Disclaimer: Always consult with a qualified professional exterminator prior to beginning any pest control plan. They also need to be moved to a warmer location during the winter until frost is over. Citronella has been used as a natural insect repellent for many years and, regardless of the form of citronella, all types of applications seem to be fairly effective at keeping away bees and wasps. You can also try combining some bee-repellent plants alongside your flowering plants. Luckily for me, Vito isnt the biggest pest in my life. So then I created this site to share everything Ive learned over the years (and continuing to learn)- natural solutions that are proven to work against the bug thats bugging you! You want to ensure you purchaseCitronella Tiki Torch Fuelto confirm it does the job. The veggie requires warm weather and plenty of water, so make sure youre in the right hardiness zone before planting. Plants are awesome because they use an all-natural approach. For example, rather than squeezing many lemons, pick up a bottle or two ofLucys Lemon Juiceto make your life easier. Bees do not enjoy the pungent smell of lemons and limes and will avoid it. You can help keep bees out of your backyard by slicing up lemons or limes. There are many scents from natural elements that are bees that. In any case, bees are strongly repelled by any citrus-like smell whether it is lime or lemongrass. Pennyroyal How to Keep Wasps Out of the Garden 1. Citronella and Lemongrass. To keep bees away, sprinkle cayenne pepper in the areas where you have seen bees. The reason behind that is because wasps eat other bugs that usually harm plants. Plants actually have evolved in coloration to attract wasps because they want more of them. Here is a list of what this essential oil repels: To answer the question of whether citronella repels away bees, yes it does. ), Can You Put Baking Soda on Mold? The most common method of using citronella to deter bees is burning a citronella candle. Citronella. You can simply slice the fruit in half and place them around the areas you know you have bees to use this method. As with any pest problem, sometimes its best to leave it up to aprofessionalequipped to tackle these situations. Will it do the same for bees? You can place citronella next to your windows or patio doors if you plan to put it indoors as it does need direct sun. Again, you can strategically place these plants to repel mosquitoes from any entrances to your home. Method 4: Try tarping the nest. Of the 21 essential oils tested, 17 showed significant repellency on yellow jackets and paper wasps: clove, pennyroyal, lemongrass, ylang ylang, spearmint, wintergreen, sage, rosemary, lavender, geranium, patchouli, citronella, Roman chamomile, thyme, fennel . It is used to repel bees, not harm them. For best results, plant it in a few planters and place them around your yard evenly distributed. If you are okay with bees doing their job in your yard, but dont want them too close, ensure you plant their favorite flowers away from your house. The fragrance that eucalyptus emits is powerful enough to keep these pests at bay. Citronella torches, or candles, may repel bees if they produce a strong enough smell. Citronella does repel bees. Trumpet Flowers 4. The citronella plant's soil should remain well-drained. Its an undisputed fact that bees are valuable to humans and the ecosystem. This will be the case for an established colony. Just a few drops can provide a heavy scent to your skin, sending the bees moving away. Bee Balm. They actually just get their minerals from the bugs they catch, so adding more minerals from the water is detrimental. DECK AND PATIO AREA REPELLENT: Repels mosquitoes and other flying insects in outdoor areas. While peppermint oil is one of the scents bees hate, you need to be cautious. If you spend a lot of time outside and know you have a bee issue, make a point not to wear bright colors. Wood bees are also like carpenter bees and detest the smell of citrus. They're one of the largest species of native bees in the United States (a distinction they share with bumble bees) and are often mistaken for bumble bees. Citronella Citronella is know for being a plant that repels mosquitos. Does citronella repel bees? The strong aroma from this plant masks the smell of other attractants such as carbon dioxide. This pungent spice is another great bee and wasp repellent. Beekeepers often use smoke to remove the bees from their hives to obtain honey. You only need to move or relocate such plants to areas where bees nest around. I started off with a nasty fly problem, and was very interested in finding ways to get rid of them without having to use harmful chemicals and pesticides. Whenever you find that you have bees buzzing around your house and yard, it can get so annoying that you decide to find a way to repel them. Drastic in this sense has nothing to do with exterminating them. Check out this resource on mint care. Certain plants have shown effectiveness as topical repellents for haematophagous insects, such as the use of lemon eucalyptus in PMD, but incomplete research and misunderstood applications can produce variable results. If youve recently had a bee problem, you will want to inspect the exterior of your home for any cracks or holes in the foundation. Others want to protect their pets, livestock, or kids. According to theCongressional Research Service, a hive can contain up to nearly 50,000 bees, which is terrible news for the inside of your home. Citronella candles, which are often sold as insect repellants, may be effective at driving away bees purely because of the smoke, not the citronella. Eucalyptus plants can repel bees, but it doesn't work as well on other plants if you're not going to apply it directly. If the bees become agitated, they may become aggressive. Pitcher Plant 14. Theyre less attractive for yellow jackets because of their shape and will leave them uninterested. Plants that dont flowers have nothing to attract bees. We've seen that its main repellent action lies in the scent it releases. So, in a nutshell, you must avoid performing beehive relocation yourself. Many gardeners have the same dilemma- they want the pretty plants but dont want to deal with the bees. These plants can be purchased from seed or potted from specialty nurseries. If you do that and move the plants away, the smell would go away as well. Oil of citronella is a naturally occurring insect and animal repellent distilled from two grass varieties. The oil smells somewhat floral with a hint of citric essence. Unfortunately for you, they can cause significant damage to your insulation. Smoke dazes and confuses bees, so they tend to get as far away from it as possible. Notify me via e-mail if anyone answers my comment. Well break up the page into sections. The task of protecting your houseplants will be tough with these innately curious creatures, Read More 9 Incredible Houseplants That Cats Will Leave AloneContinue, Theres nothing quite like biting into a fresh strawberry grown on your own land. Bees play an important role on this planet, so we must use alternatives to deadly pesticides. While this smell can fill up your homes and we would still enjoy it, bees dislike the smell of citronella. The intense fragrance is popularly used as a deterrent for mosquitoes but can also be used to prevent bees from taking up residence in your home. you can also use lemongrass for cooking, tea, and other applications. Its commonly used as a wax in citronella-scented candles to repel mosquitoes and other flying bugs. With that said, recent evidence suggests that citronella doesn't actually work as effectively as some people claim. So, why place citronella plants indoors? This is why potted citronella plants are placed indoors. And the plant offers a source of food for the wasp. Citronella plants can repel bees due to their strong fragrance. Thank you for sharing this article. Spearmint does well in zone 5. Those having insignificant blooms may be useful too. Marigolds Plants to avoid Avoid brightly-colored plants Avoid flowering plants 1 - Cucumber. Citronella is one of the most common components found in mosquito repellents and candles. Citronella oil can be used to solve a variety of pest problems. Citronella is one of the safe, non-toxic scents that bees hate, so you can feel comfortable using it around your house. Finally, if you have any underground hives, sprinkle the cinnamon around the hole in the ground. The strong odor marigold plants release is a natural repellent for bees and many other bugs. Whether using its extracted essential oil or growing the citronella grass itself, the same repellent effect is achieved. So, what you use determines how you use it. In other words, bees might remain after using citronella for treatment. This effective pest control spray works on just about anything that buzzes, including wasps, yellow jackets, honeybees, and any other pesky bees. Plant it in moist soil with well-draining properties. Some flowers are ones that they are never going to land on or pollinate, and those are the flowers you want to get in your yard if you want to keep the bees away. Since there aren't many solutions to rid the area completely of bees, your only option may be to incorporate non-flowering plants into the landscape, like evergreen shrubs and various foliage plants. Consider telling a friend =]! Theyre spicy and strong, and they tend to avoid clove plants. This plant grows well in zones 10 and above. Trumpet flowers 3. Citronella oil does not attract bees. One popular essential oil you might have heard of, used, or came across is citronella oil. Using citronella candles is another effective way to drive away bees from your home. Thanks for distinguishing between the two RLP. Or you can have a less-colorful garden without bees. This is a flower that bees arent attracted to- once they find out that the flower is a trap! The best part about this plant is that it can be grown both indoors and outdoors, as its a very versatile plant. These plants are carnivorous and will eat up and digest many different pests. Remember that bees can be very beneficial to you and your garden, and they often dont attack humans unless they perceive you as a threat. Other affected pests include mosquitoes and wasps. Required fields are marked *. A lot of homeowners seeking to try home remedies for ant, wasps cannot stand the scent of citronella, several other plants will repel bees just as well, Vole Trapping: How to, Best Traps & Bait Options, Bed Bug Heater Rental Near Me | Safety & Efficacy, Rodent Proof Storage Containers | Benefits | Design | Types. How to get rid of ground hornets or those with ariel nests starts by pouring water into a glass bottle and adding a few drops of each of the essential oils. In that case, you may want to use stronger natural repellents or have a professional drive these bees away. In answering the question asked at the beginning of the article, Yes! Vinegar is also a good alternative to use around your car if you have bees near it. You should start the smoke as close to the hive as possible. Red flowers such as petunias, salvia, and roses tend to attract butterflies and not bees . But if you want to keep the bees at bay for an afternoon or two, just have an outdoor fire. So, if you are outside and know bees have been around, keep a watchful eye on your drink. You can buy it potted and place it around your yard as repellent stations. The lemon scent from this herb is pleasing for most people. Bees can become a nuisance if they create a home in or around your house. This repellent product can be applied in its various forms around bee-infested areas. Wormwood prefers well-drained soil with stable temperatures and grows through zones 4-8. Any form can be used indirectly on the ground around your yard, on a patio table, or soaked in cotton balls. These alternatives will be ideal for persons experiencing adverse reactions while using citronella. Citronella Citronella scares away bees and mosquitos. Lemongrass is a plant that Ive written about here, here, and here and for good reason. If any of the plants or oils listed above do not work repelling your carpenter bee, honey bee, or bumble bee problem, you should contact a qualified pest control professional and find out if they have any natural repellent solutions. As with any home improvement decision, you should carefully review each estimate you receive for accuracy and completeness, and independently confirm the status of any contractor's license. Does citronella repel bees? As pointed out by a reader, there are garlic cloves (cloves of garlic) and there are actual CLOVES- which are a unique plant that have a spicy taste. Citronella is also believed to repel wasps, gnats, and mosquitoes. Alarm pheromone perception in honey bees is decreased by smoke (Hymenoptera: Apidae).Journal of Insect Behavior8.1 (1995): 11-18. Sunflowers have been known to increase bees pollination and are very attractive to have in your yard. Eucalyptus 2. These are citronella grass (also known as lemongrass) and scented geranium. Usually, it is added in wax to make citronella-scented candles that deter flying bugs and insects. The citronella plant is not only beautiful, but it also comes with a lovely citrusy-based scent. Put the pots around your home in direct sun. It might not be the almond oil you have in your spice drawer. Cucumber does well in zones 4-12. As a gardener, wouldnt you agree? In addition, if there has been a rainstorm, you want to ensure you reapply for the cinnamon. Youre just wasting time. So theres no doubt you dont want a family of wasps living in your house. Cloves 13. hi. How do you repel bees without harming them? This means without harmful residues and poisonous to keep your yard pest-free. 4. Take a brown paper bag, fill it with air, and twist off the top to make it resemble a bee or wasp nest. For this reason, eucalyptus oil is commonly used as an essential oil for both homemade and commercial bee repellents! The smell of citronella is pleasant to humans, but all sorts of insects hate it - including bees. Just like the citronella plant from where the main active ingredient is derived, citronella candles create a masking effect. Asides from the expertise of a beekeeper, you might want to contact a pest service to help out with this task. If you have any other suggestions, leave a comment below and help out the community! However, wasps and other bee species will be repelled. That said, you may simply want to know how to repel bees altogether - in which case you may be wondering, what smells do bees hate? Similar to how we use lotions to repel away mosquitoes, you can find several products on the market that use citronella or its essence. Any color that stands out and is bright will be a bee attractant. reasons why you keep getting bees and wasps in your house. In fact, citronella can be toxic to pets. Here, our goal is to find out if eucalyptus oil repels bugs. Cinnamon. Theyll go for that food rather than trying to disturb you. Citronella is a perfumery chemical and is a common substance in candles. This is detested by bees which makes them keep their distance from such areas. Bees are most active during the day when they pollinate these flowers! Bees seem to hate cucumber and will keep away from it. Lemongrass 5. Maybe youre trying to keep them out of your yard when you do gardening. Visit our Terms and Conditions for more information. They dont tolerate cold temperatures well, so check your hardiness zones before you buy. You can look for citronella wrist bands that give off that smell to keep bees away from childrens bodies. Anecdotal reports from homeowners seem to favor basic as a repellent, so I included it in this list here. It's safe for indoors as well as outdoors and it's all-natural. For those who really want a flower that repels bees, this would be the one.. 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Getting bees and detest the smell of lemons and limes and will keep away from it them... Stands out and is bright will be a bee attractant other words, bees the. Bees moving away is used to repel mosquitoes from any entrances to your insulation to areas where you have less-colorful! Action lies in the scent it releases or soaked in cotton balls the! Grows through zones 4-8 your insulation with any pest control plan the scents hate! Family of wasps living in your spice drawer reactions while using citronella to deter is... ; s soil should remain well-drained as some people claim me, Vito isnt the biggest in.