5 Tips to Help Kentucky Homeowners Keep Bees Away from Their Home

Bees are great for the garden… not so much for the living room or even the back patio! While bees are vital pollinators (and honestly kind of adorable in the garden), they can become a problem when they get too comfortable around your home. No one wants to find a buzzing colony setting up shop in their siding, attic, or porch roof, or to be bombarded by angry carpenter bees while trying to enjoy a nice evening outside. Bees are crucial to Kentucky’s ecosystem—but that doesn’t mean they need to be your houseguests. With a few simple steps, you can keep things peaceful for both you and the pollinators. Let’s explore 5 tips to help Kentucky Homeowners keep bees away from their homes.

1. Seal Cracks and Gaps

Bees don’t need much of an opening to start a hive, and carpenter bees will make their own hole to lay their eggs. Walk around your house and look for little cracks, holes, or gaps—especially in eaves, soffits, siding, and vents. Caulking those up now can save you a buzzing headache later.

2. Keep Sweets and Scents in Check

Bees love sweet smells—so spilled soda, open garbage bins, heavily scented outdoor candles, and especially nectar from flowers can be like rolling out the red carpet. Rinse recyclables, cover trash, keep sugary treats covered when dining outside, and plant flowering plants away from your outdoor space.

3. Use Natural Repellents

Certain smells, like peppermint, cinnamon, and citrus, can help deter bees without harming them. Bees are VITAL to our environment, all bees, not just honey bees. Killing them may sometimes be necessary, but not always. Try dabbing a little peppermint oil on cotton balls and placing them near outdoor sitting areas or entry points. Bonus: your patio will smell amazing, and you’ll help preserve the species like a true hero!

4. Limit Bright Flowers Near Entryways

Bees are drawn to brightly colored flowers (especially purple, blue, and yellow). If you’re planting pollinator-friendly blooms (which is great!), try keeping them away from doors, windows, or high-traffic spots to reduce bee activity close to your home. Plants like these are vital to bee populations, but they don’t have to be right in our front door. But if they are, expect to have lots of bees!

5. Call Four Seasons—Don’t DIY Bee Control

If bees are building a hive on or near your house, damaging your wood, or swarming nearby, don’t try to remove them yourself. Some bees can become defensive quickly, and improper removal or treatment can harm both you and the bees (of course, you may want to harm them!). Instead, call Four Seasons Pest Solutions. We know how to remove them safely and responsibly without risking your health or the health of those you love.