Bees are essential for our ecosystem and pollinate a third of the food we eat, and for this reason, a lot of people love to attract them to their gardens.
However, they can also be a nuisance when they build their hives in unwanted places and swarm around your balcony. Not only are they annoying and scary for some, but they can also be dangerous if you are allergic to their sting.
Without wanting to sound too obvious, the trick is to have things around your balcony that bees hate and reduce what they love as much as possible.
In this blog post, we will discuss tips for keeping bees away from your balcony. Follow these tips and you will be able to enjoy your balcony without having to worry about pesky bees!
Contents
A Word About Bees And Their Sense Of Smell
You’ve seen bees in the garden, flitting from plant to plant, flower to flower. That’s their business, following their nose.
Bees have a superb sense of smell, and they love sweet smells. Flowers are full of nectar, which is a sugary liquid that bees love to eat. When a bee finds a flower, it slurps up the nectar with its long tongue. The bee then stores the nectar in its “honey stomach.” Later, when the bee returns to the hive, it regurgitates (spits up) the nectar into the mouths of the other bees.
The bees use their sense of smell to find food and avoid danger. For example, if there is a fire near the hive, the bees can smell smoke and fly away to safety. Or if there is a predator nearby, the bees can smell the predator’s scent and warn the other bees in the hive. Bees are amazing creatures, and their sense of smell is just one of the many things that make them so special.
Why Do Bees Think They’re Invited To Your Balcony?
Bees Love Bright Colors
Bees are attracted to bright colors, so avoid wearing floral patterns or brightly colored clothing when spending time outdoors. They can spot colors very quickly, and especially love purple and blue.
Bees Love Perfume
Bees are also attracted to sweet smells, so avoid using perfumes or scented lotions when spending time outdoors. If you must use these products, apply them sparingly and only when you’ll be indoors for the rest of the day.
Bees Love Tasty Scraps
Another way to deter bees is to keep your balcony clean and free of food and drink debris, especially sweet items, such as soda. Be sure to sweep up any crumbs or spills immediately. You might also want to consider covering your outdoor furniture and grill when not in use.
Bees Love Sweet Smelling Flowers (No Kidding!)
Bees are attracted to sweet smells, so if you have any plants that produce a strong sweet fragrance, they may be more likely to visit your balcony.
What Keeps Bees Away?
There are a few ways to keep bees away from your balcony without using harmful chemicals.
What Plants Keep Bees Away?
Cucumber
You could grow cucumber plants on your balcony or you can use cucumber peelings.
Cucumber peelings contain a chemical called cucurbitacin, which is known to repel bees and other insects. So if you’re looking for an environmentally-friendly way to keep bees away from your home, cucumber peelings are definitely worth a try.
Simply place the peelings around the perimeter of your balcony, and the bees should stay away. You can also try placing them in strategic locations around your yard or garden.
Cinnamon
Bees are naturally attracted to sweet smells, which is why they’re often seen buzzing around flowers. However, there is one scent that bees absolutely hate: cinnamon.
There are a few theories as to why this is the case. One possibility is that the strong smell of cinnamon confuses bees, making it difficult for them to find their way back to their hive. Another theory is that the aroma of cinnamon interferes with bees’ ability to communicate with each other, preventing them from effectively communicating where they’ve found food sources.
Whatever the reason may be, one thing is for sure: if you want to keep bees away, all you need to do is sprinkle some cinnamon around your home or garden.
Geranium
Bees are attracted to the geranium plant for its nectar. However, the nectar is hidden deep inside the flower and is difficult for bees to reach. In addition, the pollen of the geranium plant is very sticky and can get stuck on a bee’s legs. This makes it hard for bees to fly and collect pollen from other flowers. As a result, bees often avoid geranium plants altogether.
There are a few theories as to why bees hate geranium plants. One theory is that the shape of the flower makes it difficult for bees to land on it. Another theory is that the fragrance of the plant confuses bees’ sense of smell, making it difficult for them to find nectar or pollen. Whatever the reason, it’s clear that bees don’t like geranium plants!
Peppermint
Peppermint is another plant in the mint family that gives off a strong scent. This scent will keep bees away, so if you have a balcony or porch, consider growing peppermint.
Citronella
Bees would be attracted to citronella oil because it smells like flowers, but they know better and they keep away. When they land on something coated in the oil, they get covered in it and can’t fly. This makes them easy targets for predators. Citronella oil also interferes with a bee’s ability to communicate with other bees, which is essential for their survival.
So not only does citronella make bees more likely to die, but it also makes it harder for them to reproduce and continue their species. That’s why bees hate citronella!
You can grow citronella in pots, or citronella candles are a popular way to keep bees away.
Basil
Bees aren’t just attracted to the sweet nectar in flowers – they’re also drawn to the pungent smell of herbs like basil. But what many people don’t realize is that bees actually hate the taste of basil. In fact, it’s one of the few plants that bees will avoid altogether.
There are a few theories as to why this is the case. One theory is that the essential oils in basil are actually toxic to bees. Another theory is that the shape of basil leaves makes it difficult for bees to land and extract nectar. Whatever the reason, beekeepers often have to be extra careful when planting basil near their hives.
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus plants are a type of tree that is native to Australia. They are also found in other parts of the world, including the United States. Bees hate Eucalyptus plants for a number of reasons.
The first reason is that Eucalyptus plants produce a lot of nectar. This nectar is very high in sugar content and bees find it difficult to digest. In fact, too much nectar can actually kill bees.
Another reason bees hate Eucalyptus plants is that the pollen from these plants is very sticky. This makes it hard for bees to collect the pollen and take it back to their hive. As a result, bees often avoid flowers from Eucalyptus plants.
Other Ways To Use These Scents
Dried Herbs
Hanging bundles of dried herbs on this list around your balcony will help to keep the bees away.
Essential Oils
If you don’t want to grow plants on your balcony, you can always buy essential oils with one of these scents and make your own repellent spray. Simply add a few drops of the oil to water in a spray bottle and spritz around your balcony or porch area.
Other Options For Discouraging Bees
Bees Hate Dark Colors
If you have a bee problem on your balcony, try hanging strips of black cloth or painting the area with dark-colored paint.
Bees have a natural aversion to black and other dark colors. When bees see something dark, they think it is either a predator or something that can harm them. That’s why beekeepers wear white.
Bees Hate Foil
Hanging strips of aluminum foil around your balcony will help to keep them away from the area.
Bees hate aluminum foil because it can interfere with their ability to communicate. The shiny surface of the foil reflects light, which can confuse them and prevent them from sending out proper signals. Additionally, the crinkly sound that foil makes can also disrupt bee communication.
Bees Hate Vaseline
Bees use their sense of smell to communicate with other bees. If they get coated in vaseline petroleum jelly, bees are effectively isolating themselves from the rest of the hive. This can lead to bees becoming lost or confused, as they are unable to follow the scent trails left by other bees.
Bees Hate Garlic
Bees are attracted to sweet smells, so they’re naturally repelled by the strong scent of garlic. The pungent odor can be overwhelming for them, and it can interfere with their ability to communicate with other bees. Additionally, the oils in garlic can coat a bee’s wings and body, making it difficult for them to fly. For these reasons, bees typically avoid anything that smells like garlic.
Sprinkle some garlic powder around to discourage bees.
By following these tips, you can enjoy your balcony without having to worry about bees!
