The world of beekeeping is both exciting and rewarding. You’re sure to feel the buzz when you pull on your beekeeping suit and go check on your honey bees for the first time. Before you can start a sweet career in beekeeping, though, you must set up a safe and functional apiary. While your honey bees will maintain their hive, it’s up to you to ensure the surrounding area is full of safe and abundant resources. Furthermore, you need to protect your apiary against extreme temperatures, harsh weather, and local predators. Give your honey bees a happy home with these tips for choosing the perfect beehive location.
The Essentials
When searching for a place to set up your apiary, it’s important to scout out the essentials. Your honey bees will need plenty of flowers nearby. A safe, clean water source is also crucial. If you can, choose an area that has a natural windbreak. Trees or bushes are great for blocking the worst of the wind and keeping your hives safe, but you can also make your own windbreak by placing hay bales or a solid fence around your apiary. This will help keep the wind from chilling your colonies or toppling hives. Finally, one of the best tips for choosing the perfect beehive location is to make sure you have space to move around your hives. You must be able to reach your hives and perform your inspections without feeling cramped or uncomfortable.
Safety Precautions
Your bees’ safety is important. The right apiary location can help keep them out of hazardous situations. If you live around other people, be sure to place your hives away from major paths or sidewalks so that your honey bees don’t bother your neighbors (and vice versa). You should also avoid using pesticides on any nearby plants. If your neighbors keep flowers or vegetable gardens, ask them to avoid using pesticides as well, as these are toxic to visiting pollinators such as your bees. Finally, protect your apiary against local predators—especially if you live in a rural area. Sturdy fencing, nail traps, and other solutions can keep critters out and protect your honey bees.
