! This creates two beneficial results: Water encourages the ground bees to find another home, and helps bring your lawn back to life. In fact, for even better results, work some mulch into the sandy soil before you water. For the best results, follow the prevention steps above and completely replant your lawn.
Get Help From A Ground Bee Control Specialist
Okay, not everybody wants to, or is able to get out in the backyard and take the measures necessary to rid their lawn of ground bees. Perhaps it's a second property, the property of an elderly adult, or you're working long hours, or you'd rather spend your spare time sailing, at the yacht club or in an exotic vacation location. No worries...
ApolloX Pest Control Has The Skill, Experience and Equipment to Get Rid of Ground Bees!
How to Get Rid of Ground Bees?
Do you think you have a ground bee problem? Don't wait until they set up a ground bee empire in your backyard and turn your entire lawn into swiss cheese. Have ground bees quickly and safely eliminated from your yard.
Call ApolloX Pest Control: (888) 499-7378
Email: info@apollox.net
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