8 Ways To Keep Bees Away From Your Pool

You have that big swimming pool and you want to go and take a relaxing bath. But you find those bees in your pool having a bath. And if you wonder “how do i keep bees and wasps away from my pool” then you are at the right place.

Water is a natural coolant, and it helps us maintain our body temperature. Bees and wasps also need a cooling system to keep them from getting too hot. Hence, it is important to know the 8 ways to keep bees away from the pool.

Bees are often considered a nuisance, particularly when they swarm around people, pools, or homes uninvited. There are many types of bees. While they may seem harmless, stings from bees can be dangerous and even life-threatening.

Continue reading to find out more on how to keep bees away from your pool & yard.

Are wasps attracted to water?

smoke, wasps, bamboo, garden, patio

Water is a source of energy for wasps. They are attracted to it because they need it to survive. You are more likely to see wasps around water sources like pools, ponds, and lakes.

Wasps are attracted to a variety of different things, including water. However, they are more likely to be drawn to sugary liquids than just water because sugar provides them with more energy, which they need to survive.

8 ways to keep bees away from your pool

keep bees away from pool

Below we discuss on how to keep bees away from pool.

Use a decoy nest

In nature, wasps avoid other nests. They do not want to compete for resources like food and space. To create a fake nest, grab a brown paper bag and blow it into a nest shape. Hang the decoy nest near your real wasp nest. Or in an area where you have seen wasps flying.

You can fill a small container with mothballs and hang it in an area where you have seen wasps congregating. The smell of the mothballs will create a defensive odor for the wasps, and they will build their nests elsewhere.

Use diesel fuel

Diesel fuel is known to attract wasps. If you are having trouble with wasps near your home or business, try using diesel fuel as a deterrent. Though there are many ways to get rid of wasps, one interesting fact is that they like the smell of diesel fuel.

It can be used as a deterrent for wasps, though it is important to use extreme caution when using this method as diesel fuel is flammable.

Remove wasp nest

It is the most direct way to solve your wasp problem. If you have a nest of wasps on your property, it is best to remove them as soon as possible. You can use various methods to do this, but the most effective is to call in a professional exterminator.

Safety from bees should always be the top priority for getting rid of wasps. Make sure to purchase a wasp killer spray and locate the nest. Once night falls, spray from a safe distance, and the wasps will be gone. Afterward, remove the nest physically.

Make a bee/wasp bottle trap.

Making a bee or wasp trap can be a fun and creative way to eliminate these pests. There are many different designs for traps, but all of them require some creativity.

One easy way to make a trap is to convert an empty bottle into a funnel. The bees will fly into the bottle and then will not be able to escape.

First, cut the top off of a soda bottle. Remove the cap from the top and use it to make a small hole in the center of the bottom of the bottle. The bees or wasps will fly into the bottle through this hole, but they won’t be able to fly back out because of the cap on the top.

To make the bee/wasp bottle trap, start by greasing the inner opening of the bottle top. Next, insert the removed top into the bottle, cap end first. The bees or wasps will get trapped inside the bottle.

Use lemongrass and mint for seal openings of the swimming pool.

While many people think that all plants are attractive to bees, this is not the case. There are several plants that bees do not like or are even repelled by.

Lemongrass and mint are two such plants. Adding lemongrass or mint to your garden is a great way to keep bees away. These plants release a strong fragrance that deters bees from coming near.

When the pool is not in use, put a solar cover on top of the water to create a barrier between the water and the atmosphere. It will help keep the pool warm and reduce evaporation. In addition, add lemongrass and mint to the water to keep it clean and smelling fresh.

Use dryer sheets

The next idea is to use dryer sheets or towels as repellents for bees. The scent of the dryer sheet deters bees. Using them in your garden or near your pool can help keep them away.

It is important to replace the sheets every week or so or when they become less effective. You can also add colorful bins to your pool setup to make it more visually appealing.

Use raw meat

Raw meat is the key to making a wasp trap. Meat attracts wasps, and once they are in the trap, they cannot escape. You can buy or make a bottle trap and use raw meat as bait.

Wasps are usually attracted to raw meat, so you can use this to your advantage to catch them. Place a bucket of water under the raw meat, and the wasps will fall into it.

Create an alternative water source for pool water

One way to deter bees and wasps from your pool area is to add an alternative water source. It can be a bucket of water, a barrel pond, or a bird fountain. You can also try adding some citrus fruits or vinegar to the water, making it less appealing to the insects.

Adding a new water source before opening your pool is the best time. It will help the bees get familiar with the new water source. You can also add a couple of sponges to give them a safe place to hang out.

Keeping the water clean and odor-free is important to avoid future water-related problems. By doing so, you will create an alternative water source in case of emergencies.

How to keep yellow jackets away from the pool?

You only need to do three things to keep yellow jackets away from your pool. 

  • Eliminate any standing water on your property as they need water to survive. 
  • You can also drain kiddie pools when they are not in use.
  • Ensure that all food is cleared away before guests enter the pool area.

How to keep honey bees away from the pool?

Honey bee dips a foot in the water causes a ripple

There are a few ways to keep honey bees away from your pool. 

  • Use a repellent. There are commercial bee repellents available, or you can make your own using ingredients like vinegar, citrus oil, or cayenne pepper. 
  • Place something in the pool that will deter the bees, like pantyhose or a tarp. 
  • You can also try to relocate the hive if it is close by.
  • Use an insecticide that will kill the bees. 
  • Use a regular hose to spray them away.

How to keep bees from drowning in my pool?

Bees

You can do these three things to help keep bees from drowning in your pool. 

  • Buy an entrance feeder and put water in it. It will give the bees a place to drink without flying into the pool. 
  • You can also put a sponge floating in each bucket of water, giving the bees a place to land and drink. 
  • Finally, you can also add salt to the water, as bees are attracted to saltwater.

How to keep bees away from the saltwater pool?

Bee, Drink, Water, Macro, Drinking Water

Bees are naturally drawn to saltwater. Because saltwater contains no chlorine, honey bees rely on disinfecting their hives.

Additionally, honey bees use their taste receptors on their front feet to determine whether a water source is rich in salt. If they detect high salt levels, they will know to avoid it.

Take some preventative measures to keep them away from your pool, like: 

  • One way is to make sure the folded seam at the top of your pool is sealed properly. Otherwise, they may try to get in through that opening. 
  • Additionally, it would help uncover your saltwater swimming pool every day – bees aren’t as attracted to uncovered pools. 
  • Finally, you can get creative with how you deter bees from your pool area – for example, by planting some bee-repelling plants nearby.

How to keep bees away from the patio?

There are a few different ways to keep bees away from your patio. 

  • Use pennyroyal, which is a type of mint that is known to repel bees. 
  • Use peppermint or basil plants, which have been shown to keep bees away
  • You can also try using a beekeeper’s suit or other protective gear when outside the beehive.

How to keep bees away from your backyard?

There are a few ways to keep bees away from your backyard. 

  • Avoid planting flowers with fragrant smells, as bees are attracted to those smells. 
  • Another is to use deterrent scents, such as citrus or vinegar. 
  • Keep food and drink covered when outside, as bees are also drawn to those items.
  • Bees are usually drawn to brightly colored objects, so avoiding these colors can help.
  • Additionally, wearing a hat can deter them and alter the landscaping around your house. 
  • Finally, proactively looking for nests and eliminating them will also help keep the bees away.

How to keep bees away from flowers?

Honeybee flying to a purple geranium flower blossom

You can do these four things to keep bees away from your flowers. 

  • Avoid planting strong-scented flowers, as the rich perfume attracts bees. 
  • You can also keep the area dry, avoiding wet soil for best results. 
  • Another popular way is to harness the power of garlic. Garlic can help deter insects from plants, so planting it near your flowers can be helpful. 
  • Additionally, soap and water can help prevent problems with bugs. Diluting dish soap in water and spraying it on your plants will help keep the bees away.

How to keep bees away from lavender?

Bees are not naturally drawn to humans. They are attracted to the colors and smells of flowers. Hence, lavender and other strongly scented plants can sometimes attract them. There are a few different oils that you can use to keep bees away from your lavender plants.

Avoid using lavender, citronella, olive, or vegetable oils. If a bee does happen to land on you, don’t panic! They are curious and will fly away once they realize they are not near any flowers.

What smells do swimming bees hate?

Close up of flying bees. Wooden beehive and bees.

Bees and wasps have different senses of smell. Bees dislike the scents of lavender, citrus, and clover. In contrast, wasps dislike scents such as peppermint, lemongrass, clove, and geranium essential oils.

Additionally, placing geranium flowers around your house or garden can help ward off wasps. Finally, you can make a natural wasp deterrent by mixing apple cider vinegar with water in a spray bottle. And spraying it near entry points where the insects might come in.

Conclusion

In conclusion, bees are wonderful insects. The reason bees love pools is that they are attracted to water. Be the activity for thirst, birdbath, or resort boundaries. Bees love everything about water as much as they love flowers.

So, how to get bees away from pool? There are several solutions to the problem of bees for pools, but not all of them involve using insecticides or exterminators. Let’s look at some of these solutions and see if they might work for you.

Although it’s not a foolproof plan, you can keep bees away from your pool with these five simple solutions. If you’re having trouble with bees, try one of these methods and see if it works.

About the author

A biotechnologist by profession and a passionate pest researcher. I have been one of those people who used to run away from cockroaches and rats due to their pesky features, but then we all get that turn in life when we have to face something.