A Gardeners Forum
Posted By: Thornius CHANGE YOUR NECTAR - August 24th, 2006 at 01:22 PM
It is time to replace your Hummer Nectar! Please, remember to replace any old nectar 3-4 days after putting it out. (This has been a Pubic Service Announcement from Thorns for Better Hummingbirds - TBH)
Posted By: Anonymous Re: CHANGE YOUR NECTAR - August 24th, 2006 at 01:36 PM
Must replace mine tomorrow....thanks Thorny! thumbup

Is there any way at all to keep bees away, I don't think there is but figured I'd ask....I like to hang one feeder on the backporch but then I risk being swarmed and stung to death! sca
Posted By: Thornius Re: CHANGE YOUR NECTAR - August 24th, 2006 at 02:08 PM
Not that I know of. My problem isn't bees and wasps, it's ants!
Posted By: weezie13 Re: CHANGE YOUR NECTAR - August 24th, 2006 at 02:48 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Thornius:
My problem isn't bees and wasps, it's ants!
Grease the pole with some vaseline about 1" or 2"
wide, so they can't travel up the pole.... thumbup
Posted By: Wrennie Re: CHANGE YOUR NECTAR - August 24th, 2006 at 11:36 PM
Bees:
Make a strong h-bird nectar and put it in a bee and wasp jar trap. Remove the hummer feeder for a day or so, so the bees will transfer to the trap. If your feeder has yellow flowers this is what originally attracts the bees/wasps.
Some feeders have tips that can be added on the inside to keep bees from feeding.
Ants:
Vaseline works, have to reapply when it gets dirty.Wont work if its hanging in a tree. There are commercially available ant moats you hang above the feeder & fill with water, bell shaped ones you smear the inside with vaseline, and a premethrine disk one you just open.
Posted By: plants 'n pots Re: CHANGE YOUR NECTAR - August 25th, 2006 at 02:19 AM
I had read about a cheap and easy way to make a bee trap (ahem, loz!!! laugh kissies )!

You take a 2 liter plastic soda bottle.
Cut the top off at the top of the label - the top then looks like a funnel.
Take the label off.
Insert the top upside down into the bottom part - I then staple the 2 pieces together so they stay.
Pour some sweet liquid into the bottle - it can be some of the hummer nectar, some soda works well, sweetened ice tea - you get the idea.
Be sure to leave a couple of inches below the bottle top - if you fill it too high, the bees will be able to get back out.

The bees go into the bottle but cannot fly back out!
It's amazing how well this free trap works!!! thumbup

(I haven't had a bee problem on my feeders this year, or I'd take a picture of a trap - haven't needed one... yet!)
Posted By: Anonymous Re: CHANGE YOUR NECTAR - August 25th, 2006 at 02:50 AM
Way cool Lynne! You know me---cheap, cheap, cheap!!! laugh

I'll have to get a 2 liter of something so I can try this one out thumbup --we only ever have cans!
Posted By: Thornius Re: CHANGE YOUR NECTAR - August 25th, 2006 at 03:04 AM
Loz, Walmart has 2 liter Sam's Cola for 50 cents.
© A Gardeners Forum [Archive]