If you’ve noticed large, shiny bees hovering near your wooden structures, you’re likely dealing with carpenter bees. Protecting your home and garden from their drilling doesn’t require harsh chemicals, as you can use plants that repel carpenter bees to naturally deter these insects. This method is safe, sustainable, and adds beauty to your landscape.
Let’s look at how this works. Carpenter bees bore into wood to create nests. While they are important pollinators, the damage to decks, eaves, and fences can be significant. The goal isn’t to harm them, but to encourage them to nest elsewhere. Certain plants produce strong scents or oils that these bees find unpleasant, creating a natural barrier around your vulnerable wood.
Plants That Repel Carpenter Bees
This list focuses on plants known for their strong aromatic qualities. Planting them near your home’s wooden elements can create a pleasant-smelling for you but effective deterrent for the bees. Remember, consistency is key—plant them in clusters for the best effect.
1. Citronella Grass (and Lemongrass)
You probably know citronella for keeping mosquitoes away. Its strong citrus scent, from compounds like citronellal, is also very effective against carpenter bees. They tend to avoid the powerful aroma.
- How to Use: Plant in pots or beds near patios, deck railings, or pergolas.
- Care Needs: It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. It’s a perennial in warm climates but can be grown as an annual elsewhere.
- Bonus: You can crush a few leaves to release more scent on calm days.
2. Mint
Mint is a powerhouse repellent. Its intense, refreshing smell comes from menthol, which overwhelms many insects sensory cues, including carpenter bees. Be warned: mint is invasive.
- How to Use: Always plant mint in containers to control its spread. Place these pots near door frames, on decks, or under eaves.
- Care Needs: It prefers partial to full sun and consistent moisture.
- Bonus: You get a fresh supply for cooking and teas!
- How to Use: Plant lavender along foundations, near wooden fences, or in sunny garden borders adjacent to your house.
- Care Needs: It requires full sun and excellent drainage. It’s drought-tolerant once established.
- How to Use: Interplant garlic cloves among your flowers or in vegetable beds near wooden structures.
- Care Needs: Plant cloves in the fall for a summer harvest. They need full sun.
- Bonus: You’ll also harvest fresh garlic!
- How to Use: Use them as a colorful border planting around decks, porches, or along shed walls.
- Care Needs: They love full sun and are very easy to grow from seed or transplants.
- How to Use: In warm climates, plant the shrub/tree at a safe distance from structures. In cooler areas, grow in pots you can move seasonally.
- Care Needs: Requires full sun and well-drained soil. You can also hang dried eucalyptus bundles.
- How to Use: Plant between patio pavers, in rock gardens near your house, or in window boxes.
- Care Needs: It needs full sun and light, well-drained soil. It’s very drought-resistant.
- Paint or Stain Wood: Carpenter bees strongly prefer untreated, weathered wood. A simple coat of paint or stain is one of the best deterrents.
- Use Citrus or Almond Oil Sprays: Mix a few drops of essential oil (like citrus or bitter almond) with water and spray directly on wood surfaces. Reapply after rain.
- Install Decoy Nests: Provide untreated pine or cedar wood blocks away from your house to give bees an alternative nesting site they’ll prefer.
- Planting Too Sparsely: One lavender plant won’t do it. Use groups of three or more of the same plant for a stronger scent signal.
- Neglecting Plant Health: A struggling mint plant won’t produce strong oils. Meet the basic sun and water needs of your chosen plants.
- Forgetting to Refresh Scents: The aroma is your weapon. Gently rustle leaves daily to boost the repellent effect.
- Ignoring Existing Nests: Plants deter new nesting but won’t drive out established bees. For existing holes, consider non-toxic bee dust after dark or consult a professional.
3. Lavender
While loved by honeybees and butterflies, carpenter bees find the potent fragrance of lavender to be to strong. The essential oils in the flowers and foliage act as a natural repellent.
4. Garlic
Planting garlic is a two-for-one strategy. The strong sulfur compounds released by the plant deter a range of pests, including our wood-boring friends. The smell is subtle to us but effective for insects.
5. Marigolds
These cheerful flowers emit a distinct scent from their foliage that many insects avoid. They contain pyrethrum, a compound used in many natural insect repellents.
6. Eucalyptus
The strong, camphor-like smell of eucalyptus oil is a major deterrent. The leaves are packed with aromatic compounds that linger in the air.
7. Thyme
This hardy herb, especially the creeping varieties, releases a pungent scent when brushed against or crushed. It’s a great low-growing option for planting in cracks or along pathways near wood.
How to Use These Plants Strategically
Simply planting them anywhere won’t give you the best results. You need a plan. Follow these steps for a effective defense system.
Step 1: Identify Problem Areas
Walk around your property. Look for existing carpenter bee holes (perfect, half-inch openings with sawdust below) and note all untreated, unpainted wood surfaces. These are your target zones.
Step 2: Create a Plant Barrier
Concentrate your repellent plants within 3-5 feet of these target zones. The goal is to saturate the air with scent. Use a mix of tall plants (eucalyptus, lemongrass) and low growers (thyme, mint in pots) for layered protection.
Step 3: Maintain for Maximum Scent
Healthy, thriving plants produce the strongest oils. Water appropriately, provide enough sun, and gently brush against or prune your plants regularly to release their aromas. This is especially helpful on warm, still days when bees are most active.
Step 4: Combine with Other Natural Methods
Plants work best as part of a multi-layered approach. Alongside your planting, consider these tactics:
Why This Natural Approach is Better
Choosing plants over pesticides protects the environment and your family. Carpenter bees, despite being a nusiance, are native pollinators. By repelling them naturally, you avoid harming other beneficial insects like butterflies and honeybees. You also create a healthier garden ecosystem and avoid introducing toxic chemicals to your outdoor living spaces.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Even with good intentions, a few errors can reduce your success. Watch out for these pitfalls.
FAQ: Your Questions Answered
What smells do carpenter bees hate the most?
They are particularly repelled by strong citrus (lemongrass, citronella), pungent herbal (mint, thyme), and bitter almond scents. These overwhelm their sense of smell.
Will planting these harm other pollinators?
No. Most of these plants, like lavender and thyme, are actually excellent for honeybees and butterflies. Carpenter bees are specifically deterred by the strength of the aroma, while other pollinators are still attracted to the flowers.
How quickly will I see results?
It’s not instant. As your plants establish and grow, their scent output increases. You may notice a reduction in new bee activity within a few weeks to a month during the active season (spring and summer).
Can I just use essential oils instead of plants?
Yes, oils can be a good supplement. You can make a spray with citrus or peppermint oil and water to apply directly to wood. However, this requires frequent reapplication. Using the living plants provides a constant, low-maintenance source of these repellent oils.
What if the bees are already in my wood?
Plants are primarily a preventive and deterrent strategy. For active nests, you may need to address them directly using appropriate, targeted methods like filling old holes with wood putty in the fall when the bees are gone. Always consider contacting a eco-friendly pest service for large infestations.
Using plants that repel carpenter bees is a smart, long-term gardening strategy. It integrates pest management right into your landscape design. By choosing the right aromatic plants and placing them strategically, you can protect your wooden structures while fostering a vibrant, healthy garden. Start with a few pots of mint or lavender near your deck this season, and observe the difference it makes. With patience and this natural approach, you can enjoy a bee-friendly yard without the unwanted wood damage.