By: Ann Harman
This article first appeared in the Summer 2020 issue of BEEKeeping Your First Three Years
• Monitor Varroa with alcohol wash and decide on Varroa treatment in July. Winter survival depends on Varroa control during July.
• If choosing a chemical treatment, read the label for important application information.
• Monitor small hive beetle and provide traps.
• Packages and nucs started in Spring should be in fully-completed hives with all foundation drawn by the end of July.
• Keep weeds and grass mowed in beeyard.
• Beekeepers monitor themselves for ticks acquired in beeyard.
• August begins the bees’ New Year.
• Monitor bees’ water supply-do not let it dry up.
• Examine queen’s performance.
• If colony is weak examine for disease or other conditions.
• If colony is weak because of poor queen, plan on combining or requeening.
• Never combine two weak colonies-combine week with strong; eliminate weak queen.
• Maintain good ventilation in hives.
• Be a Plant Watcher and Weather Watcher to know if a dearth of bee forage.
• If a dearth, feed 1:1 sugar syrup and possibly a pollen patty.
• Be sure that small hive beetles are not infesting a pollen patty.
• Feed sugar syrup inside the hive and feed all colonies to prevent robbing.
• Keep hive inspections to a minimum to avoid robbing.
• In cold climate areas feed 2:1 sugar syrup in September for Winter stores.
