Learning About Luxury Real Estate

You're walking through your yard one day, when suddenly you hear a strange buzzing noise. You look up, and to your horror, you spot a large, conical beehive nestled in a tree with numerous bees swarming around it. If this scenario sounds familiar, you've come to the right place. This guide will tell you how to safely remove the beehive from the tree, so you and your family members don't have to worry about stings and swarming bees for the rest of the summer.

Step #1: Wait until the timing is right.

The best time to remove a beehive is in the late winter or early spring, since this is when the bees are the least active. Attempt your removal on a cool day in the afternoon, since this is when more of the bees will be in the hive. You want as many bees as possible to be in the hive on the first day of your removal process, since this means they'll be killed by insecticide.

Step #2: Take the appropriate safety precautions.

Never attempt to remove a bee hive when you are alone. Make sure you have one or more people with you in case of an emergency. You and your helpers should both prepare for the bee hive removal process by dressing in light-colored clothing that covers your arms and legs completely. Tuck your pants into your socks to prevent bees from flying up them. Wear leather gloves to protect your hands, and visit your local home and garden store to find a beekeeper's veil to protect your face.

Step #3: Spray the hive.

Once you are fully dressed, carry a ladder over to the tree, and set it up so that you can reach the hive without standing too dangerously near the top of the ladder. Then, spray the hive with a high-potency insecticide made for killing bees.

Always use an aerosol can of insecticide for this project. It may not be as good for the environment as a trigger spray, but it will reduce your risk of stings by allowing you to spray more quickly. Use the entire can of insecticide, and try to get as much of it inside the hive as possible. If bees come out of the hive, don't panic. Remember, you are dressed to protect yourself from them. They will likely be too stunned by the insecticide to swarm you in large numbers.

Step #4: Undress safely.

Walk away from the beehive, and have your helper look you over to make sure there are no bees on your clothing. Swat any bees away, and wait until they have flown off before undressing.

Step #5: Spray the hive again.

Wait a day, and then put your protective gear back on and repeat step 3 using a second can of insecticide. This will make sure all of the bees are definitely dead before you physically remove the hive.

Step #6: Remove and burn the beehive.

To ensure that the bees do not come back to the hive once the insecticide dissipates, it is best to burn the hive. Do this the day after you apply the second can if insecticide. Put your protective clothing back on before doing so, just in case there are a few lingering bees. You can use hedge clippers to clip the hive off of the branch. Use a shovel to carry it to the fire pit, and burn it completely.

Numerous bee stings can be deadly, especially if you are allergic to bees. If at any time during this process you feel uncomfortable or unsafe, step aside and click here or call a professional pest control company rather than continuing with the bee hive removal yourself. Many pest control specialists have experience removing large hives, and they have the equipment and protective gear on hand to do so safely.