As an avid balcony gardener, I’ve dealt with my fair share of bee problems over the years. While bees play an important role in pollinating plants, having a swarm of them buzzing around your outdoor relaxation space is far from ideal. Not to mention, bee stings can be quite painful and even dangerous if you’re allergic.
Luckily, there are plenty of effective, eco-friendly ways to deter bees from your balcony without resorting to harmful insecticides Through trial and error in my own balcony gardening adventures, I’ve discovered several go-to techniques for keeping bees at bay.
In this article, I’ll share 12 of my top tips for keeping bees away from your balcony naturally. From strategic landscaping to homemade repellents, these methods will help you reclaim your outdoor oasis bee-free.
1. Avoid Flowering Plants
One of the easiest ways to deter bees is to avoid planting flowers, especially brightly colored blooms, in your balcony garden Bees are strongly attracted to the nectar and pollen of flowering plants
Instead, opt for greenery like herbs, vegetables, and even houseplants. Basil, rosemary, lettuces, and succulents make great bee-free choices. If you simply must have flowers, go for varieties in less attractive colors to bees like browns, blacks, and dark reds.
2. Grow Bee-Repelling Plants
While flowering varieties tend to draw in bees, some plants actually repel them with their strong scents. Incorporating these natural bee repellents into your balcony garden can help discourage the unwelcome buzzing visitors.
Some of the best options include lavender, catnip, citronella, pennyroyal, peppermint, eucalyptus, and garlic. However, keep in mind that pennyroyal is toxic to pets.
3. Prune Back Nearby Vegetation
If your balcony is located near densely flowering trees, bushes, or vines, their blossoms may be attracting bees to your space. Pruning back and thinning out nearby vegetation can help reduce the presence of bees.
Focus on trimming plants that are currently in bloom or about to flower. Ask neighbors if you can prune back any bordering vegetation on their properties as well.
4. Seal Any Crevices
Solitary bees like to nest in small spaces and holes. Eliminate potential nesting spots by sealing any cracks, crevices, and openings along walls, ceilings, railings, and other structures around your balcony.
Use caulk, expanding foam sealant, metal mesh, or other patching materials to close up gaps. Prevent easy balcony access by installing tightly fitting screens on all doors and windows too.
5. Keep Your Balcony Clean
Bees swarm to moisture sources like spilled juices, sodas, and water. Always promptly wipe up any liquid messes and take measures to keep your balcony clean and dry at all times.
Also, get rid of clutter like stacks of unused flower pots, garden tools, and debris that could provide shelter for nesting bees.
6. Use Bee Repelling Essential Oils
Many essential oils naturally deter bees with their intense aromas, including peppermint, citronella, eucalyptus, tea tree, lavender, lemongrass, cedarwood, and thyme oil.
You can apply these oils directly to balcony surfaces. Or, diffuse the oils in the air with a diffuser or by mixing them with water in a spray bottle. Refresh applications regularly.
7. Try Other DIY Bee Repellents
If you don’t have essential oils on hand, DIY repellents made from common household items can also help drive away bees:
- Make a vinegar-water solution – the acetic acid deters bees.
- Sprinkle ground cinnamon powder around your space.
- Rub cut lemons, oranges, or cucumbers along railings.
- Place small dishes of beer around the balcony.
8. Install Fake Nests
Hang up fake bee nests near your balcony. Bees are quite territorial and often won’t build new nests near existing colonies. While the nests are just decoys, they can fool bees into thinking your space is already occupied.
You can easily make fake hives from wicker or wood covered in a dab of bee scent and topped with realistic-looking resin, clay, or silk bees.
9. Use Protective Mesh Screens
Install tightly-woven mesh screens around your balcony’s perimeter to physically block bees from entering while still letting in fresh air. Aluminum, bronze, fiberglass, and stainless steel meshes work best.
For a less obtrusive option, secure lightweight screen panels with magnets to balcony railings only when you plan to use the space.
10. Wear Bee-Repelling Fabrics
Cover up with clothing made of dark, thick fabrics when outside on your balcony. Bees are less attracted to dark colors and have a harder time stinging through heavier weight materials.
Apply a thin coat of natural repellent like tea tree or peppermint oil to your garments for extra protection. Avoid bold patterns and flowery perfumes that can draw in bees.
11. Rinse Off Sweet Smells
Strong fragrances from foods, body washes, shampoos, and lotions can attract unwanted bee attention on your balcony. Rinse off any sugary substances and go fragrance-free before heading outside.
If you want a subtle scent, dab on some lemongrass or citronella essential oil instead to help deter bees.
12. Install Grow Lights Instead of White Bulbs
Bees flock to the bright white light emitted by typical light bulbs. Swap balcony lighting for red or yellow LED grow lights which don’t attract bees.
Keep lights off at night whenever possible. If illumination is needed, use grow lights or yellow “bug bulbs” instead of standard bulbs. Close any balcony curtains or blinds at night too.
The Takeaway
With the right strategies, you can successfully deter bees from invading your balcony and enjoy your outdoor space free of pesky pollinators. Natural plant-based repellents, strategic landscaping, and sealing up hive hideaways are just some of the effective techniques you can try.
Test out different methods and find the right bee prevention plan for your unique balcony setup. Pay attention to what’s attracting the bees in the first place, whether it’s fragrant florals or wide open crevices. Then, make adjustments to redirect those buzzing insects away from your balcony for good.
With a bit of diligence, eco-friendly bee repelling can help you reclaim your balcony oasis as a relaxing bee-free retreat once again. No more painful stings or ruined relaxation time – just you, fresh air, and peace and quiet.
Bee-Proofing Your Eating Area
- 1 Choose a picnic location away from areas that attract bees. It goes without saying, of course, that you shouldn’t have a picnic near a visible bee hive, whether it’s located in a tree or on the ground. Avoid setting up near other locations where bees gather, too. These include:[4]
- Trash cans.
- Tall grass (which often contains ground nests).
- Vacant sheds.
- Old, unused playgrounds.
- 2 Avoid displaying bright-colored floral patterns. If you’re planning to set down a tablecloth for a patio dinner, make sure that the material has a muted color and a non-floral pattern. Bees will be drawn in by anything with the appearance of flowers, even if it’s an artificial material.[5]
- 3 Remove any flowers near your dining area. Since bees are natural pollinators, they will be likely to gather near large, bright flowers. If you have potted flowers on or near your patio, remove these before a party or social gathering. If you’re picking a location for a picnic, avoid eating near large displays of flowers, whether they’re planted or naturally occurring.[6]
- Bees are more attracted to some flowers than others. They’re most likely to investigate wildflowers, along with honeysuckle, goldenrod, and lavender.
- Bees also like several herbs, including oregano, thyme, and chives.
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To keep away from bees, choose a picnic location away from places where they typically gather, like trash cans or tall grass. While you eat, keep your food containers sealed and dispose of trash immediately to prevent bees picking up on food smells. If youre dining in the garden, pick a table cloth with muted colors and remove any flowers from the area around your table as they attract bees. Alternatively, place a natural bee repellant, such as sliced cucumber or peppermint, on or near your table. To learn how to keep bees away from your body, including by not wearing bright patterns, read on!
HOW TO GET RID OF BEE’S WITHOUT KILLING THEM – DIY METHODS (14 Natural Ways to Remove Bee’s)
FAQ
How do I keep bees off my balcony?
Sprinkling cinnamon around your balcony can be a simple way to repel bees and many other insects without harming them or the environment. Garlic can also have the same effect, and can be sprinkled in powder form, or you can make a spray with garlic and water or vinegar to spritz around the balcony.
Why are bees hanging around my balcony?
If there are no nests, then bees might still be attracted to your balcony because of the light, they could also come visits because of bright colors representing flowers or some water or food source.
What smell do bees hate the most?
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Reddit · r/Homesteadinghttps://www.reddit.comeliminate unwanted hiving bees with a teaspoon of cinnamon. – RedditSep 29, 2023 — So this morning I had some bees hiving in my roof – obviously not a good thing for me. I DO NOT WANT TO KILL BEES, they are WAY too important to our…
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Western Exterminatorhttps://www.westernexterminator.com7 ways to keep bees away from your yard and pool – Western ExterminatorJul 18, 2019 — Some of these off-putting fragrances are peppermint, spearmint, eucalyptus, and thyme. … Bees also have a distaste for lavender oil, citronella oi…
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Honey Bee Suitehttps://www.honeybeesuite.comPeppermint won’t repel bees, but it may attract themThe hands-down winner was anise oil. It seemed like all the bees went there first and scraped the bottom clean before moving on to—wait for it—peppermint! When …
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bugoutservice.comhttps://www.bugoutservice.comHow to Repel Bees and Wasps Naturally – Bug OutRepel Bees & Wasps with Essential Oils Another all-natural way to keep stinging insects away is by making a bee repellent spray using essential oils. Bees and w…
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Real Simplehttps://www.realsimple.comExperts Tips for How to Keep Bees Away – Real SimpleMar 31, 2025 — Bees are adverse to plants with bitter scents, including the following: * Basil has a strong herbal smell that repels bees. … * Lemongrass has a …
What to put outside to keep bees away?
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Bee-repelling plants:Plants with strong scents like mint, citronella, eucalyptus, thyme, and marigolds are known to deter bees.
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Natural repellents:
- Vinegar: A spray of white vinegar can be effective in keeping bees away.
- Cinnamon: Cinnamon sticks can be placed around areas to deter bees due to their strong, spicy scent.
- Garlic: Garlic has a strong smell that bees dislike, so placing it or garlic water around can help.
- Vinegar: A spray of white vinegar can be effective in keeping bees away.
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Essential oils:Peppermint, eucalyptus, and citronella essential oils can be used in sprays or diffusers to deter bees.
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Mothballs:Mothballs, with their strong scent, can be placed around to deter bees, says The Spruce.
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Dryer sheets:Hanging dryer sheets around can help mask the scent of food and deter bees, says Hawx Pest Control.
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Other tips:
- Keep food and drinks covered to avoid attracting bees.
- Consider using a bee-proof hummingbird feeder.
- Keep your garden and flowers a distance from your house.
- Keep food and drinks covered to avoid attracting bees.
How do I keep bees away from my balcony?
There are plenty of natural repellents you can use to keep bees away from your balcony. Unsurprisingly, they include some of the plants mentioned above. Citronella candles ( such as these) are a good option, as is peppermint oil ( such as this ). Other options include thyme, fennel or lemongrass oil.
Can You Keep plants on a balcony if you live in a bee zone?
If you live in or near a bee zone, it’s highly advised you avoid keeping potted plants in your balcony. But if you can’t do without plants, you can keep basil, mint, eucalyptus, or pennyroyal because these produce strong, anti-bee scents. 3. Use Essential Oils
What should I do if I have a beehive in my balcony?
If you have had a beehive in your balcony in the past, make sure it is completely removed. Even a tiny scrap of an old hive will attract new bees to the spot. If you find any remnants of old hives, get professional help to clear them and do a thorough cleaning of the area. 2. Avoid Colored Plants in the Balcony
Are bees attracted to a balcony?
Bees are attracted to water, so make sure there’s no water spilled anywhere. Keep the balcony clean and dry at all times. If you have potted plants in the balcony, ensure the soil in the pot is well-drained. Excess moisture will also attract bees flying in search of water during summers.
How do I keep bees away from my patio?
Ground garlic is just as common as cinnamon and you can go buy some from your local grocer right now if you are so inclined. The basic idea is to leave crushed garlic around specific spots near your patio or deck. This is going to tell bees that they need to keep away, and they’re going to want to get pretty far away from the area.
How do you get a bee hive on a balcony?
A hole as small as 1/3 cm (1/8 inch) is good enough for bees to enter and make it their home. Seal any gaps you find using caulk, silicone, a metal screen, or expanding foam. If you have had a beehive in your balcony in the past, make sure it is completely removed. Even a tiny scrap of an old hive will attract new bees to the spot.