How to Get Rid of Ground Bees with Natural Sprays

Ground bees can be a nuisance when they build nests in your yard. While ground bees are generally docile and don’t swarm, their tunneling can damage your lawn. Fortunately, there are several natural sprays you can use to get rid of ground bees without harming them.

What Are Ground Bees?

Ground bees, also called mining bees, are solitary bees that nest underground. They build individual nests in lawns, fields, or other open areas with sandy soil.

Ground bees get their name because they excavate tunnels in the ground to lay their eggs. The holes are about the size of a pencil in diameter. Unlike social bees like honey bees that live in hives, each female ground bee builds and provisions her own nest without help from other bees.

Ground bees range in size from 1/2 to 3/4 inch long They can be black and yellow, metallic blue, green, or purple The males are more aggressive than the females but not likely to sting unless handled.

Why Get Rid of Ground Bees?

While ground bees help pollinate plants, their tunneling and nesting can damage your lawn As they dig out their nests, they remove roots from the grass. Large ground bee populations can leave unsightly bare patches in your yard

Ground bees prefer to nest in dry, sandy soil. Areas with sparse grass growth provide ideal nesting conditions for them. Keeping your lawn healthy and well-watered makes it less hospitable to ground bees.

It’s best to control ground bee populations in the spring before their numbers grow over summer. Here are some natural sprays and tricks to get rid of ground bees without harming them.

Use Cinnamon Powder

Ground bees dislike the strong smell of cinnamon. Simply sprinkle cinnamon powder around nesting holes or wherever you see ground bee activity. The cinnamon scent will deter the bees from the area. Reapply after rain or watering.

Cinnamon is non-toxic to bees and won’t harm your plants. As an added benefit, it also repels ants! Look for ground (notSaigon) cinnamon, as it contains more of the active compound that repels insects.

Make a Vinegar Spray

Ground bees avoid vinegar, so you can make a natural repellent spray with this household item. Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spritz the solution directly onto the bees or at the entrances of nesting holes.

The acidic vinegar alters the pH balance of the soil, making it less favorable for the bees. However, it can potentially kill beneficial insects too. Use vinegar sprays judiciously and avoid spraying it on plants.

Apply Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a powder made from crushed fossils of aquatic organisms called diatoms. The sharp edges of DE particles damage the waxy coating on insect bodies, causing dehydration.

DE is non-toxic to humans and pets but lethal to soft-bodied insects like bees. Lightly dust DE powder onto nesting holes and areas where you see ground bee activity. It abrades their bodies on contact, encouraging them to leave.

Use Essential Oils

Strongly scented essential oils like eucalyptus, lemongrass, and peppermint deter ground bees. Add a few drops of these oils to water in a spray bottle. Spray the solution around nesting sites to repel ground bees with the potent aroma.

Reapply after rain. Avoid spraying the oil mixtures directly on plants, as high concentrations may damage foliage.

Plant Flowers Ground Bees Dislike

Certain brightly colored flowers that attract butterflies and hummingbirds repel ground bees. Planting marigolds, zinnias, petunias, and snapdragons can help make your yard less appealing to the bees.

Their strong fragrances mask flower nectar scents that attract pollinators like ground bees. These annuals are easy to grow from seed and provide vivid color in garden beds or containers.

Remove Nests

If you spot a ground bee nest, act quickly to get rid of it before the population grows. Wear protective clothing and cover entrance holes with large rocks, bricks, or boards. This stops bees inside from getting out and deters new ones from entering.

Removing nest access prompts the ground bees to look elsewhere to start new colonies. Do this in early spring when fewer bees will be inside the nests.

Call a Pest Control Professional

For severe infestations, your best bet is calling a bee removal service. Professionals have the proper tools and training to remove the bees safely. They can also take preventive measures to keep the pests from returning.

In some cases, beekeepers will extract ground bees at no cost to use them for honey production or pollination. This avoids killing the beneficial insects.

Prevent Ground Bees Naturally

Here are some tips to make your yard less inviting to ground bees:

• Keep your lawn healthy with regular mowing, fertilizing, aerating, and overseeding. Ground bees prefer sparse grass with bare spots.

• Water your lawn well to keep the soil moist. Ground bees like dry, sandy areas for nesting.

• Fill in any low spots or drainage issues that create dry patches.

• Avoid using weed killers and insecticides that can kill beneficial insects like bees.

• Plant native flowers that attract predatory insects to control bee populations.

With some diligence, you can get rid of ground bees using natural methods. A lush green lawn and colorful flowers make your yard beautiful and unwelcoming to these uninvited pests.