August Beekeeping

The feast of St. Bartholomew on August 24th was traditionally the day honey was harvested each year. Traditions change but it does mark the end of the beekeeping season - summer may linger on but the beekeeping season will soon be over. Plan and prepare now for the end of season jobs but Janus like, the end of one season is also the time to look at what can be learned from the season past whilst looking forward and plan for the new season ahead.

 

Queen bees will be reducing their laying now but it is not unusual for them to continue at a maximum rate if the weather provides a continued income of nectar.

The population of Varroa mites could double over the month so mite drops should be monitored and treatments applied if indicated.

See Bee Health, Varroa Control

Drone brood might still be present and possibly queen cells too so swarming is still possible, known as 'Blackberry Swarms' at this time of year.

 

It is always heart warming to see pollen being brought back home. There is also a lot that can be learned from identifying the pollen loads to determine what flowers the bees are working in your area - local knowledge is important.

 

Now is the time to have the equipment ready that may be needed for honey harvesting, uncapping, extraction and bottling.

See Honey, Beeswax Processing

Harvest any surplus honey and then start feeding for winter whilst the weather is still warm and the bees are still busy.

See Bee Feeding, Health

 

Reduce the size of entrances to guard against intruders.

Wasps robbing beehives can be a problem at this time of year.

See Bee Hive Entrance Blocks, Escapes

Secure the roof against the wind if necessary.

See Bee Hive Hardware

Ensure the hive is in good order to be left.

All that is left to do is to ensure any spare equipment is sterilised and stored away.

 

Summer flowering herbs such as lavender, rosemary and mint for examples are always good nectar sources for all insects.

Late summer flowers of the daisy family are all good additions to any garden, providing nectar and pollen when little else is available.

Choose single flowering varieties, not doubles, such as Asters (Michaelmas Daisies), Rudbeckia, Calendula (Marigolds) and Dahlias.

Any planting for bees is best done in drifts if possible, as in nature, a few plants may not provide the attractant needed for the bees to find them.

 

Summer flowers such as the Clovers and Brambles provide lots of nectar and pollen but are now finishing.

Late summer flowers such as Ericas and Calluna (Heaths and Heathers) will still be in bloom in some areas.

Experienced beekeepers will always have an eye on the forecasts and the forage to anticipate possible honey flows and the consequent need for space in the hive.

Extra Shallow boxes can often be filled when standard supers are not so try Extra Shallow for snatch cropping and honeycomb production. This can be great way to taste those honeys that only have small nectar flows.

See Extra Shallow Box, Heather Super

 

N.B. Remember that every year is different, every locality is different and no two colonies are the same so every hive should be treated as an individual and managed accordingly.