Mason Bees

Bring on the bees! We just built and installed our first mason bee house. Now, I’m anxiously awaiting our first tenants. Why am I going out of my way to attract mason bees to my yard, you ask? Because they …

successfully pollinate 95% of the flowers that they visit; honey bees only have a 5% success rate
visit twice as many flowers in a day as honey bees
aren’t aggressive. Only the females can sting, and they’ll only sting you, if you hurt them first
don’t do any damage. They build their nests in existing holes, so I won’t have to worry about them boring holes all over the place
emerge in early spring. Just in time to pollinate my apricot, apple and cherry trees

How to Make a Mason Bee House

What You’ll Need:

Materials

(1) 12-inch long 4″ x 4″ post (avoid pressure-treated wood)
(1) 1″ x 6″ x 6″ board (for the roof)
(1) 1″ x 6″ x 15″ board (for the back mounting plate)
(12) small nails (1-1/2 inch)

Tools

Electric drill and 5/16-inch bit
Measuring tape
Saw
Pencil

What You Do:

Step 1: Cut the top of the 4×4 post at a 45 degree angle to allow rainwater to run off.

Step 2: Then, draw intersecting lines every 7/8 inch, and use a 5/16″ drill bit to make a 3-inch deep hole everywhere the lines meet up. (Be careful not to drill completely through the block.)

Step 3: Attach the roof and back mounting plate.

Step 4: Mount the mason bee house three to five feet off the ground, facing east or south-east. You’ll know you have bees when you find the holes covered over with mud.

Mason Bee Tips:

Mason bees need mud to cover their nesting holes; ensure there’s a source nearby
Once you have mason bees, do not move the house until winter
Keep your bees healthy by avoiding the use of pesticides
Provide food for your mason bees by making sure you have something blooming in your yard at all times