June Beekeeping Guide 2025

by Donegal Bees June 4, 2025

🐝 June Beekeeping Guide: Swarming, Supers & Summer Growth 🌿

Welcome to June – a month of peak activity in the apiary. Swarms are likely, colonies are expanding rapidly, and supers are being filled with honey. If the weather cooperates, this is one of the most rewarding months for beekeepers. But it’s also one of the busiest, so let’s dive into what needs doing.

✅ June Checklist

Inspect colonies weekly for signs of swarming
Add supers as needed when frames are nearly full
Mark new queens while they’re easy to find
Clip queens if you use that method to manage swarms
Check hives for mites, disease, and brood pattern
Harvest spring honey if capped
Keep your records up to date
Watch for the June Gap (see below)

🐝 Swarm Management & Hive Health

Swarming is at its peak in June. Weekly inspections are essential — look for queen cells and be ready to split or manage as needed. If you’re not planning to rear new queens, removing sealed queen cells can help prevent swarms, though it’s not always foolproof.

If you’ve recently requeened or have a young queen, now’s the perfect time to mark her for easier spotting later. And don’t forget to check for signs of disease or stress in the brood pattern.

🌾 Watch Out for the June Gap

While early June can bring strong nectar flows from bramble, clover, and other wildflowers, many beekeepers experience a brief pause in forage mid-month, known as the June Gap. This drop in nectar availability happens when the spring blossoms are over but the main summer flow hasn’t yet begun.

🔍 Keep an eye on hive stores and heft your hives regularly. If stores feel light or if the weather is poor, feed your bees to prevent starvation and support brood rearing. A little syrup or fondant now could make all the difference.

Every region experiences the June Gap a little differently, so staying alert to local conditions is key.

🍯 Adding Supers & Harvesting

If you haven’t already, now’s the time to add supers to avoid congestion and encourage honey storage. Once the comb is drawn and the cells are 80–90% capped, you can start extracting spring honey. Remember, bees need sufficient space. Overcrowded colonies are more likely to swarm, even if you’re actively managing.

💡 Top Tip: Always keep spare supers, frames, and foundation on hand. You might need to act fast during inspections, especially if your colony is expanding quickly. Having spares ready to go – ideally with frames already assembled – helps you avoid delays and gives your bees the room they need without stress.

🌸 What’s in Bloom?

In most parts of Ireland, you’ll see:

Bramble Clover
Elderflower
Hawthorn (early June)
Wildflowers in hedgerows and meadows

Our Bee Meadow Seed Mix is perfect for improving forage — it’s not too late to sow a patch in your garden.

🧰 Essential Equipment

✔ Hive Tool, Smoker, Smoker Fuel, Protective Clothing

✔ Queen Marking Kit

✔ Supers, Frames and Foundation

✔ Spare Hive Components (for splits or bait hives)

✔ Record Book or Hive Inspection Sheets

Need to top up your supplies? Browse our Frames & Foundation, check out our Bee Kits, or explore helpful tools like our Tool & Smoker Kit.

👩‍🌾 New to Beekeeping?

If this is your first season, well done! Keep checking your bees regularly and don’t hesitate to ask for help. Joining a local beekeeping association is a great way to learn:

Federation of Irish Beekeepers Association
Irish Beekeepers Association CLG
Native Irish Honey Bee Society

Our National Hive Starter Kits (available in timber or polystyrene) and Basic Beekeeping Kits are still in stock if you're looking for quality, beginner-friendly equipment.

👀 Looking Ahead to July

As we move into July, your bees should be working at full pace. Honey flows continue, but swarming may ease off. Be ready to remove supers and extract your first crop of honey. Keep inspecting for signs of disease or stress, and continue managing space carefully — strong colonies can still become congested. We’ll also be sharing tips next month on harvesting, storing, and labelling your honey, as well as how to prep for late summer care.

NEED HELP OR HAVE QUESTIONS?

We're here to help with everything you need, whether it's sourcing bees, selecting equipment, or deciding which book to read next. If you can't find what you're looking for, contact us directly - we're always more than happy to help!

🐝 Míle Buíochas from Donegal Bees - Happy Beekeeping! 🐝