While bees can be a useful insect to have in and around your garden or orchard, few individuals want them buzzing around their deck or balcony when they are trying to enjoy a relaxing time outdoors.

There are a variety of ways to prevent bees from overtaking your deck, porch, or balcony. These can be with changes in potted plants nearby, burning candles, or using natural or chemical repellents.

Remove Fragrant Plants

Fragrant flowers on your balcony can be a definite way to draw bees to your area. Brightly colored blooms, pleasant or sweet odors, and other plants that produce pollen are desirable plants for bees to visit.

These plants can include a wide range of popular potted plants you may have on your balcony such as lavender, coneflowers, zinnia, lilacs, phlox, pansies, peonies, and more.

If your balcony overhangs other wildflowers, this can also draw bees to the area. These plants can include sunflowers, black-eyed susan, asters, dahlias, daisies, milkweed, poppies, lupine, hyssop, nasturtiums, goldenrod, and more.

If you have any of these plants around your balcony, deck, or porch, it’s almost certain that bees and other insects may be close by.

Grow Herbs

If you love having potted plants on your balcony and don’t want to do away with them entirely, there are a number of herbs you can grow which will provide a stylish look to your balcony while also naturally and safely repelling bees.

Some of the best bee repelling herbs to have growing on your balcony include pennyroyal, citronella, peppermint, basil, lemongrass, and eucalyptus. If you want a plant that creates an appealing odor for you to enjoy as well, peppermint and basil are a great choice.

Try to avoid mint, thyme, oregano, rosemary, or chives as these herbs will attract bees and other insects instead of repel them.

Use Repellants

There are a variety of natural repellants you can use that are safe for the environment and also successful at sending bees buzzing off in another direction.

Sprinkling cinnamon around your balcony can be a simple way to repel bees and many other insects without harming them or the environment. Garlic can also have the same effect, and can be sprinkled in powder form, or you can make a spray with garlic and water or vinegar to spritz around the balcony.

Citronella oil is another very popular option, but if you can’t find citronella or choose not to use it, cedarwood, eucalyptus, or clove oil can also be used instead. However, these oils should not be in a place where pets or children have access as clove oil especially can be toxic to dogs, cats, and other small pets.

Baby oil is a safe option to consider as well, and can be spritzed around the balcony or left in small bowls in out-of-the-way areas of the balcony. Baby oil is also suitable for spraying on your skin to prevent bee stings, ant bites, or other insect nuisances.