Spring in Oklahoma City is a beautiful time of year. The flowers start blooming, the mornings smell crisp and fresh, and sunny days make you want to spend all your time outside.
But with the arrival of spring comes a less-than-welcome guest bees.
While they play an important role in pollination, having them buzzing around your porch or yard isn’t exactly ideal when you’re just trying to enjoy your sweet tea or fire up the grill.
The good news is there are plenty of ways to keep bees at bay without swatting at them all afternoon long.
Whether you’re dealing with carpenter bees that love drilling holes in your deck or honeybees that don’t seem to get the hint, we’ve got the ultimate guide on how to keep bees away from the house so you can enjoy your outside time completely unbothered.
Why Are Bees Hanging Around?
To understand how to deter bees, it helps to know why they’re so interested in your spot to begin with. The main answer? Food and shelter.
Bees are drawn to sugary foods, sweet-smelling flowers, and even certain scents from perfumes, lotions, or cleaning products. If you’ve got soda cans, barbecue sauces, or freshly planted blooms nearby, you might as well hang up a sign saying “Bees Welcome.”
Beyond food, bees are also on the hunt for places to nest as winter leaves and the weather warms.
Flowers aren’t the only spots catching their eye wooden decks, old tree stumps, and even cracks in your siding or roofing can be prime real estate for some species like carpenter bees.
They just see these spots as their new home, but if you’re not a fan of sharing your space with buzzing tenants, you’ll want to make it less inviting for them.
Keep It Clean and Bee-Free
One of the easiest ways to discourage bees from setting up shop is to keep your outdoor area squeaky clean.
Leftovers, sticky spills, and open soda cans are like a buffet for bees. Wipe down tables or grills and make it a habit to tie up trash bags tightly. If you’ve got a compost bin in your yard, make sure it’s secure and covered decomposing food is bee heaven.
Flowers in bloom may make your yard Instagram-worthy, but they can also attract bees. Be selective with what you plant (hint: opt for bee-repelling herbs like mint, eucalyptus, and citronella). Better yet, keep your flower beds away from patios, decks, or play areas.
Bees also love water sources, so don’t give them one. Empty buckets, remove standing water, and fix any leaky hoses or sprinklers. If you have a pool or birdbath, consider placing it farther from the area where you like to gather.
Pick Your Scents Wisely
Bees have a highly sensitive sense of smell, which is both a blessing and a curse for them. Certain scents are attractive to them like sugary drinks or floral perfumes while others are downright offensive to their noses.
Essential oils such as peppermint, tea tree, or cloves are your best friend. You can buy a bee-repelling spray or, better yet, make your own by mixing a few drops of essential oil with water in a spray bottle.
Give it a few spritzes on your outdoor furniture, fences, or deck to keep the bees away. Not only will it work wonders for discouraging bees, but your yard will smell amazing too.
Another little hack? Try burning citronella candles near your seating area. Though mainly used for repelling mosquitoes, bees aren’t fans either and will likely vacate the space quicker than a bad date. Plus, since citronella is just repulsive to bees and not downright harmful, you don’t have to worry about damaging pollinator populations with this method.
Block Their Way
Sometimes, prevention is simply about making your home and yard harder to access. Carpenter bees, for instance, are notorious for burrowing into wooden structures. If you’ve noticed round holes in your fence, porch, or deck (a carpenter bee calling card), it’s time to take action. Use wood putty to seal up these holes before the bees decide to shuffle in a whole family. For persistent issues or larger infestations, working with a trusted Durant pest control service can help protect your property with long-term solutions.
For honey bees or bumble bees that like cozy, hidden spots (especially spots where other bees have already set up shop before them) inspect your property for gaps or crevices. Any cracks in walls, roofing, or siding should be sealed with caulk or repaired especially if they’re close to areas of frequent activity like patios or dog houses.
Need a short-term fix? You can even use a fine mesh screen or netting to block off areas you suspect bees might try to get into.
Make the Bees Work for You
It may sound counterintuitive, but one of the easiest ways to keep bees out of your space is to give them their own.
By setting up a bee-friendly zone farther away in your yard with flowers or a small water source, you can create what’s essentially a bee sanctuary. This keeps the bees busy and happy without interfering with your backyard cookout.
This bee-friendly approach makes sense, especially if you’ve got honeybees, which are an endangered species. It lets you keep your distance and peace of mind while doing something helpful for the environment. Besides, it’s always good karma to give them a space to do their thing without invading yours. However, if stinging insects become a persistent threat near your home, consulting a professional like an exterminator Durant OK can help you find a safe, effective, and environmentally conscious solution.
Call in the Experts
Sometimes, no matter how much you try, or how much time you spend researching how to keep bees away from the house, these stinging pests just won’t budge.
If you’re dealing with a big swarm or a recurring problem year after year, it’s time to call in the big guns. That’s where professionals come in.
At Thunder Pest Control, we’re not just about keeping the bees at bay we’re all about making sure your outdoor spaces stay yours to enjoy. Our expert pest control Durant OK solutions are safe, effective, and will leave both you and the bees happy campers (okay, maybe the bees less so, but you get the point).
Don’t waste another moment swatting, dodging, or trying every hack under the sun. Give us a ring, and we’ll help you get back to enjoying spring the way it ought to be bee-free. Contact us today!
