Beekeeping: How to Get Started
Discover what all the buzz is about and how you can take up this rewarding hobby in your own backyard
Bees play a vital role in the human food chain, pollinating many of our fruits, vegetables, nuts and flowers. With the bee population in serious decline globally – a phenomenon known as colony collapse disorder – it is more important than ever to give consideration to these amazing creatures. There are plenty of benefits to beekeeping, both for the keeper and the environment. Here are some tips to get you started.
Location, location
Rooftops are popular in urban areas, though they can become quite hot over the summer months. Choose a dry, sunny spot out of the wind – using an awning or shade cloth if necessary – with a flightpath that allows the bees to avoid doors, footpaths and high-traffic areas.
No-fail plants for a balcony garden
Rooftops are popular in urban areas, though they can become quite hot over the summer months. Choose a dry, sunny spot out of the wind – using an awning or shade cloth if necessary – with a flightpath that allows the bees to avoid doors, footpaths and high-traffic areas.
No-fail plants for a balcony garden
Collecting honey
While it’s tempting to open the hive regularly, this can make bees stressed and unsettled, and sometimes cause them to leave. Once every few weeks is usually enough to check up on your hive and extract honey with minimal disturbance, with the best time being in the late afternoon to allow the bees to settle overnight.
Tip: Many claim raw honey that hasn’t been heat-treated is full of healthy vitamins, minerals and enzymes – not to mention it’s free and makes a great gift.
While it’s tempting to open the hive regularly, this can make bees stressed and unsettled, and sometimes cause them to leave. Once every few weeks is usually enough to check up on your hive and extract honey with minimal disturbance, with the best time being in the late afternoon to allow the bees to settle overnight.
Tip: Many claim raw honey that hasn’t been heat-treated is full of healthy vitamins, minerals and enzymes – not to mention it’s free and makes a great gift.
Swarming
After you’ve had bees for a while the colony can outgrow its hive, resulting in swarming. Don’t be alarmed! This is a natural occurrence that isn’t as scary as it sounds. Basically, the old queen leaves the colony with some of the workers and the hive raises a new queen – thus creating two colonies.
Researching baiting options when you start out – for example, providing an empty hive nearby for bees on the move – will help you prepare for when this happens, allowing you to catch a swarm and start a new hive.
After you’ve had bees for a while the colony can outgrow its hive, resulting in swarming. Don’t be alarmed! This is a natural occurrence that isn’t as scary as it sounds. Basically, the old queen leaves the colony with some of the workers and the hive raises a new queen – thus creating two colonies.
Researching baiting options when you start out – for example, providing an empty hive nearby for bees on the move – will help you prepare for when this happens, allowing you to catch a swarm and start a new hive.
Growing a bee-friendly garden
Planting a bee-friendly garden will help to support the bees in your area – they love purple flowers such as borage, lavender and rosemary, so plant these in abundance.
Avoid using toxic chemicals in your garden, including pesticides, fungicides and, in particular, Confidor, which contains neonicotinoids – a chemical insecticide contributing to the decline of bees worldwide. Instead, use natural pest management strategies and products that are certified organic.
Read more about beekeeping
Planting a bee-friendly garden will help to support the bees in your area – they love purple flowers such as borage, lavender and rosemary, so plant these in abundance.
Avoid using toxic chemicals in your garden, including pesticides, fungicides and, in particular, Confidor, which contains neonicotinoids – a chemical insecticide contributing to the decline of bees worldwide. Instead, use natural pest management strategies and products that are certified organic.
Read more about beekeeping
Pro tips
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- Bees use water to keep the hive cool, so leave out a dish, especially in summer when bees might collect half a litre or more to regulate the temperature.
- Checking for disease is a vital part of keeping bees healthy. To learn about how to do this, attend a course, join a beekeeping association or research online.
- All beekeepers in NSW, for example, must be registered with the NSW Department of Primary Industries, or may otherwise face fines and the destruction of your hives if disease is present. Rules vary between Australian states and territories, and between regions throughout New Zealand, so check before you set yourself up as an apiarist.
Tell us
Do you keep bees? Share your tips for budding beekeepers in the Comments below.
More
Browse more garden design ideas
A colony of bees (a hive) can house as many as 50,000 bees, depending on the season. This might sound overwhelming, but if your hive is well designed and maintained, it will require relatively little work.
Once you’ve decided to keep bees, avoid rushing out to buy a lot of expensive equipment; a minimal approach is best. You’ll need boxes and frames to build your hive, as well as a smoker, hive tool and protective equipment such as a veil, gloves and jacket.