Round up and Bees

[bwallace23350]

Does round up hurt bees when sprayed on weeds near the hive?

[Acebird]

Bees rely on weeds for their survival.  The small amount of weeds around your hive will have no impact.  However the continued use of chemicals eventually finds its way into the water you drink.  The real question is does all the round up in use affect humans?  That starts the argument.

[bwallace23350]

It will be the only chemicals put on the ground around them since I have been alive probably. That does not count other people around us doing things.

[Michael Bush]

There are an awful lot of beekeepers whose bees died right after getting sprayed with round-up... it seems like more than a coincidence.

[bwallace23350]

There are an awful lot of beekeepers whose bees died right after getting sprayed with round-up... it seems like more than a coincidence.

Might just run a weed eater in a beesuit then

[Acebird]

Tarps work.  Anything that shades the sun.

[bwallace23350]

Good idea. Thanks

[paus]

I am using old carpeting under and around the stand and as many feet around the stand as size of carpet permits.  I then mow over the carpet edges after it has settled, so far no problems.  I also sprinkle diatomaceous earth around the edges to get any insect that is going to crawl in it, prime target is larva of SHB.  Sure makes working those hives easier

[Acebird]

I made the mistake of using old carpet because I had access to it free.  It works fantastic for a couple of years.  Then the weeds started to grow through and I had one heck of a time pulling it up because the weft threads rot before the warp threads.  This is after catching the rug in my flail mower.  The warp threads wound around the main shaft and I had 150 blades to untangle.  Never do that again.  If you use a rug don't leave it there year after year.  Replace it every two years.

[paus]

I had wondered about that but I was told all of this was synthetic material.  But sun breaks this down, so I am going to watch this close and thanks for the headsup.

[eltalia]

Back in a past life as a somewhat "migratory beekeeper" we used a rideon(36" Greenfield) before doing a layout, today with what colonies I do keep permanant a hoe keeps it clear. Given we now have SHB @Lat.18 the soil turnover might deny having to use chemical as Confidor (tm) et al.
Indoor/Outdoor carpet *is* synthetic however one tough weed coming through it brings the rest, not good.
Nutgrass is rampant here as is blady grass, both will go through weakened gal.iron sheets!

Cheers.

Bill

[Hops Brewster]

I mow weekly, up to my hives.  I use a string trimmer up to and under my hives about every other week.  without bee gear.  I do it in the morning before they are moving a lot and I haven't been bothered by them yet. 

[BeeMaster2]

I just mowed up against my hives today. I thought today they would bee aggressive because they are very heavy, full of honey. I did not so much as a head bump.
Jim

[JackM]

Roundup will kill bees if they get into it.  Thus if it is sprayed on flowers it is a killer.  I weed wack and the bees don't bother me. 

ALSO you can put down bark mulch which will prevent growth for a few years before needing replenishment

[bwallace23350]

Thanks everyone. Looks like I am going to weed eat early in the morning.

[tycrnp]

We use the weed-eater mid-day. Lots of the bees are out and about, and the ones in the hive don't seem to mind.