Hi, I'm located in upstate ny. I'll be placing a new hive in a couple days and the best location on my property would have the hive 12-15' from my vegetable garden with the hive entrance facing a corner of the garden. That's with the hive entrance oriented southeast. I'm comfortable around honeybees, but my concern is, with my vegetable garden in their flyway and so close to their entrance, will my frequent presence be asking for trouble ? Thanks, Daniel
I have 3 hives about 30 feet from my garden. I have never had a problem with bees while in the garden. Once in a while I got a guard bee that is hot. Buzz my hair and such, I just walk away for about 15 minutes.
This is my 5th years with bees in my yard. I have been stung once doing yard work. That was my own fault as from my carelessness I allowed the discharge from the mower deck blast the front of a hive.
I went inside, had a glass of lemonade then returned to mowing. No more problems as I paid more attention to the mower discharge.
Sputnik
You should be okay. I too am a new beekeeper and have had my hive for a week. I go down everyday and sit right next to it and the bees don't bug me too much. Once in a while they'll be having a bad day and can go at you but not very often.
I?d like to move mine up to the yard as well. I was curious how mowing would affect them as well.
Don?t know if this helps but mine are as you see in picture, maybe 20? from mowing, and I have no issues. The space between mowed and hives I weedeat several times but wear a veil - just in case.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190506/9cbde5733aaba429e0a211bf00dc2e28.jpg)
I need to mow btw - haha - just not high on priority list at moment.
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Most hives will ignore you until you open them up. Mowing or gardening will not upset them unless they are a hot hive.
When I was in Jacksonville, I had as many as 20 hives in my back yard. My granddaughters were out there constantly running around barefoot, constantly telling me that they wouldn?t get stung. Never did from those hives. I mow right in front of them. Never let the engine or grass exhaust hit the hive. I have more than that in my back yard here at our farm with no problems.
Jim Altmiller
If the hive is facing the garden and the gardener is in the flyway then, yes, there will be 'encounters'. It happens to me all the time. A returning field bee bumps into me, not expecting any interference on the same route she flew on the way out. I just happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. No worries, because if I simply stay still, the bee will move on to the hive. If she gets into in my hair, she will even untangle herself and go home to unload. Be calm, don't do the "OH NO! BEES! "dance, or you might get stung. She just wants to go about her business.
But there is a big difference between getting bumped by a returning field bee and getting warned with a head bump by a guard bee. If anyone in the garden gets head bumps or stung while in front of the hive, it may be necessary to reorient the hive or the garden.
BTW,
I whacked the grass and weeds around and right up to my hives this past weekend. Only one colony chose to bump me away. No stings.