Preventing Bees from Pollinating Citrus Trees

**jmschmidt1** · 03-21-2011, 05:51 PM

Anyone know of something that can be sprayed on citrus trees to prevent bees from pollinating the trees in a residential yard? Want to preserve fruit production so don't want to do anything to harm the flowers...and netting is difficult and expensive. Basically looking for a repellent that won't harm the trees or bees...just keep them away from the self pollinating trees...

**Ted Kretschmann** · 03-21-2011, 06:50 PM

Oh my darlin, oh my darlin, oh my darling clementine--

TK

**Panhandle Scott** · 03-21-2011, 07:02 PM

OK, had to double check to make sure my calender did not say April 1st.

Don't worry the mud slides will cover and protect your tree from the awful bees.

**beeware10** · 03-21-2011, 07:09 PM

someone needs a talk about the birds and the bees.

**idav5d** · 03-21-2011, 07:10 PM

Put a 5 gallon bucket of orange blossom honey in front of each tree you want to protect.put enough sticks,or packing peanuts across the to so that the bees don't drown,and they'll stay too busy with the honey to pollinate the trees...

**waynesgarden** · 03-21-2011, 07:11 PM

While you didn't literally stumble into a hornet's nest, this is a beekeeping forum so, if help is not as forthcoming as you might expect, the topics discussed here are generally about how to increase pollen and nectar collection by our bees. Your's is the first I've seen seeking advice as to how to take food from the mouths of our babies.

On a more practical note though, you might try contacting your local Cooperative Extention office. They might be able to help you.

Wayne

........Dreadful sorry, Clementine.

**Michael Palmer** · 03-21-2011, 07:13 PM

Call a lawyer and suit the beekeeper. Oh yeah. They already tried that.

**AmericasBeekeeper** · 03-21-2011, 07:17 PM

Are you concerned about your trees? your fruit? Do you know anything about fruit set and bees/pollinators on self-pollinating plants?

**fish_stix** · 03-21-2011, 07:22 PM

Dang! I've got numerous grove owners begging for bees. What is this all about? Citrus is wind pollinated but they do get a 10-15% increase in fruit set with bees, so I'm told.

**TxFirefighter** · 03-21-2011, 07:50 PM

Someone NOT wanting bees to pollenate something? This is a first for me.

**jmschmidt1** · 03-21-2011, 10:07 PM

Thank you, all, for your replies. The reason I posed the question is because I am trying to figure out why my tangerine trees that are supposed to have very few seeds are full of seeds. A couple of articles I have read have said that over pollination by bees is the likely cause. Appreciate any/all suggestions. My local nursery said try Neem Oil...bees don't like that and it might keep them away. I was also told that commercial growers have methods to handle this situation...now just trying to figure out how growers produce "seedless" tangerines and I cannot (and I am talking same variety).

**jjgbee** · 03-21-2011, 10:52 PM

The clementine varity tangarine does produce seeds when bee pollinated. The only remedy in so. cal. is to net the tree. I would also suggest planting a new tree of a diffrent variety that is not affected by bee pollination if netting is too much trouble.

**jmschmidt1** · 03-21-2011, 11:11 PM

Thanks. Actually, the subject tree is a Satsuma Mandarin...supposedly very few seeds...but not in my yard...Netting is definitely an option, but hoping for an altnerative..

**dixiebooks** · 03-22-2011, 08:10 AM

Originally Posted by TxFirefighter

Someone NOT wanting bees to pollenate something? This is a first for me.

My parents and brother propagate daylilies. They "cross" them by hand - a known flower with another known flower - and do not want bees around mixing things up. However, I think they are beginning to realize it their opposition to honeybees is futile. There are more than enough bumblers and other buzzers to do the crossing for them. They've finally beginning to see that a hive would help in their vegetable garden. -james