Spring Beekeeping Prep
What You MUST Do Before the Season Starts!
🐝 Spring Beekeeping Prep: What You MUST Do Before the Season Starts! 🌸
Spring is right around the corner, and your bees are getting ready to kick into high gear! But before the nectar starts flowing, it’s our job as beekeepers to set them up for success. The choices you make right now will determine whether your colonies thrive—or struggle—throughout the year.
1. Check for Winter Survivability & Clean Up Deadouts🐝
Open your hives on a warm (50°F+) day and check how many frames of bees have survived.
If a colony is dead, don’t just remove it—figure out why it died! Was it starvation? Disease? High mite loads? Learning from winter losses is key to improving your beekeeping skills.
2. Assess & Feed Your Bees (Only If Needed!)🐝
If your colonies feel light, they may be low on food. In early spring, use pollen patties and 1:1 sugar syrup to support buildup.
However, DON’T OVERFEED! If nectar is available outside, let the bees gather it naturally to prevent unnecessary robbing and swarming later.
3. Evaluate Your Queen’s Strength🐝
A strong colony must have a strong queen. Look for signs of solid, tight brood patterns.
If your queen is failing or weak, requeen ASAP to ensure a healthy buildup before the main nectar flow.
4. Perform an Early Varroa Check (DO NOT SKIP THIS!)🐝
Varroa mites are NOT a fall problem—they’re a year-round battle!
Do an alcohol wash or sugar shake as soon as temps allow, and treat if necessary.
Don’t assume your bees are fine just because they survived winter—mites rebound fast in spring!
5. Provide Space to Prevent Swarming🐝
Rapid population growth in spring = prime swarming conditions.
Add extra boxes before your colony gets crowded, or consider splitting strong hives early to keep them productive and under control.
6. Clean & Prepare Equipment🐝
Scrape off burr comb, clean bottom boards, and replace any broken frames before bees get too active.
If you had a deadout due to disease, sanitize the equipment before reusing it to avoid spreading pathogens.
7. Plan Your Beekeeping Goals for the Year🐝
Are you expanding your apiary? Raising queens? Harvesting more honey this year? Now is the time to make a clear plan so you’re not scrambling later in the season!
Bottom Line: Be Proactive, Not Reactive!🐝
Spring is the most critical time to set your colonies up for success. The beekeepers who take intentional, science-based actions now will see stronger, healthier colonies and higher honey yields this year!
✅ What’s your biggest spring prep priority? Drop a comment below and let’s discuss! ⬇️🐝