How to Instantly Get Rid of Ground Bees

Spring brings a breath of relief, letting you warm up in the wake of winter and enjoy the varying colors of nature as they ‘spring’ up all around you. Ground bees also awaken during this time, and you may start to notice them all over your yard. Find out what they are, why they’re attracted to your yard, and how to get rid of them — ASAP!

What Are Ground Bees?

The name is telling — ground bees aren’t like honey bees that prefer to set their hives up in hollow trees. They nest in the ground and aren’t social like honey bees, either. They’re solitary, and even though the buzzing may trigger you, they don’t have stingers and, therefore, can’t sting you. Although the males may sometimes be aggressive, they have no power to hurt you and may just bounce off your clothes or skin when they feel the need to attack. Some of the most popular ones include:

• Mason bees
• Leafcutter bees
• Cellophane bees
• Sweat bees
• Plasterer bees
• Digger bees

Why Are Ground Bees Attracted to Your Yard?

Ground bees are important pollinators, and when they decide to nest, they do so because it’s most beneficial for what they’re innately meant to do. So if you’ve gone out to your yard and noticed many burrows, that means they have deemed your yard the perfect place for their pollinating purposes and for providing their eggs with a fruitful place to grow.

Since there are so many types of ground bees, it can be difficult to tell them apart. However, it’s worth looking into what yellowjacket wasps look like. These also nest in the ground, but they are not friendly, and they do sting. Aggressively. If you spot these, skip the DIY remedies, and call your local pest control immediately, especially if you have pets or children regularly running about in your yard.

How To Get Rid of Ground Bees

Vinegar Spray

One natural remedy you can use to get rid of ground bees right away is to mix equal parts of vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Then, get out into your yard and spray the burrows as you come upon them. The vinegar works to dry them up, effectively killing them.

Water Your Yard

Ground bees thrive in dry and sandy environments. When the soil is soft, they can create even bigger burrows, so they know to nest there and return the following year. To keep them away, water your yard more regularly.

Add More Grass

In keeping with the previous suggestion, make sure your yard is grassy. The less dry, bare, sandy patches in your yard, the better chances you have of keeping ground bees from thinking they can nest on your property.

Clear Rocks and Bricks

When the soil is too tough, ground bees may look to your nice rock garden and call it a burrow. If you eliminate these environments, the bees won’t be able to find an adequate place to nest and will move on.

Do Dryer Sheets Keep Bees Away?

It is always great to find mundane household items that work as hacks for additional uses. A lot of times the key to these solutions is due to acidity, chemicals, and in this case scent. On top of all that, the cost of items around the house is usually really affordable!

While some dryer sheets are unscented, the scented options for them have some benefits because of their strong odor. In fact, they have a very strong smell, and if you rub the sheets on your clothes, along entryways in your home, and in many other places, they will help repel these insects.

A great method is to hang dryer sheets around areas in and around your house. Because their odor is so strong, bees will most likely not even fly anywhere close to where you hung them.