A Year in the Apiary - October Beekeeping Tasks (UK)
October overview – final preparations before winter
October is a month of transition in the UK apiary. The summer flow has finished, evenings are drawing in and your bees are settling into winter mode. By now your colonies should already have completed their main varroa treatments and be well on the way to having enough winter stores. October is about checking that everything is in place for the months ahead – food, insulation, protection from pests and a sound, weatherproof hive.
Frequent full inspections are no longer needed, but a few short, well-timed checks can make all the difference. You are now supporting the winter cluster rather than trying to grow the colony. Think of this month as your final chance to remove obvious problems and make your bees as comfortable as possible before the weather really turns.
If you are following the full Year in the Apiary series, October builds on the feeding and varroa work done in September, and leads into quieter, mostly hands-off winter monitoring.
Checking winter stores and using fondant
By October, your colonies should already have a good amount of sealed honey or syrup. A full-sized hive in the UK generally needs around 20–25 kg of stores to overwinter comfortably, though exact amounts can vary with hive type, location and bee strain.
You can assess stores by:
- Hefting the hive regularly to get a feel for its weight.
- Looking through the crownboard or gently tipping back the brood box (avoiding lengthy inspections).
- Reviewing your notes from earlier inspections – see Hive Management for record-keeping tips.
October is usually the point where liquid feeding is either completed or winding down. As nights become colder, bees struggle to evaporate the water from syrup. At this stage many beekeepers switch their attention to fondant:
- Keep at least one block of fondant ready for each hive.
- Place fondant above the cluster – directly over the brood frames on top of the crownboard, or under an upturned feeder.
- Cut a slit in the plastic to limit drying out and allow bees easy access.
- Check periodically through the cooler months, replacing fondant if it has been eaten or dried out.
Fondant is ideal as an emergency feed during cold conditions because bees can eat it without needing to process large amounts of water. It can be the difference between a colony surviving or starving after a long cold snap.
Insulation and condensation control
A well-prepared winter hive aims for warm bees in a cool, dry box. Insulation and ventilation need to work together – not against each other.
For poly hives:
- Poly walls and roofs already provide excellent insulation.
- Additional insulation is often unnecessary, but you should still keep roofs watertight and check for gaps or damage.
For wooden hives:
- Add insulation above the crownboard, such as a quilt box or rigid foam board in an empty super.
- Ensure vents or feed holes are either closed or used appropriately, so moist air has a controlled path out of the hive.
- Make sure the hive is not exposed to constant draughts, especially from underneath.
Condensation is a major winter risk. Cold air outside meets warm, moist air from the cluster; if this moisture condenses on the underside of a cold roof, it can drip back onto the bees. To minimise this:
- Insulate the roof so the top of the hive remains relatively warm compared to the sides.
- Maintain a small, clear entrance so moist air can escape.
- Avoid blocking all ventilation – trapped moisture is more harmful than a little chill.
More guidance on managing hive conditions and cleanliness can be found in the Hive Hygiene guide.
Protecting hives from mice, woodpeckers and other pests
As temperatures drop, other creatures view your hives as a warm, food-rich shelter. Two common UK problems are mice and woodpeckers.
Mice:
- Fit mouse guards across the entrance if you did not do so in September.
- Check that guards are secure and that bees can still pass through easily.
- Keep grass and vegetation short around stands to make it less attractive for rodents.
Woodpeckers:
- If woodpeckers are present in your area, consider wrapping hives with wire mesh or netting to prevent birds from pecking the boxes.
- Cluster hives closer together if practical – isolated hives are more likely to be targeted.
- Some beekeepers also provide alternative feeding points away from the apiary to distract birds.
By this stage, wasps are usually starting to decline, but weaker colonies may still be vulnerable. Keep entrances reduced and the apiary tidy to discourage late robbing or scavenging.
Hive stands, strapping and weatherproofing
Autumn and winter storms can cause as much damage as disease or starvation. October is the month to give your hive stands and roofs a thorough check:
- Make sure stands are stable, level and secure, with no rotten legs or loose blocks.
- Consider raising hives a little higher if you are in a very damp or flood-prone area.
- Strap hives down or use heavy weights on roofs to prevent them from blowing off in high winds.
- Check roofs for leaks or damaged corners and repair or replace as needed.
- Tilt hives slightly forwards so any condensation or rainwater runs out of the entrance rather than pooling inside.
Small jobs done now will save you from having to make emergency repairs in the cold, wet and dark later in the season.
Cleaning and storing beekeeping equipment
As the beekeeping season draws to a close, October is an excellent time to clean and organise your equipment so it is ready for spring. Good hygiene helps to reduce disease risk and makes it easier to get started next year.
Tasks might include:
- Scraping and cleaning spare brood boxes, supers, roofs and floors.
- Cleaning feeders and storing them where they will remain dry and safe.
- Sorting frames – keeping good drawn comb for next year and responsibly disposing of old or damaged comb.
- Flaming or washing tools, queen excluders and other small items following hygiene best practices.
Clean, well-maintained equipment is another important part of managing diseases and pests, along with regular health checks and good record-keeping.
Gardening for bees and beekeeping sales
October is a great time to think about next year’s forage. You can:
- Plant spring bulbs – such as crocus, snowdrops and early-flowering species – so your bees have nearby nectar and pollen when colonies begin to build up.
- Review your garden or apiary planting plan with ideas from the Bee Gardening guide.
This is also when many suppliers hold beekeeping sales. It can be a sensible time to buy:
- Spare brood boxes and supers.
- Frames, foundation and feeders.
- Protective clothing or tools that need replacing.
A little planning now means you will be ready to go when the new season starts, rather than scrambling for equipment at the last minute.
Reduced inspections and what to watch from outside
In October, frequent full hive inspections are usually no longer necessary. Opening hives too often can chill the cluster and disturb the bees when they are trying to conserve heat.
Instead, focus on:
- Hefting hives occasionally to check weight.
- Watching entrance activity on milder days – a small amount of flight is normal, especially on sunny afternoons.
- Looking for signs of distress such as dead bees in large numbers, constant aggression at the entrance or possible robbing.
- Checking that mouse guards, straps and roofs remain in place after windy or wet weather.
Only open hives briefly when you genuinely need to – for example, to add fondant or double-check a concern that cannot be assessed from outside.
October winter-readiness checklist
Use this checklist to review each colony before winter truly sets in:
- ✔ Varroa treatment completed and mite levels monitored.
- ✔ Hive feels adequately heavy when hefted – or fondant prepared for light colonies.
- ✔ Mouse guard fitted securely and entrance reduced to a defendable size.
- ✔ Roof watertight, hive strapped or weighted against strong winds.
- ✔ Insulation in place above the crownboard (especially for wooden hives).
- ✔ Hive slightly tilted forwards so moisture runs out rather than pooling.
- ✔ Stands stable, level and clear of long grass or debris.
- ✔ Spare equipment cleaned, stored and ready for next season.
- ✔ Records updated with final autumn notes – see Hive Management for record ideas.
Common beginner mistakes in October
- Relying solely on visual inspection and not hefting hives to judge stores.
- Continuing syrup feeding too late, leaving unripe stores that can ferment.
- Delaying or forgetting to fit mouse guards until damage is already done.
- Failing to address leaky roofs or unstable stands before winter storms.
- Wrapping hives too tightly and blocking all ventilation, causing condensation problems.
- Ignoring equipment cleaning and then struggling for usable kit in spring.
If you are unsure about any aspect of winter preparation, talk to your local association or mentor, or revisit pages such as Hive Management, Hive Hygiene and Bee Gardening.
October beekeeping FAQs (UK)
What are the main beekeeping tasks in October in the UK?
Your main tasks are checking winter stores, preparing fondant for light colonies, insulating hives and controlling condensation, protecting against mice and woodpeckers, strapping hives down, cleaning equipment and making final checks before the quiet winter period.
Should I still be feeding syrup in October?
In early October you may still feed strong syrup if conditions are mild and bees can ripen it. As nights become colder, it is generally safer to stop syrup and rely on fondant as an emergency or top-up feed when needed.
How do I put fondant on a hive?
Place the fondant block above the cluster, ideally directly above the brood nest. Cut a slit or remove a small section of plastic, position it over the feed hole or on top of the frames and cover with an empty super or eke before replacing the roof.
Do I need to open my hives often in October?
No. By October, full inspections are usually unnecessary unless you have a specific concern. Focus on external checks, hive weight and quick internal visits only when needed to add fondant or resolve an issue.
How can I tell if condensation is a problem?
Signs include damp, mouldy frames or water droplets on the underside of the roof. Good roof insulation, a small entrance and a slight forward tilt help prevent this. Address the cause rather than just wiping moisture away.
How important is it to clean equipment at the end of the season?
Very important. Cleaning spare boxes, frames, feeders and tools in autumn helps reduce disease risk and ensures you are ready to respond quickly in spring when colonies expand and need more space.
Is October a good time to plan for next year?
Yes. With fewer hive manipulations to do, you can review your records, decide which colonies you might breed from, plan equipment purchases and think about planting more forage as outlined in Bee Gardening.