How To Keep Bees Out of Your Yard

Your yard should be a safe space for all your family to enjoy. Unfortunately, a bee infestation can make it difficult to appreciate this area of your home and leave you wanting to spend all your time inside!

Thankfully, there are several simple ways to get rid of bees from your front or back yard. However, if these methods don’t work or you want to remove bees quickly, we recommend contacting a professional pest control company like Pest Shield.

Plant Bee-Repellent Plants

Several plants native to Maryland and Northern Virginia act as natural bee deterrents, meaning you don’t need to spend money on harsh insecticides from the store. These plants include:

  • Marigolds
  • Mint
  • Geraniums

All of the above have a strong scent that might repel bees in your yard, making them want to go elsewhere!

Don’t Leave Food or Beverages Outdoors

There’s nothing better than having a picnic or barbeque in your yard in the summer months. However, preparing and eating food outside can attract bees, especially if that food has a sweet smell. (Think candy and chocolate!)

To avoid a bee infestation, we recommend disposing of any food and drink after consuming it in your yard. For example, throw open soda cans away rather than leaving them on tables.

Avoid Certain Colors

While bees have limited vision, they can see certain color wavelengths, including greens, blues, and violets. So you might want to avoid wearing clothes with these colors when relaxing in your yard.

The same goes for flowers with green, blue, or violet petals. These plants might attract bees to your yard and encourage them to stick around!

Use Garlic Spray

Garlic is a natural bee repellent that won’t cause harm to your pets or family like more potent store-bought insecticides. You can spray garlic on plants that bees feed on or around any nest sites if you find them!

It’s easy to make a garlic spray. All you need is minced garlic, dish soap, mineral oil, and water:

  1. Add four cloves of minced garlic to a small amount of mineral oil and let it sit for a day or so.
  2. Strain the minced garlic and place the oil and a drop of dish soap in a glass of water.
  3. Pour your mixture into a spray bottle.

Hire a Professional Pest Control Expert

The best way to get rid of bees from your yard is to work with a pest control specialist like Pest Shield. We can inspect your home, determine the source of your bee infestation, and customize the right treatments and solutions based on your budget and needs.

Why choose us? We’re the top-rated pest control management company in Maryland, according to HomeAdvisor. Plus, our team has protected military bases in Afghanistan and Iraq against disease-carrying pests.

Let us remove bees from your yard the right way! Click here to book a FREE inspection, or contact us at (301) 829-0060.

Excellent rating
Based on 346 reviews
Trustindex star 1Trustindex star 2Trustindex star 3Trustindex star 4Trustindex star 5
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Very professional and quick service. Troy is extremely professional and very nice. He treated our underground yellow jacket wasp nest which was also behind a short stone wall. He inspected where the infestation was occurring and promptly treated the area. It is great that he offered a 30 day guarantee so if there is any sighting of these wasps he will return and treat the area again. If you are looking for a professional pest removal company, I would not hesitate and call Troy at Pest Shield. In addition, he was so kind to get our lawnmower out of the shed so we could mow our grass since we did not want to drag the mower close by the infested area for the fear of getting stung We are so appreciative for everything.
Monica Maditz profile picture
26 October 2026
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
I can't say enough good things about Pest Shield and the service we received from Rob! We had a pretty serious yellow jacket infestation in one of our bedrooms, with dozens of yellow jackets actually breaking through the ceiling. Needless to say, we were very concerned and needed help quickly. I called Pest Shield at 9:00 AM on a Sunday morning, and I was pleasantly surprised to receive a call back from Rob, one of the owners, within five minutes. After I explained what was happening, Rob came out within the hour to take care of the problem. From the moment he arrived, Rob was extremely professional, knowledgeable, and reassuring. He took the time to explain exactly what he was going to do, how yellow jackets behave, and how his treatment would eliminate the infestation and help prevent them from coming back. It was clear that he knew exactly what he was doing and genuinely cared about solving the problem. The treatment was completed in about an hour, and the price was very reasonable, especially considering the quick response on a Sunday and the severity of the situation. When you have dozens of yellow jackets coming through your ceiling, you want someone who will answer the phone, show up quickly, know what they're doing, and give you confidence that the problem is being handled properly. Pest Shield checked every box. I highly recommend Pest Shield to anyone dealing with pests. Great service, fair pricing, fast response, and excellent professionalism. Thank you, Rob, for coming to our rescue!
Alan Haddaway profile picture
13 September 2026
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Troy replied quickly - easy to deal with and removed a significant hornet nest safely. Highly recommended.
Ross Zirkle profile picture
30 August 2026
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Troy was great in treating a yellow jacket nest in our wall. Timely, efficient, and reasonably priced. Would definitely use Pest Shield again.
Bilbo profile picture
22 August 2026
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Awesome service. Large aggressive bald faced hornet nest removed. Done professionally and expeditiously.
Eric Thorndike profile picture
17 August 2026
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Troy inspected my home carefully, made a recommendation, gave me a bid and did the work competently. He explained the termite life cycle n how the pesticide treatment worked. He indicated they may swarm again but after 90 days all evidence of live termites should be gone. He explained his warranty n yearly inspection.
Jim Ferrant profile picture
6 May 2026
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Great expertise. Very professional and thorough. I would highly recommend.
Joe Siegle profile picture
26 April 2026
HomeAdvisor star 1HomeAdvisor star 2HomeAdvisor star 3HomeAdvisor star 4HomeAdvisor star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Home Advisor.
Control or Inspect for Termites I was deeply impressed by the expertise and professionalism of Troy and Jeff. They have great knowledge about the biology and behavior of termites as well as years of experience working with residential customers. They knew exactly what needed to be done, were on time, worked hard, and patiently answered any questions I had. Having them do the job gave me great confidence that my pest problem will be promptly resolved.
Joe S profile picture
25 April 2026
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Troy is the best! As realtors, we work with Pest Inspectors a LOT and have had issues with multiple companies being wrong or missing some sort of infestation. Troy is the ONLY guy we can always trust will do an amazing job. He is quick to respond and usually can get the job done very quickly! We really appreciate you!
Camille Dixon profile picture
8 December 2025
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Look no further. They offer free initial inspections. Robert from Pest Shield came out and quickly developed a plan to solve our yellow jacket problem. His advice provided quick and complete eradication of the yellow jackets and a plan for any future concern. Pest Shield offered the honest and pressure free service we appreciate. Pest Shield is now our “go to” for any future pest control issue.
Karen M profile picture
22 September 2025
Request a Free Pest Inspection

With over 60 years of combined experience, Pest Shield, Inc. can solve you pest problems once and for all. Fill out the form below for a free, no-obligation inspection.