A YEAR IN THE
APIARY

September is a busy month in the apiary as you begin to prepare the hives for the colder months ahead. With the end of summer approaching, it is time to start thinking about winter feeding, Varroa mite treatment, and ensuring the bees have enough stores to make it through the winter. It is also a time to start preparing for next year's honey production. As the weather cools, bee activity slows down, and the colony's focus shifts to preparing for winter. You need to stay on top of these changes and provide the necessary care to ensure the health and survival of you bees.

 

Harvest honey: September is often a busy month for beekeepers as it is usually the time when honey is harvested if you didn't do this in August. Make sure to check your hives for the amount of honey stored and to remove any surplus. It is important to leave enough honey in the hives for the bees to feed on over winter. The bees will need approximately 15 to 20Kg to survive the winter.

 

Feed the bees: You may need to supplement the bees' food supply with sugar syrup or fondant. This is especially important for weaker colonies or newly established hives. Use thick sugar syrup 2:1 ratio and feed through a rapid feeder. 1Kg of granulated sugar will create approximately 1.25Kg of stores. Keep feeding until the temperature drops, usually by the end of September however, don't overfeed. You should be aiming for 15 to 20Kg by the end of October.

 

​​Treat for Varroa mites: If you haven't treated for Varroa in August then this would be the ideal opportunity.

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Managing Weak Colonies: For a colony to survive the winter, it needs to have bees covering at least 5 frames. Weak colonies should either be overwintered and fed in a nucleus box, or, preferably, combined with stronger colonies, provided there are no signs of disease.

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​Prepare for winter: As summer comes to an end, it's important to begin preparing your hives for the colder months ahead. Inspect your hives for any gaps or cracks that could let in drafts and make any necessary repairs.

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Stop weekly hive inspections: This is the time of year when hive inspections do not need to be carried out on a weekly basis.

 

Wasps: Keep the wasp traps out until the end of September.

 

​Reduce entrances: As the weather gets colder, reduce the size of the hive entrance to prevent drafts and to make it easier for the bees to defend the hive against predators.

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Mouse guards: Fit mouse guards.

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Queen excluders: Remove the queen excluders.

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Attend to other tasks: September is also a good time to attend to other tasks in the apiary, such as cleaning and organizing equipment, repairing any damaged hives or frames, checking hive stands for damage, making necessary repair and planning for the next season.

 

Clean the Apiary: This is your last opportunity to cut the grass in the apiary and clear away any vegetation.

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​​Maintain records: Beekeeping records are an important tool to manage colonies effectively and ensure the health and productivity of your bees, don't forget to record your findings.

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​Attend educational events: Attend beekeeping events, such as seminars or conferences, to learn about new techniques and best practices.

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By completing these tasks in September, you can help ensure the health and survival of your colonies through the winter and into the following year.