Help: Bees under my raised beds!

14 years ago

Hi All - This is my first post and my first year as a raised bed gardener :) Shortly after I set up my cedar raised bed vegetable garden, I noticed some small bees hovering near the ground on one of the sides of my raised bed. They didn't bother me much at first, but now there are more bees who do fly-bys whenever I go near my garden. I'm pretty sure they now have a nest underneath the side of my raised bed. What do I do? I'd prefer not to use chemicals, but am thinking they need to move their nest elsewhere.

Featured Answer

sinfonian

14 years ago

Moving a nest is difficult at best for professionals. Ground bees, if not wasps or yellow jackets are really difficult if not impossible to move.

My rule of thumb is that bees are good, but if they're making a major nuisance of themselves, they've got to go. And I know of no other way then chemicals.

Good luck with your decision. I had a tough one this year myself. I sympathize.

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Comments (8)

Dan _Staley (5b Sunset 2B AHS 7)
14 years ago
but am thinking they need to move their nest elsewhere.

Why? Do you pollinate by hand?

Dan
Tara Lawner
Original Author
14 years ago
Dan - No, but I have a young child who plays near the garden, and they are preventing me from working in my garden as well.
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noinwi
14 years ago
If they are Yellow Jackets, it can be a safety issue as they can be aggressive defending their nest. I had a similar problem a couple of years ago. I couldn't go anywhere near the raised bed, so I had to use chemicals. The raised bed was built with old RR ties and they were deep in the rotted areas. If you can see where the entrance is(there may be more than one), get a can of pesticide that shoots a long stream, go out at dusk(or later)when they're not active, stay a safe distance away and shoot as much into the hole as you can, then retreat quickly. Dress covered from head to toe just in case. It may take a few days for the nest to die, but over time you will see less and less activity around the entrance.
I know it sucks to have to do this, but you and yours need to be safe in your garden. I accidentally stepped on a Yellow Jacket nest once, and a swarm of them chased me for a block, and yes, I got stung. Whatever you decide to do, be safe! If need be call in pest control to take care of it for you.
You can also check out the pests forum for threads on bees/hornets/wasp nests. HTH

Here is a link that might be useful: garden clinic
Dan _Staley (5b Sunset 2B AHS 7)
14 years ago
I've never had a problem with bees, we always have something in bloom between frosts, and we've taught the 6 y.o. how to play around bees when she sees one. Unless one is allergic, there shouldn't...erm...bee...a problem with them - it is not in their interest to die when stinging something, and e.g. bumblebees with small colonies avoid this at all costs. YMMV.

Dan
noinwi
14 years ago
I understand what you're saying Dan, and I like seeing honeybees, bumblebees, even wasps in the garden. I've even put up houses for carpenter bees. They are all beneficial and most of them are pretty docile unless accidentally handled or caught in clothing. But Yellow Jackets(and some others)can be wicked aggressive while defending their nest. To me, this is what it sounds like the OP has. Maybe the professionals could be called in to get a positive identification on the nesters before a decision is made to exterminate, but if something is aggressive enough to keep me out of the garden, it has to go. That's just me.
Dan _Staley (5b Sunset 2B AHS 7)
14 years ago
Yes - I could be relying on an assumption of a correct identification, but I am...ahem...bee-ing explicit about bees. I have not mentioned yellowjackets. But I agree we should ensure of the species and go from there.

Dan
hellbender
14 years ago
Identify the entrance to the nest. Set a shop vac on suction and position the nozzle near the nest entrance. As the bees attempt to enter or leave the nest they will be sucked up and killed. After a day or two the nest will no longer be viable and your problem will be solved. Remember . . . . nothing can live in a vacuum.