Mason Bee houses...worth it??

gssgarden · January 24, 2014

I moved back in April to a relatively new neighborhood so there isn't many trees, bushes, or established flower beds to attract bees. I noticed that I didn't have many bees on any of my plants last year. I'm only growing about 18 this year.

Has anyone had experience using the Mason Bee house? Did it work? Did it attract the bees? Did you need to buy the bee cocoons?

Thanks in advance,

Greg

gssgarden · January 24, 2014

Reading more, I may just build a few of my own. I'm thinking 4 or so.

Greg

paulgrow · January 24, 2014

Greg
I tried it last year for the first time. Didn't have much success, I bought the cocoons. I think I'll try it one more year.

Anyone have suggestions?

Doug9345 · January 24, 2014

I suspect that if there isn't enough food in an area they will move on or die.

paulgrow · January 24, 2014

We sure have plenty of food.

Worth1 · January 24, 2014

Mason bees at my house nest in every hole they can find.

You want to put the houses in a protected area on the south side of something.
The back of my house faces the south east and is a perfect spot for them.

If you have a drill you can drill holes in wood and they will use that.
Small tubes work.
They prefer places that will be out of the rain like in the garage or under eves of the house.

Worth

Labradors2 · January 24, 2014

Yes. Grow flowers with blue and purple blossoms to attract bees. Blue isn't all that common in perennials, so I have made an effort to collect them - and have overdone it somewhat, but the bees are very happy and blue goes very well with all the yellow and white flowers that I have. They absolutely LOVE Agastache (mine is an Anise Hysop that makes a good herbal tea It's easy to grow). I also have a lot of Salvia (East Freisland and May Night) and a Caryopteris (Blue Beard) shrub that blooms in September.

Needless-to-say it's best not to use pesticides.....

Linda

Tom A To · January 24, 2014

As for whether or not it is worth it: It is kind of like voting in an election, I think. Is your single vote going to make any difference in the outcome? Not likely but having voted, you are imbued with a sense of pride of having done your part and that is what makes it worth it.

Labradors2 · January 24, 2014

Oh I nearly forgot about Catmint (not to be confused with Catnip). It won't attract all the cats to your garden!

Here's a picture of mine. It was supposed to be "Walker's Low" so I planted it as a border plant and the darned thing was 4' tall and has subsequently been removed and replaced with the real (shorter) variety. It blooms for a very long time and the bees love it.

Linda

paulgrow · January 24, 2014

Does anyone have a good source from which to buy them?

Worth1 · January 24, 2014

I have found that holes from 1/4 inch to 3/8 inch seem to be the best.
Last summer I left a ★★★★★★★★ box lid off for a few days in the garage and they made nests in all of the screw holes.

If you buy the houses I would suggest spraying them with a clear coat to protect them a little better.

If you can find a piece of fire wood you could cut it about 6 inches long and drill as many holes in it you can and hang it up.

Also when pruning trees look closely for these things on the branches.
They are praying mantis eggs.

Worth

beeman · January 24, 2014

I tried for 3 years to introduce Mason bees to my garden. A waste of time and effort.
You can read about my efforts http://www.beeworks.com/informationc...ason_bees.html

moon1234 · January 24, 2014

Bumble Bees are harder workers on Tomatos anyway. They can vibrate their butts at the right frequency to get the tomato pollen. We have hundreds of them working 1000's of tomato plants. All wild native Bumbles. We tend not to use harsh pesticides so we are not killing them off.

If your in town you probably have neighbors using insecticide dusts and other sprays. They are probably killing off your natives.

FarmerShawn · January 25, 2014

I just received an email ad from Territorial Seeds offering Mason bees, supplies, and the bees themselves.

troad · January 25, 2014

Like Worth said -you can make your own blocks with an electric drill and a block of wood. Make the holes about 3 inches deep and 1/4 to 3/8 inches in diameter. They are valuable as pollinators for apples and cherries and some berries but they are done foraging and nesting by mid spring. You will not have them working in the garden during the summer. Also they need a source of mud unless you live in a wet climate like western Washington. The bees will not nest in the open so you need to put the nest blocks in a sheltered place like under the eaves of the house. They are nice to have around. It is interesting to watch them work but they are not going to solve all your pollinating needs.

January 24, 2014	#1
gssgarden Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: N.C. Posts: 1,820	Mason Bee houses...worth it?? I moved back in April to a relatively new neighborhood so there isn't many trees, bushes, or established flower beds to attract bees. I noticed that I didn't have many bees on any of my plants last year. I'm only growing about 18 this year. Has anyone had experience using the Mason Bee house? Did it work? Did it attract the bees? Did you need to buy the bee cocoons? Thanks in advance, Greg

January 24, 2014	#3
paulgrow Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Allen Park, MI Posts: 178	Greg I tried it last year for the first time. Didn't have much success, I bought the cocoons. I think I'll try it one more year. Anyone have suggestions? __________________ A world without tomatoes is like a string quartet without violins. ~Author Unknown~

January 24, 2014	#5
paulgrow Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Allen Park, MI Posts: 178	We sure have plenty of food. __________________ A world without tomatoes is like a string quartet without violins. ~Author Unknown~

January 24, 2014	#8
Tom A To Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Pilot Hill, Ca. Posts: 307	As for whether or not it is worth it: It is kind of like voting in an election, I think. Is your single vote going to make any difference in the outcome? Not likely but having voted, you are imbued with a sense of pride of having done your part and that is what makes it worth it. __________________ -Dennis Audios, Tomatoville. Posted my final post and time to move on. Last edited by Tom A To; January 24, 2014 at 12:15 PM.

January 24, 2014	#10
paulgrow Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Allen Park, MI Posts: 178	Does anyone have a good source from which to buy them? __________________ A world without tomatoes is like a string quartet without violins. ~Author Unknown~

January 24, 2014	#4
Doug9345 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Durhamville,NY Posts: 2,706	I suspect that if there isn't enough food in an area they will move on or die.

January 24, 2014	#6
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Mason bees at my house nest in every hole they can find. You want to put the houses in a protected area on the south side of something. The back of my house faces the south east and is a perfect spot for them. If you have a drill you can drill holes in wood and they will use that. Small tubes work. They prefer places that will be out of the rain like in the garage or under eves of the house. Worth

January 24, 2014	#7
Labradors2 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Ontario Posts: 3,888	Yes. Grow flowers with blue and purple blossoms to attract bees. Blue isn't all that common in perennials, so I have made an effort to collect them - and have overdone it somewhat, but the bees are very happy and blue goes very well with all the yellow and white flowers that I have. They absolutely LOVE Agastache (mine is an Anise Hysop that makes a good herbal tea It's easy to grow). I also have a lot of Salvia (East Freisland and May Night) and a Caryopteris (Blue Beard) shrub that blooms in September. Needless-to-say it's best not to use pesticides..... Linda

January 24, 2014	#12
beeman Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 692	Mason Bees I tried for 3 years to introduce Mason bees to my garden. A waste of time and effort. You can read about my efforts http://www.beeworks.com/informationc...ason_bees.html

January 24, 2014	#13
moon1234 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 54	Bumble Bees are harder workers on Tomatos anyway. They can vibrate their butts at the right frequency to get the tomato pollen. We have hundreds of them working 1000's of tomato plants. All wild native Bumbles. We tend not to use harsh pesticides so we are not killing them off. If your in town you probably have neighbors using insecticide dusts and other sprays. They are probably killing off your natives.

January 25, 2014	#14
FarmerShawn Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Vermont Posts: 1,001	I just received an email ad from Territorial Seeds offering Mason bees, supplies, and the bees themselves. __________________ "Red meat is NOT bad for you. Now blue-green meat, THAT'S bad for you!" -- Tommy Smothers

January 25, 2014	#15
troad Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Des Moines, WA. Posts: 358	Like Worth said -you can make your own blocks with an electric drill and a block of wood. Make the holes about 3 inches deep and 1/4 to 3/8 inches in diameter. They are valuable as pollinators for apples and cherries and some berries but they are done foraging and nesting by mid spring. You will not have them working in the garden during the summer. Also they need a source of mud unless you live in a wet climate like western Washington. The bees will not nest in the open so you need to put the nest blocks in a sheltered place like under the eaves of the house. They are nice to have around. It is interesting to watch them work but they are not going to solve all your pollinating needs. __________________ There's a fine line between gardening and madness.