How do you keep the grass under control in the bee yard?

[Brian D. Bray]

Cover it with something the grass can't grow through.  Old area or throw rugs work well.  So do sheets of plywood, tarps, tarpaper, or even layers of old newspapers spread out between the hives in the bee yard.  The nice thing about the newspaper is that it will compost over time and needs to be replaced but you're weeding using a green method.

[SgtMaj]

How do you keep the grass under control in and around the hives?

Jeremy

With a lawnmower and weedeater.

[lenape13]

Pavers on top of landscape fabric.  Built them a nice little patio.  (Need to find them some patio furniture next... :lol:)

[SgtMaj]

If I tell you this you may not believe it, but it is true.  I have my hives on my friends property up the block. He has 20 acres of land. He gets onto his riding lawnmower without any bee suit and drives that thing directly in front of the beehives.  He goes back and forth and all around and sometimes makes a mistake and blows the grass all over them.  They sometimes all come out to see what is up,but he has never gotten stung. He has even stopped in front of them and gone into reverse after sitting a few seconds. He is crazy, but he believes the bees will not sting him.

I do the same thing and for the most part the girls completely ignore me.  Occasionally I'll notice a bit more activity, but they don't even ping me or buzz around my face. 

[Two Bees]

Wow!  A lot of beeks go to elaborate means to keep weeds down (especially Natalie)!

I just spread mulched leaves and grass clippings that I bag when I mow my lawn.  After you get a nice, thick layer of this natural mulch, only a handful of the bravest weeds can come up.  For these volunteers, I just snatch them up when I'm at the hives doing an inspection.  Sheeesh!

[eri]

I haven't done this, but someone at a recent field day gets free burlap coffee bean bags from a local importer and lays them as mulch, recarpets as needed. They're colorful, sturdy, and biodegradable.

[Davepeg]

Right under the bees we don't really have to mow.  Our landscapers just go by them quickly.  we have one hive on the lawn, they do a quick pass with a ride on mower - no problem.  We did buy a weed whacker to clean up closer if necessary.  No problem so far.  My one hive is right up on the edge of my veg garden.   They come out to see what I'm doing but don't really bother me.
Dig up the grass and plant some flowers!

[BeeHopper]

If I tell you this you may not believe it, but it is true.  I have my hives on my friends property up the block. He has 20 acres of land. He gets onto his riding lawnmower without any bee suit and drives that thing directly in front of the beehives.  He goes back and forth and all around and sometimes makes a mistake and blows the grass all over them.  They sometimes all come out to see what is up,but he has never gotten stung. He has even stopped in front of them and gone into reverse after sitting a few seconds. He is crazy, but he believes the bees will not sting him. 

We only have to do this once a year as I posted up above. Thank god because I go up there when he does this work and I sit and wait with the benedryl

He is a very brave soul

One of these days, one of the girls will take one for the team, let us know when it happens  ;)

[annette]

Hey BeeHopper,  Your first install date is the same date as mine, April 21, 2006

[danno]

 Roundup

[BeeHopper]

Hey BeeHopper,  Your first install date is the same date as mine, April 21, 2006

Small World  :-D

[jdpro5010]

Round Up and a weed eater when needed.

[Anny]

I use a push mower and hand clippers ( to get close to the hive)

The bees don't seem to mind the push mower. I've also seen people put woodchips around the hive.

[kdm]

 All of the methods work for different beekeepers. I have also used stock salt around the hives to kill weeds. The kind you mix in feed.

[johnnybigfish]

This year, so far, I havent mowed around the hives as I did the last couple years...But now, My bee yard is full of flowers!!..Blue ones, purple ones, tons of yellow ones!! Its GREAT!
  But, when I did clean the grass around the hives I just pulled it out with my hands...And, if I  mowed, I'd try to do in late in the day or early in the morning when the bees are all inside....I mow as fast as I can too! Sometimes, when I mow now( within 10 feet of the hives) I get chased away and stung alot!..Sometimes I even have to jump off the mower and run in the house! And sometimes, when I go back out, they chase me again!...Its all worth it tho, as my mower is really fast and its kind of like a race between me and the bees! It makes me crack up when they start after me! Sure, I yell and holler and cuss but I laugh because I cant believe I'm so stupid and havent learned my lesson yet! :-D

your friend,
john

[sarafina]

My "mellow yellow" hive doesn't give a fig if I mow around it, but my new blue hive got REAL CRANKY this past weekend when I tried mowing fully suited up - and I had just smoked them about an hour before.  I looked up and my veil had lots of angry bees on it and they were pouring out of the hive and coming after me, so I left them alone!  Didn't get stung, but I didn't get all the mowing done, either. 

I think I will invest in a jug of Roundup spray.  My company makes the surfactant for it and right now - we need all the business we can get!   :evil:

[qa33010]

    Since I'm pretty slow trying to mow with a walker my wife does it and a weedeater.  a member of our bee club has started using rock salt.  He talked about how it used to keep fleas out of the dog pens and may work on shb larvae and pupae as well.  I'm waiting for the results.

We are still working on the grass free yard thingy.

[SgtMaj]

Maybe a walk behind reel mower (the ancient push type with no motor)?  reasonably quiet, no ehxhaust, not very not sure what word I need here - it doesn't fling stuff at near ultrasonic speeds.

And helps burn off a beer belly.

[reeegs22]

I put a large flat rock in front of each hive so the weeds don't grow right there.  The grass has been growing like crazy though so full suited I took the weedwacker and went around the hives no problem.  I also mow pretty close to them on the zero turn mower which goes at a good clip, no suit for that and I am happy to report no stings.

[Bee Happy]

Maybe a walk behind reel mower (the ancient push type with no motor)?  reasonably quiet, no ehxhaust, not very not sure what word I need here - it doesn't fling stuff at near ultrasonic speeds.

And helps burn off a beer belly.

...with hopes for a mead belly to burn off.