Bees don't like strimmers

[bjosephd]

Bees don't like strimmers.

Like, REALLY don't like strimmers.

Ouch.

Suited up.

Still ouch.

Pouring out the front.

No fun.

Not my bees.

 

[Plenty of honey]

Ha, Yes, been their frequently!! they hate em!! Lol you can strim away happily and suddenly your covered in them! i choose really early in the morning, start with the furthest point of the apiary and work backwards making an escape route!!

 

[Fritillary]

Oh dear! What sort of strimmer?
- As it happens I'm just looking at a new pack of strimmer line, supposed to be low noise. (They do vary a lot and the vibration is less along with the noise I'm told.) I seem to have got on okay in the past with my strimmer, but it is only an effete battery-powered strimmer - chosen with the bees in mind. Usually they are okay with it anyway!

 

[Mark Young]

The joys of beekeeping...

I use a Honda UMK 435 - Bees don't like that one!

I have resorted to closing them up the night before best I can and getting at it by 05:00am in the morning, done by 06:00am that way. Just in time for breakfast.

I guess that option is OK if you don't have neighbours, or they prefer free honey to making complaints..

 

[For want of a better word]

Bees do not like the aroma of freshly cut grass?

Mimics their defense pheromone?

Yeghes da

 

[Beefriendly]

Bees don't like strimmers.

Like, REALLY don't like strimmers.

A tip when strimming.
Before you start close all the hive entrances with foam (or whatever). You can then blithely strim under the stands, bashing the legs etc etc etc. Returning flying bees are usually full of nectar and fly around the closed entrance looking puzzled. They don't seem bothered by it.
Finish a nice leisurely strim, take time to sit back and admire your now pristine apiary.
Then remove the foam and RUN like hell!

 

[user 3509]

We find that smoking the entrance as though about to inspect helps, and also wearing thick motorcycle gauntlets as they try to sting hands. A puff of smoke in the vacinity of where you are strimming also helps.

 

[Brigsy]

So far, mine don't give a hoot and I haven't been suited up. Maybe I should........

 

[Little John]

To a bee, a strimmer must sound like the mother of all Hornets, so it's no wonder they go ballistic. I stopped strimming around hives - too much hassle - now it's a petrol mower to within a few inches of the stand legs, and a quick squirt of Roundup around the legs last thing at night, after they're all tucked-up. Once or maybe twice a year is enough.
LJ

 

[bjosephd]

Oh dear! What sort of strimmer?
- As it happens I'm just looking at a new pack of strimmer line, supposed to be low noise. (They do vary a lot and the vibration is less along with the noise I'm told.) I seem to have got on okay in the past with my strimmer, but it is only an effete battery-powered strimmer - chosen with the bees in mind. Usually they are okay with it anyway!

Yep, this is no way a quiet battery powered strimmer... it's a 25cc 2 stroke Echo... it's loud and angry in the way that only a 2stroke engine can be!

I was doing an extra/favour for a friend/mowing client of mine and testing out my new strimmer.

He'd also done quite a lot of manipulations in the last couple of days to try and re-invigorate ailing hives... recipe for angry disaster bees!

Need some foam

 

[madasafish]

My electric battery powered strimmers have had no impact on my bees.. Even when I strim around the hive stands.Ditto my petrol lawnmower.

Change your bees.

 

[bjosephd]

My electric battery powered strimmers have had no impact on my bees.. Even when I strim around the hive stands.Ditto my petrol lawnmower.



Change your bees.

Not my bees.

I have also often mowed with a petrol 4 stroke up to the legs of these hive - all good.

I challenge you to strim around your hive stand with a 2 stroke. Then get back to me.

A 2 stroke is a whole 'nother category of noise and vibration compared to an electric strimmer or 4 stroke petrol mower.

 

[Brigsy]

It's what I use. 2 stroke strummer and 4 stroke mower. Not a flicker. So far.............

 

[Brigsy]

Strummer lol

 

[REDWOOD]

Buy a scythe

 

[Millet]

I use hand held garden shears to clear around the hive and spray a pathway to the area with proper round up/ Gallup not the rubbish the shops sell these day's..

 

[Gilberdyke John]

I use hand held garden shears to clear around the hive and spray a pathway to the area with proper round up/ Gallup not the rubbish the shops sell these day's..

Can you still get Sodium Chlorate? Searching ebay it always comes up with Sodium Chloride

 

[Beefriendly]

Can you still get Sodium Chlorate? Searching ebay it always comes up with Sodium Chloride

Banned several years ago. Damn good stuff as well. Nice and residual...took ages to leach out of the soil into the water course.
And now the purchase of agricultural strength glyphosphates (like gallup or round up) requires you to have a spray licence/certificate.

 

[wmfd]

Buy a scythe

I agree, means you can cut late at night too without disturbing any neighbours.

 

[Millet]

Can you still get Sodium Chlorate? Searching ebay it always comes up with Sodium Chloride

Unsure John , i got a 25ltr drum of Gallup given to me years ago by a friendly farmer before anything got banned, the stuff i have mixes 300ml of raw product to 23litres of water and boy does it kill weeds lol .