How do you get ready for the Fall and Winter temperatures?

You have now successfully gotten through the summer and have harvested your honey!

Now is the time to look at two major obstacles that your bees will face going into the Fall and Winter months.

The first obstacle is Varroa.  Have you treated your hive for Varroa?  If not, now is the time to treat, so long as the ambient temperatures are below 90 degrees.  This is a must.  Varroa is the #1 killer of honey bees.  If do not treat your hives, you stand a 70% chance of your hive collapsing in the next 60 days due to Varroa overload within the hive.

A great product to use is FormicPro which is all organic and we have used this product for years with great success.  Be sure to follow the directions carefully!

The second obstacle is keeping your bees warm during the cold Fall and Winter months.  This is the #2 killer of honey bees!  If you are in an area that experiences 30 degree temps or less during the Fall and Winter months, your bees have a high risk of a “freeze out”.  A freeze out is when the bees die due to cold temperatures within the hive.

A great way to ensure the warmth of the hive is with a Winter Hive Blanket.  These blanks are constructed with UV resistant cover to ensure years of use when used properly.  The inside of the hive blanket is R10 insulation that is sealed to retain warmth.  Because the outer cover is black it warm the hive during the day when sunlight is directly on the blanket.  The blanket will also protect the hive from wind chills.  The Winter Hive Blanket is durable and easy to use as you just slip-on the Hive Blanket over the hive and just as easy to remove it.

With proper mite control and reduction of heat loss within the hive, you honey bees will enter the Spring season ready to thrive!