Author Topic: spraying round up in front of hives (Read 5066 times)

FordGuy · « **on:** July 13, 2005, 02:25:20 am »

does it harm the bees? need to kill some weeds...

FrogPond · « **Reply #1 on:** July 13, 2005, 07:10:23 am »

It should not affect the bees. But do you need to spray? The older I get, the less I like using chemicals. Sigh... In any event, we use a lot of it on my dad's farm (conventional agriculture). Just make sure there is no wind and mix according to directions. Use as little as possible and I would do it in the evening when the bees are in.

Roundup is a glyphosate and will be absorbed in to the plant over the evening. The product disrupts the action of a specific enzyme in plants. The manufacturer claims it is safe for people and animals, but as I am sure you are aware, it is a non-selective herbacide and kills darn near every plant.

Good luck, but I would encourgae you to reconsider. Monsanto, however, thanks you. :?

FordGuy · « **Reply #2 on:** July 13, 2005, 10:17:54 am »

I'm with you on this - but let me clarify - I mowed with the bush hog as close as the bees would allow, but I have some dill and other weeds that are growing up around the hives - (don't own a weed eater). My concern was that the surrounding weeds are an obstruction of the entrance, as well as keeping moisture in the hive, and allowing fungus to grow on underside, and by eradicating them I could perhaps make the ground less attractive to pests such as roaches, SHB, moth larvae.

thomashton · « **Reply #3 on:** July 13, 2005, 10:22:39 am »

I've heard that keeping chickens in the area will take care of it. Plus if you have an open screened bottom board they will pick up the mites that fall off. That is somehting I am planning on doing next spring unless anyone else has ideas to the contrary.

Any experience with this?

Michael Bush · « **Reply #4 on:** July 13, 2005, 10:25:36 am »

There's the OTHER reason I prefer only a top entrance (other than ventilation, not having to dig the snow out in the winter, keeping the mice out, stopping the skunks, possums etc.). I never mow around the hives and the bees can get out just fine.

I don't like to spray chemicals at all.

Roundup shouldn't hurt the bees especially if you spray it at night. If you must.

bassman1977 · « **Reply #5 on:** July 13, 2005, 10:52:40 am »

Another alternative to spraying is using weed and feed (granular stuff). I threw a bunch down by my hive and since I intentionally over did it, it burned the weeds. That was in April and I still don't have any traces of plant life around the hive. The bees weren't affected at all.

Jerrymac · « **Reply #6 on:** July 13, 2005, 11:35:31 am »

Who was it mentioned the Santa Clause method?

Hoe Hoe Hoe

bassman1977 · « **Reply #7 on:** July 13, 2005, 02:11:06 pm »

hehehe Good one

Michael Bush · « **Reply #8 on:** July 13, 2005, 04:51:00 pm »

What is the "Santa Clause" method?

bassman1977 · « **Reply #9 on:** July 13, 2005, 05:02:05 pm »

Hoe hoe hoe. Dig out the weeds.

Joseph Clemens · « **Reply #10 on:** July 13, 2005, 05:06:02 pm »

Another good way to control the weeds is to lay down remnants of old carpets under and around the hives.

bassman1977 · « **Reply #11 on:** July 13, 2005, 05:53:28 pm »

Another thing I forgot to mention is mulch. I did that for the hive I got yesterday.

Jerrymac · « **Reply #12 on:** July 13, 2005, 06:38:54 pm »

Quote from: Michael Bush

What is the "Santa Clause" method?

Michael Bush · « **Reply #13 on:** July 13, 2005, 07:37:47 pm »

lol.... I get it. :) Thanks.

FordGuy · « **Reply #14 on:** July 13, 2005, 11:09:53 pm »

Mr. Bush, so your hives don't have a bottom entrance? can you post a pic so I can see how your bottom board works?

FordGuy · « **Reply #15 on:** July 13, 2005, 11:16:51 pm »

Mr. Bush, so your hives don't have a bottom entrance? can you post a pic so I can see how your bottom board works?

Michael Bush · « **Reply #16 on:** July 13, 2005, 11:42:57 pm »

I have pictures of the top entrances on my web site at www.bushfarms.com

There's nothing to see on the bottom. I took a Brushy Mt. SBB and nailed a one by two in the entrance to permanantly close it.

A few of mine are just slatted rackes with #8 hardware cloth on the bottom.

If I were making one from scratch, I suppose I could make a 3/4" shim the size of a hive with #8 hardware cloth on the bottom.