tips on strumming around a hive

[MartinL]

Never had a problem when strimming round the bee's.

As you're sensible and don't do it in your budgie-smugglers & flip-flops, what do you have to worry about?

You need to have some sort of PPE for the strimmer in any case.

 

[colinc]

A cheaper option would be too buy a few bales of pine shavings that horse folk use, nothing seems to grow once that is rotted into the ground.

That would be what I use but have a massive supply as brother is a tree surgeon.


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[Hachi]

As you're sensible and don't do it in your budgie-smugglers & flip-flops, what do you have to worry about?

You need to have some sort of PPE for the strimmer in any case.

Absolutely! I do it dressed as if I'm going to inspect and they just ignore me. I even do under the stands and BB's.

 

[Beefriendly]

Anyone got any good tips on time of day for strimming the apiary and what is best to use my petrol strimmer sends the bees crazy the same goes for my disc mower cheers Phil

Just take some foam strips and close up the entrances before you strim. Not perfect but helps.
I find about 5 am before any are flying and no problem.

 

[must_dash]

4 stroke strimmer and in a bee suit (mobile sauna).
It's nearly 40C in the afternoon and 26-28 in the early morning. Too hot at the moment to lock them in, besides all the hives have huge beards.
They don't seem bothered except when in the flight lines.

 

[phil edwards]

Cheers everyone a few things to try just a thought has anyone put there hive stands on a type of geotextile and gravel to save weeds round the hive?

 

[Harley1]

I used textile and gravel under my hives when I used to keep them in the garden. No problems and easy to keep tidy.
Now I have them on someone else's land I use a cordless strimmer. I always have my suit on as I do it when I've finished inspecting but the bees never seem bothered by it.

 

[Sadders]

I recently went round our apiary with a petrol strimmer. The hives were quiet and didn't bother me except one which really took exception. Took my first sting in 3 years despite wearing full suit and veil along with gloves.

 

[user 6228]

use a big strimmer/brush cutter and wear PPE. something like a Stihl 450. THey rev lower and cut faster.
so you are in, done and gone fast
like this

 

[Teebeeaitch]

In they are on grass and they are not happy, simply avoid the strimming and cutting issue. Cover a few square metres of grass directly under and around the hives with old carpet. Replace when needed. It's free and it's simple.

 

[coffindodger]

Another vote for wood chips; I've used it for a few years. It works well - although if you have hens, they do love digging it up.
Saw a reference to glyphosate (roundup). There are usual arguments related to dosage and lethal dosages. Very difficult to relate these to garden sprayer usage. This paper -http://jeb.biologists.org/content/217/19/3457.long
suggests that lethal dose very high, but lower doses do affect memory.

 

[wessexmario]

regarding time of day, the best time will be when the older bees are away foraging, so the middle of a warm day.

 

[Beefriendly]

I'll let you put that theory to the test....there are enough who have off loaded their nectar to give you hell...lock 'em in and strim....then release and run like hell