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Azalea & Rhododendron

deadheading around bumblebees

12 years ago

I'm wanting to pinch off the old spent flowers from my rhododendron bushes, a process called deadheading. But there's still bumblebees flying in and around the blossoms. Can I proceed without worrying much about them attacking/stinging me, or is there a good chance I'll get stung?

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Comments (2)

morz8 - Washington Coast
12 years ago
I usually just brush them aside and haven't been stung yet. Not by a bumblebee at least.

Just be sure the flower heads are finished to the point no bees, bumble or otherwise, are still going into the head feeding or then you could be stung. If I wear gloves, too often I'm snapping off a leaf bud or two at the same time as the flower structure.
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Original Author
12 years ago
Well that seems to be the issue, the flower heads are not finished to the point of no bees. The bees are going to the head to feed I guess. But the flower pedals are all wilted and starting to fall off, looks unattractive for one thing. That's why I wanted to go ahead and get going on the deadheading but the bees are there.
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