Trimming bush w/ Bees

RatLabGuy

RatLabGuy

You look like a monkey and smell like one too
Joined
May 18, 2005
Location
Churchville, MD
Finally got around to trimming the hedges in front of the house yesterday (yes, I know it's the wrong time, but ya do what ya gotta do) and learned one of our azalias has a bee hive in it.
It isn't huge, and they seem to be pretty passive, only noticed b/c there were a couple flying around. Left it alone and all was quiet, came back a bit later and whacked the bush w/ a rake to check it was active and could hear 'em buzzing up.

Any suggestions for how to safely trim the bush? I was thinking maybe come back at night and gently trim w/ hand clippers? Am I playing w/ fire?

In the long run I may have to encourage them to relocate, sicne the bush is right in front of the front door. I'm aware of their place in the ecosystem so I'm not a fan of just spraying to kill em if there's a better solution.
 
What kind are they? I know you said bees but there are a few kinds. Sounds like they are nit too aggressive or you would know. Maybe just carpenter bees and are harmless. Possibly hornets wheras you will need copious amounts of fire. A decent pic of a single soldier or of the hive would suffice.
 
Come back in late January and finish the job.
 
Infamous1 said:
What kind are they? I know you said bees but there are a few kinds. Sounds like they are nit too aggressive or you would know. Maybe just carpenter bees and are harmless. Possibly hornets wheras you will need copious amounts of fire. A decent pic of a single soldier or of the hive would suffice.
Click to expand...
Heres a terrible cell phone pic of the hive.
Its maybe 4-5" in diameter.
Just sneaking up and taking this pic, i dont gear or see any of them.
20200719_191838.jpg
 
That looks like a hornets nest. I'd just go in at night and hose it down with hornet and wasp killer spray. Finish it off the next day and be done with them.

When you said bees, I was thinking of an actual honey bee hive. Those are worth saving.
 
Paper wasps.

Live and let live. 'cept it's by your front door, so I'd give it a shot of wasp spray. And run.
 
Yep, hornets. Fire!
 
When I was in middle school I had one of those hanging in my bedroom that I’d found and gotten down in the winter. Back then I could spot them driving down the road and knew where several were. Now I just realized it’s been years since I seen an actual paper nest like that.

As for yours, I’d probably take it out with wasp spray at night if it were me cause my kid would surely upset them and get stung, and they can be aggressive and sting more than once.
 
Aeresol Wasp spray will kill the foliage of the shrub. You are better off with a pump sprayer with Bifen, or Crosscheck. Adjust the nozzle for long distance and stand as far back as possible and start soaking the nest. Those wasps will tear you up and are very aggressive especially after they start attacking. You don't want to live and let live with these mean bastards around!
 
In college, a buddy had one at his house, and we had a couple paintball guns. You can imagine what happened, haha!
 
Gee. I think I would try to trim the bush with a saw of some scissor, or hair clippers. Trimming it will bees seems very inefficient, and hard on the bees. Not to mention it really scares the hell of the woman.

That being said, those are not bees, they are hornets. Hose them with some hornet killer. Sleep with a clear conscience.
 
Diesel fuel in a garden sprayer for the win.
 
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