How To Repel Carpenter Bees Using A Zesty Essential Oil

Bees are an important part of your backyard ecosystem, as well as your local ecosystem, but that doesn't mean your home is the best place for them to hang out. Carpenter bees are a beneficial species that you probably don't want nesting near your home. Why? Because over time, they can cause structural damage to wood features on and around your home. From decking to fences and roof eaves, carpenter bees bore through untreated and exposed wood to make their nests. The conflicting issue between protecting bees for the ecosystem and protecting your home from damage can leave you wondering what to do if you find carpenter bee holes in your deck. The answer may be simpler than you think. Choose the right time of year to plug the holes, then treat the area with a natural carpenter bee repellent made from citrus essential oil.

Start by filling the holes with steel wool and wood putty in fall or winter, after the bees' nesting season has ended. Then, spray the area with a solution made from citrus essential oil. The citrus scent repels carpenter bees because they are averse to limonene, a fragrant compound found in citrus peels and essential oils. The smell overwhelms the carpenter bees, forcing them to move on to a more habitable area. As an added measure, you can keep carpenter bees from drilling into your deck by sealing the wood or painting it and placing an untreated softwood post on your property as an alternative nesting spot.

Citrus essential oil is a safe and effective treatment option to deter carpenter bees from boring holes in your deck, window sills, and other exposed wood. It is safe to use around pets and children and doesn't risk harming beneficial insects like commercial insecticides can. Plus, it's simple to make with either orange, lemon, lime, or grapefruit essential oil. In a medium spray bottle, mix about 2 tablespoons of castile soap and 10 to 20 drops of of your citrus essential oil. Fill the rest of the bottle with water, then spray the solution onto the wood areas where bees have been nesting. If needed, you can adjust the recipe to increase the amount of citrus oil.  

If you don't have any citrus essential oil on hand, you can also use orange or lemon peels to make your own. Boil the peels in water and let them cool. Strain out the peels as you pour the water into a spray bottle and mist it onto wood to repel carpenter bees. Even if the bees haven't left the nest yet, you can still apply this mixture around existing holes to encourage them to relocate so you can seal the holes. This is designed for short-term application and will need to be reapplied every few days, especially in spring when female bees are scoping out a location for their nest. You can also try mixing in peppermint oil and other herbs that carpenter bees can't stand, or planting some nearby.