September is all about preparation. Nectar flows have slowed or stopped in many regions, colonies are raising their final rounds of brood, and beekeepers must take steps to ensure their hives are strong enough to survive the coming winter. What you do now will make all the difference in the months ahead.

1. Monitor and Treat for Varroa Mites

Varroa mites remain the single biggest threat to winter survival. By September, their populations may be at their highest.

What to do:

  • Perform a sugar roll or alcohol wash on at least one hive per yard.

  • Treat immediately if mite counts exceed 2–3 per 100 bees.

  • Choose treatments appropriate for your region’s temperatures (oxalic acid, thymol, formic acid, etc.).

Why it matters: The bees being raised this month will become your winter bees — keeping them parasite-free is essential.

2. Evaluate Food Stores

Colonies need adequate honey reserves to survive winter, but nectar availability is dropping fast.

What to do:

  • Weigh hives or inspect frames — each colony should ideally have 60–80 lbs of honey for winter.

  • If they’re light, begin feeding 2:1 sugar syrup to help them build reserves.

  • Add pollen patties if natural sources are scarce and brood rearing is still active.

3. Assess Queen Quality and Brood Pattern

Your queen’s performance this month is critical for producing healthy winter bees.

What to do:

  • Inspect brood frames — look for solid, healthy patterns.

  • Requeen if the queen is failing or brood is patchy.

  • Avoid requeening too late — new queens need time to mate and establish.

4. Reduce Hive Entrances

As nectar dries up, robbing becomes a major threat to weaker colonies.

What to do:

  • Install entrance reducers or mouse guards.

  • Avoid open feeding or spilling syrup near hives.

  • Consolidate small colonies to prevent them from being overrun.

5. Inspect for Disease and Pests

Weaker colonies in September are more vulnerable to pests and pathogens.

What to do:

  • Look for signs of chalkbrood, foulbrood, and nosema.

  • Watch for small hive beetles in the South and wax moths in weak hives.

  • Remove or combine any colonies that appear too weak to overwinter.

6. Consolidate and Equalize Colonies

Now’s the time to make tough calls. Small, struggling colonies rarely survive winter alone.

What to do:

  • Combine weak colonies with stronger ones using the newspaper method.

  • Equalize brood and food frames across colonies for balance.

7. Prepare Equipment for Winter

A little work now saves stress later.

What to do:

  • Repair or replace damaged lids, boxes, and bottom boards.

  • Begin organizing insulation, moisture boards, or wraps (depending on your region).

  • Plan ahead for how you’ll feed emergency stores in winter.

September Wrap-Up: Prepare Now, Thrive Later

In September, every choice you make is about winter survival. Healthy bees, low mite counts, full food stores, and weather-tight equipment are the keys to making it through the cold months ahead.

Inspect carefully, act decisively, and set your colonies up for success.