How To Easily Keep Bees Away From Your Pool
With summer approaching, you're probably starting to think about reopening your backyard pool for the season. While getting the water ready for swimmers might be the first step you think of, don't neglect the task of keeping bees and wasps at bay as well. Nobody likes finding bugs while trying to enjoy their morning dip, and insects that sting can be dangerous or outright terrifying for some people. Luckily, there are things you can do to keep bees away from your pool without hurting them.
Bees are attracted to pools because of the strong scent of chlorine or salt water. Pools can also be a refreshing spot for bees to get a drink or cool off, but since swimming pools lack debris, like sticks or leaves, the bees have trouble finding a safe spot to land and can drown. By providing alternative, more alluring sources of water, the bees will leave your swimming spot alone, and you won't have to worry about getting stung or harming these pollinators.
Tricks to keep bees out of your pool
One of the easiest ways to get bees out of your pool is by setting up a birdbath, barrel pond, hummingbird feeder, or even a bucket of water in their flight path. If you know where the bees' hive is located, or you notice them coming and going from a certain direction, you can provide them with a closer source of water. The bees won't have to fly as far for a drink, and they won't bother stopping by your pool. This trick works especially well if you can add a place for the insects to perch, like a sponge. Bees prefer murky water, so a makeshift pond will be more attractive to them than your crystal-clear pool.
Planting flowers away from the pool and closer to your bees' new water source is also helpful. If your roses are close poolside, bees will be attracted to the area, but by keeping your delicious flowers further away, the bees will have less incentive to visit your pool; however, certain plants and smells can deter bees. Bees and wasps alike don't enjoy the strong scents given off by mint, citronella, eucalyptus, and basil. If you grow these plants nearby or add some of these essential oils to your pool, the bees won't want to bother with it.
It's also helpful to keep food and drinks covered and to avoid using perfumes or lotions with strong, flowery scents when near your pool.
Deterring wasps from your pool
Wasps, unlike bees, can sting multiple times, and will not hesitate to do so if they feel threatened, so keeping them away from your pool is a must. While having an alternative water source and plants like peppermint will help deter bees as well as wasps, there are a few other tricks to prevent wasps from frequenting your pool.
Wasps tend to be territorial, and will not approach another community's nest. Though it's not scientifically proven, some people find setting up fake nests effective in deterring wasps. You can use a paper bag to make a convincing nest, or buy some online, like these decoys from Amazon. Wasps are also attracted to raw meat. Hanging small pieces of meat away from your pool can distract the wasps, but leaving raw meat in the sun can become smelly and unsightly. If you're concerned about the number of wasps in your yard and need their nest removed, it's a good idea to call a professional exterminator.
Though wasps and bees are attracted to water and the scent of swimming pools, these tricks will help you keep the stingers away while you're swimming.