Best Bee Safe Weed Killer

Are you a gardener who loves greenery-but have some areas you would prefer to be weed free. If so, you are in for a challenge. This is especially true if you are a lover of pollinators. Finding a bee safe weed killer that takes care of the problem with few residual effects is not easy. Can you have a bee friendly garden and still practice weed control? Yes, it is possible with a bit of research and persistence.

Finding a Weed Killer Safe for Bees

In general, weeds are good for bees, try to leave a few when you can. Most of them flower and produce nectar, pollen or both for our winged pollinators. They can also help retain soil and prevent erosion.

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But, not everyone wants a carpet of wild weeds all over the garden. That’s perfectly okay. If you want to choose what is growing in your yard or garden, some type of weed control will be necessary.

As you look for strategies to control unruly weeds, please consider the safety of visiting insects and birds. Chemicals that kill weeds are called “herbicides”. But, they can become “pesticides” – chemicals that kill insects too.

Herbicides are often applied in pellet form or spray and are quick and easy. But, they sometimes do more harm than we know.

Chemicals do not always kill bees right away. Yet, poisons taken back to the hive can wipe out the next generation of brood-resulting in a dead colony.

Even those hives that survive can suffer a higher bee mortality rate due to exposure. The same is true for native bees that are exposed to poison.

Why are Commercial Herbicides so Popular?

Commercial weed killers have grown in popularity due to their ease of use. They can be purchased in a concentrated form and diluted with water to cover a large area.

Most of them work well when used according to the label and some control weeds with 1 day of application. However, there is increasing concern about the effects of their use on our environment. 

Is our soil and water suffering contamination that then leads to an unsafe food chain? Many people think so.

The good news is you do not have to rely on commercial products to reduce the number of weeds in your landscape. 

There are other ways to control unwanted vegetation. No, they may not be as fast or easy – but they will work.

Roundup or Glyphosate

Any article pertaining to the use of weed or grass killers must contain a mention of glyphosate, the most widely used herbicide in the world. It is commonly known as Roundup-but Roundup (a brand name) contains other chemicals too.

Glyphosate is a broad spectrum systemic herbicide. It is listed as the primarily active ingredient in many weed control products. The manufacturer maintains that it is safe when used as directed. 

Yet, many studies have suggested serious negative effects on bees (and maybe ourselves) from the use of this product in our environment.

According to a study by the University of Texas, glyphosate kills beneficial bacteria in the bee’s gut. This results in sick unhealthy bees.

Planning your garden design well with groupings of plants that feed bees placed close together can reduce the room for weeds to flourish.

The most effective bee safe weed killer is your two hands and a hoe. The time-honored method of pulling weeds is one way to remove them from the yard.

Honestly, a determined gardener with a hoe is the most bee friendly way to kill weeds that you will find. Some homeowners use a special propane torch to kill weeds when fire danger is not a problem.

But, I realize that this is not always practical. Some people do not have the physical ability or time to weed their garden by hand.

Another important tool is good use of mulch. A thick mulch coat can smother many small weeds and result in less need to use chemicals. 

I like to use mulch along with a granular herbicide to prevent weeds for a bit. While not an inert product, the danger to bees is minimal if the herbicide is used as directed.

DIY Vinegar Weed Killers

Another option, is the use of bee friendly weed killers that are safe for the environment. However, these also should be used with restraint and only as much as is needed to control undesirable vegetation.

White vinegar or apple cider vinegar are popular ingredients in several homemade weed killer sprays. Either regular or Epsom salt can be added to increase efficacy.

Just because they use common household ingredients – don’t think they are not strong. Use them with care and take the same precautions as you would with other chemicals.

Can you really use vinegar in the garden to kill vegetation? Sure it does work. Does it wipe things out quickly in a “one and done” style like glyphosate? No, it will need to be repeated – perhaps several times.

This is an effective way to kills weeds and relatively inexpensive. Spray late in the day when most bees have stopped foraging. 

Avoid spraying anything that may harm bees during the morning or mid-day. The worker bees are gathering plant nectar from many flowers during this time.

They are also gathering pollen that is needed to feed baby bees. Spray late in the day when most of the foraging has stopped.

A mix can be stored and used again within a few weeks. You will need to repeat application throughout the summer as more weeds will return. In truth, natural sprays don’t seem to work as long as commercial mixtures.

Corn Gluten for Weed Control

Another bee safe weed control involves the use of corn gluten. Available in pellets, powder or granules it is a byproduct from the milling of corn. 

While it won’t kill existing weeds, it does a pretty good job of preventing new weed seeds from sprouting. And as always, when using any type of herbicide avoid getting it on desirable vegetation.  

Bee Safe Weed Killers for Lawn Care

Safely controlling weeds in a lawn calls for a different approach. It can be difficult to kill the green weed and not damage the green grass. One person’s weed is another person’s flower after all.

One of the most popular options – even for lawns is corn gluten meal. This can be a bee, kid and dog safe way to reduce weeds. However, it must be used properly to get good results.

You can find several commercial products labeled as weed killers safe for bees to use on your lawns. 2,4-D and Atrazine are two herbicides studies show to be safe for use in areas with bees.

Each manufacturer has a slightly different ingredient profile – read the label carefully before using. Products such as these have labels with a lot of information in tiny print that we may not always understand. However, they do contain information about their toxicity to bees.

Most homeowners spend at least a part of their Summer season in a battle against weeds. I encourage everyone to try to set aside areas for natural plant growth to help pollinating insects. 

Some weeds – even dandelions provide much needed food for bees and other pollinators. Leaving them for a few weeks in early Spring can be a significant help to growing bee colonies.

For those locations that really need some weed control, consider trying some of these natural controls: weed by hand, mulch or whip up a simple recipe to spray on unwanted plants.

Any time you use chemicals you must consider possible danger to the ecosystem. Take care when spraying weeds or even trying to keep bees away from your hummingbird feeders. You may be doing more harm than you realize.