Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
How to Get Rid of Burrowing Bees
How to Get Rid of Burrowing Bees. Burrowing or mining bees are usually "solitary" species, meaning that they do not form cohesive colonies like honeybees. They are beneficial insects, important to the pollination of many types of plants; their burrowing activities do not harm plants, and may even help them by aerating the soil. However,...
Burrowing or mining bees are usually "solitary" species, meaning that they do not form cohesive colonies like honeybees. They are beneficial insects, important to the pollination of many types of plants; their burrowing activities do not harm plants, and may even help them by aerating the soil. However, you may wish to control these bees if, for instance, their nests are located where children play or where you need to dig. While much less aggressive than wasps or even other bee species, mining bees will defend their nests, warns Greg Stack, Illinois extension educator.
Things You'll Need
Insecticide powder or granules
Hoe or metal rake
Garden fork
Water hose
Control With Pesticide
Apply the pesticide according to package directions in the area where the bees are nesting.
Scrape the soil near the burrow entrances with a hoe or sturdy metal rake, disturbing the ground and exposing the soil.
Reapply the the insecticide to the disturbed soil; when female bees come out of the nests to repair the burrow entrances, they will encounter the insecticide.
Control Without Pesticide
Aerate the soil above and around the bees' burrows with a heavy garden fork, jabbing the fork straight down into the ground several times.
Pour water directly onto existing burrows; it is best to flood the bees during their dormant periods, cool mornings and evenings.
Soak the surrounding soil, saturating the area where the burrow is located.
Repeat the flooding every few days until bee activity stops; the bees will tend to relocate to avoid the water.
