Remember when we built two mason bee houses last spring? We were hoping to attract more early pollinators to our yard to pollinate our apricot bushes, which bloom before most bees and wasps emerge for the year. [Read more…]
We Have Mason Bees!
On Tuesday we built and hung our first mason bee house. Today (Friday) we noticed that someone has already moved in. See the mud packed into the first hole? Very cool!
I’m hoping we’ll have time to build a second mason bee house this weekend.
Update: Well, we didn’t get around to building another mason bee house last weekend, but it looks like we’d better get on it. Quite a few of the holes are now packed with mud, and while I was out there today, I saw bees going into all of the remaining holes.
How to Build a Mason Bee House
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
If you’d prefer to buy a mason bee house instead of building one, I have them listed in my shop.
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