15 Effective Ways To Get Rid Of Ground Bees Without Killing

Ground bees are helpful pollinators, but they can be a nuisance by damaging households. So, you might be asking how to get rid of ground bees naturally without killing them.

That’s the main topic of this article. Also, I will discuss with you the factors you need to consider while trying to eliminate ground bees from your yard.

Honest Opinion: In most cases ground bees are harmful. They also doesn’t stay in the same place for long. If they really become an worry for you try the safe methods discussed in this article to get rid of ground bees safely.

 

 

 

Why Do Bees Live In The Ground?

The main reason bees live in the ground or close to the ground is for the availability of food sources. Also, for nesting on the ground, there is very less competition.

Honey bees need suitable nesting sites. But ground bees have a lot of choices for nesting sites.

They can create their nest in a ground cavity, tree cavity, or in holes in wood or bamboo.

Moreover, ground-nesting bees are mostly solitary in nature. So, they don’t require a large space to create their nest. They can create their nest in a small hole created by other predators as well.

So, there is very low competition for nesting.

Also, ground bees don’t solely depend on flowers. They also eat small insects, tree sap, fallen fruits, etc. Because of these reasons, these special types of bees live in the ground.

 

 

 

Is Killing Ground Bees Legal?

The straight answer is no. Ground bees are not harmful. Moreover, they are very helpful for our ecosystem.

This is why you shouldn’t kill them. If possible, try to help bees. Don’t harm them.

Most of the ground bees are pollinators. They are harmless, in fact helpful for our ecosystem.

Moreover, ground bees usually don’t stay in the same place for long. So, if ground bee nests are not in a location that can be a problem for you, you shouldn’t bother them.

 

 

How Long Do Ground Bees Stay

Usually, ground bees stay between 4 weeks and a maximum of 8 weeks. They won’t stay more than that. Ground bees usually appear during spring. Then they leave the place within the next 2 months.

They emerge at a new location approximately every 6 weeks. They usually stay around during warmer months.

But when winter appears, they leave the place. They emerge at a new location that is still warm. 

As ground bees don’t stay long, if possible, try to avoid bothering them. If their nest site is in a weird location that is a problem for you, you can look for a safe solution on how to get rid of ground bees without killing them.

 

 

Do Ground Bees Sting?

Only female ground bees can sting. Male ground bees don’t have a stinger. But they start chasing animals or humans to drive fear. 

Every creature is concerned about protecting their family. Ground bees are not exceptional than that. So, they will be defensive if you try to destroy their house. Otherwise, they are totally harmless.

Female ground bees are capable of stinging multiple times. They don’t lose their sting while stinging their enemy. As a result, their sting is comparatively less poisonous.

 

However, there are some aggressive bees that live in the ground. The most dangerous one of them is the Africanized honey bee.

 

 

 

How To Get Rid Of Ground Bees Naturally

If ground bees become a serious problem for you, then you might need to get rid of them. But you shouldn’t try any method that can be deadly for them.

There are plenty of natural ways to get rid of ground bees without killing them. 

Here I am discussing with you the 15 most effective ways to get rid of ground bees naturally. I have tested most of these methods, and they worked for me. So, if you try them properly, you will also be able to get rid of ground bees.

 

1) Natural Deterrents to Keep Ground Bees Away

You can drive ground bees away by using natural deterrents. For this you have to look for 2 things.

1. First, learn what attracts ground bees to your yard. Try to remove those things from your yard.
2. Ground bees don’t like some smells at all. Try to place those elements around your house.

 

 

What Attracts Ground Bees?

There are plenty of things around that can attract ground bees to your yard. Ground bees are mainly attracted to pollinating flowering plants. They are also attracted to:

• Dry, sandy, or loose soil for nesting.
• Having fresh water sources around.
• Sunny place.
• Bricks, logs, or rocks that can provide shelter.
• Soil cavity made by other animals.
• Poor quality wooden or rejected wooden materials.

So, if you want to keep ground bees away from your yard, you should minimize these features in your yard.

Tip: Try to build a garden away from your yard. So, bees will be attracted to that garden instead of creating their nest in your yard. Doing so you will be able to keep ground bees away from home and help them by providing a nest site.

 

Wood bees can cause significant damage to wooden furniture if they are inside your home. Thus, always try safe methods to get rid of wood bees. Never think of killing any kind of bees, as they are very helpful for our existence.

Plant more pollinating flowering plants. Make sure there is enough sunlight in your garden. If possible, place a water source and keep the soil loose, dry, or sandy.

By doing so, you will prevent ground bees from creating their nest in your yard or household. Also, you will help them work for the welfare of our environment.

 

 

What Smells Do Bees Hate – (Keep Ground Bees Away?)

Though bees are attracted to flowers, they also hate some smells. Here are some natural repellents for ground bees that they do not like. 

1. Lemon.
2. Peppermints.
3. Cinnamon.
4. Eucalyptus.
5. Garlic.
6. Essential oils.
7. Vinegar.
8. Ginger oil.
9. Citronella.
10. Tea tree oils.

 

 

2) Use Vinegar Spray to Repell Any Type of Ground Bee

Vinegar can be a great deterrent for ground bees. If you can use vinegar with water properly, you will be able to get rid of them perfectly.

You just have to follow a few simple steps to get rid of ground bees using vinegar.

 

 

How To Get Rid Of Ground Bees With Vinegar

To get rid of ground bees using vinegar, you will require the following preparation first.

• Use protection if you see that the bees are aggressive.
• A spray bottle.
• Water and Vinegar.

When you have everything, follow the steps below.

1. Mix water and vinegar in the spray bottle in a 2:1 ratio. Shake it properly and mix them well.
2. Now spray the mixture at the entrance of every hole where you feel the presence of bees.
3. You might be required to spray this mixture for 3 consecutive days until they are all gone.

 

 

 

3)Use Bleach Water (Only If Vinegar Didn’t Work)

Bleach water can effectively help you to get rid of ground bees. It is almost a guaranteed way to get rid of ground bees permanently.

However, while using bleach water, you should be careful. Make sure you don’t use hard bleach water.

 

 

Will Bleach Kill Ground Bees

Yes, using a high concentration of bleach water will kill ground bees. This is why you shouldn’t use high concentrations of bleach water. You can use bleach water following the instructions below:

• Step-1: Take a spray bottle.
• Step-2: Add Bleach and water in a 1:2 or 1:3 ratio.
• Step-3: Mix well.
• Step-4: Now spray the mixture in the late evening or at night at the entrance of the ground bee’s nest.

Ground bees can’t tolerate bleach water. So, if you use a light concentration of bleach water, bees will run away. They will never return to your yard again.

Some people consider Clorox as a natural bee repellent. But never directly apply Clorox to bees.

Using high-concentration bleach will kill bees. So, always use a light concentration of bleach water.

 

 

4)Wash Them With Water

This is also a simple way to get rid of ground bees. Identify the ground bee nests. Then, using a watering pot, splash them.

 

Ground bees like dry, sandy, or loose soil. Watering your yards at least twice per week will keep the soil soft. This will prevent ground bees from nesting in your yards.

Also, a water flow will force existing ground bees to leave your yards.

 

 

 

5) Ground Bee Repelling Plants

You can cultivate some plants in your yard that ground bees do not like at all. Plants like mint, basil, thyme, etc. are natural ground bee repellent plants.

You can also cultivate grass in your yards. Having your yards covered by grass will give no space for ground bees to nest. Fill dry, thin, bare patches where bees nest.

 

 

 

6) Use Spray That Ground Bees Don’t Like

I have discussed in another post how you can use gasoline to get rid of ground bees.

Gasoline is illegal in most regions. You shouldn’t put gasoline in direct contact with bees. You can also try the following methods to get rid of ground bees in your yard.

1. Starting fluid: Starting fluid can be deadly for bees. So, before using this deterrent for removing ground bees, you should take necessary precautions first.
2. Insecticidal dusts: This can also be deadly for them. You can purchase insecticidal dust from online stores or local shops in your region. Never apply it directly to bees. Just spray a little at the entrance of the ground bee nest. 
3. Break cleaner: Yes, break cleaner can also be a deterrent for bees. But before using break cleaner for removing ground bees, you have to take necessary precautions first.

Note: You will find a lot of other sprays for removing ground bees. But never apply those directly to bees. Because it could be deadly for them. So, always apply it at the entrance of the nest. It will effectively remove them forever.

 

Don’t use these sprays until other natural methods are tried and fail.

 

 

7) Use Bee Vacuum

You can also use a bee vacuum to catch ground bees. But you should be careful while doing this. Because vacuuming bees can kill them. This is why you should learn how a bee vacuum works and how to use it properly.

 

 

You will be easily able to catch bees by using a bee vacuum properly. If you can’t purchase a bee vacuum, you can build one using a normal vacuum cleaner.

 

 

8) Soak the Soil / Keep it Damp

This is probably the single most effective humane method.

Ground bees specifically choose dry, sandy, well-drained soil because it’s easy to dig into. When you flip that condition on its head by keeping the ground consistently moist, the area basically becomes a “no vacancy” sign for them.

Run a sprinkler over the nesting spot once or twice a day for about a week, or set up an oscillating sprinkler on a timer. You’re not drowning them, you’re just making the neighborhood unattractive, so they pack up and dig somewhere else.

This works best if you start early in the season when they’re just scouting nest sites.

 

9) Cover Bare Patches with Mulch

Ground bees can’t dig through a thick layer of mulch, and they don’t like it anyway. Spreading about 2 to 3 inches of mulch (wood chips, bark, straw – whatever fits your yard) over bare, dusty patches physically blocks them from accessing the soil surface.

 

Bonus: it also helps your soil retain moisture, which doubles the deterrent effect.

Gravel works too if mulch doesn’t fit your landscaping style.

 

10) Overseed and Thicken Up Your Lawn

Ground bees prefer sparse, patchy areas with little vegetation. Bare soil is easier for them to burrow into, and the entrance holes remain visible so they can find their way back home.

If you reseed thin patches and let your grass grow a bit longer, the dense root system makes digging much harder. The taller grass also helps hide any existing burrow entrances.

This is a long-term solution that takes a few weeks, but it helps prevent future generations from settling in.

 

 

11) Cover Nest Holes with a Breathable Barrier at Night

For active nests, if you want the bees to relocate, wait until after dark when they are less active and safely inside. Place a loose covering over the nest entrance, such as landscape fabric, burlap, or an inverted cardboard box weighed down at the edges.

The material should allow air to pass through so nothing is harmed, while still blocking the bees from exiting and using that spot. After a day or two, they usually give up and move to a new location.

One important note: avoid sealing the holes with concrete, rocks, or anything permanent while the bees are inside. This can trap them and often causes them to dig new tunnels through your lawn instead.

 

 

12) Aerate the Soil Regularly

Compacted, dry soil is prime real estate for ground bees. Regular lawn aeration (either manually with a fork or with a rented aerator) loosens the soil in a way that also makes it hold water better and grow thicker grass.

Over time, this transforms your yard’s soil profile into something ground bees just aren’t interested in.

 

13) Add Compost and Healthy Organic Matter

Similar idea. Mixing compost into your soil changes its texture and moisture-holding capacity, and it encourages denser plant growth.

It’s a win-win: healthier lawn, less appealing to burrowing bees.

 

 

14) Relocate the Activity Zone (Temporary Workaround)

This one’s more about coexisting than removing.

Ground bees are usually only active for about 4 to 6 weeks in early spring. If the nest is near a play area or patio, you can just move lawn furniture, kids’ toys, or the dog’s water bowl to a different part of the yard for a few weeks.

The bees finish their mating cycle, disappear on their own, and everyone wins.

 

 

15) Call For Experts

If you are unable to get rid of ground bees following the above 14 methods, you should call for pest control experts. Professional pest control service providers will help you get rid of ground bees.

Also, they will take the necessary steps to make sure the bees aren’t back in your yard again.

You can also call local beekeepers in your region. They can help you get rid of ground bees naturally. They will relocate the bees without harming them as well.

 

After removing ground bees, make sure to take the necessary steps to prevent ground bees from returning again.

 

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

 

 

 

Bottom Line Regarding How to Get Rid of Ground Bees

Hopefully, so far you learned how to get rid of ground bees naturally without killing them. Remember, they are beneficial for our ecosystem. We should not kill them. If they become a problem for you, try natural ways to drive them away.

Build a flowering garden so that ground bees live in your garden, not in your yard. Also, remove bricks and rocks from your yards regularly.

Make sure to wash your yards at least once per week. If needed, plant trees like basil in your yards.

Whatever you are doing to get rid of ground bees, just don’t kill them. Make sure your process is safe for them. Because they are very helpful for our environment.