Information About Winter Prep

Want to increase your knowledge and skill in this important area? Below is a list of articles from past issues of the Betterbee Newsletter that may help you.

Fall Beekeeping Tasks:

Start here with our 10-point Pre-Winter Checklist.
Four more tips for winter survival should help you double-check that your hives are ready.
Think about the fall-winter transition by learning how to get ready for winter.
Do your bees have enough winter stores, or will feeding be needed this year? Read Getting Smart About Winter Stores and Feeding
Why do we feed colonies in the fall? When and why should you be mixing up some syrup for your bees?
Want to make some thick 2:1 sugar syrup to feed your bees, this easy, no-measure sugar syrup recipe will give you some tips!
Want to help a small colony through winter? Consider making your own space-filler insulation frames.Read More
Read a Master Beekeepers thoughts on hive insulation.
Are the frames (and bees!) in your hives well organized for winter? Hear What Our Master Beekeeper Has to Say
Here are two accounts of pre-winter prep from a few Betterbee employees as they went into their first winter as beekeepers.Account 1&Account 2
Do you have a struggling colony that you're worried won't make it through winter? Consider the harsh truth that it may be time to give up on them.
Healthy winter bees get colonies through the winter. Read about how summer mite management produces healthy winter bees and strong colonies in spring.
Late-season varroa control is crucial to producing healthy winter bees in your fall hive.Read About Late Season Varroa Mite Treatment Options

For beekeepers, fall is the most critical season for ensuring a colony's survival through the harsh winter months. A healthy hive in the spring depends on specific management tasks performed in the autumn, including ensuring proper food stores, controlling pests, and protecting the hive from the elements.

Winter Beekeeping Tasks:

What will you do during the winter? Here's a list of winter hive tasks for beekeepers in our region.
Winter inspections are very unlike warm-weather inspections, but you can still check on your bees in winter.
Want to make springtime easier on your bees? Tackle their varroa mites in winter with a mid-winter oxalic acid mite treatment.
Will your bees need solid feed this winter? Learn about solid winter feed options.

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