It is finally time to get back out in our gardens. So, today I am working on building a simple mason bee house that will welcome those lovely pollinators to my yard. Here is what you need:
- Hollow bamboo 6″-9″ long with a small opening. You can use any hollowed-out tube, but since it is going to be outside, make sure it is waterproof. I picked up my bamboo on Amazon.
- Something to secure your bee bundle, like a zip tie or twine
- Hot glue gun and glue or some sort of putty/filler to close up ONE end of your tube
Start by securing your bamboo with one another. I found the hot glue works great for gluing the tubes in place.
Once you have your tubes in a bundle, fill in and close one end of each tube. I chose to close a few on each end rather than closing an entire side. The choice is yours.
After you have all your holes filled, use your zip ties or twine to secure the bamboo one more time. Since your house is going to be out in the elements, you will want to make sure it isn’t going to fall apart.
Add some twine so you can hang your Mason bee house in a space that is up off the ground, away from other predators and under some sort of awning protected from high winds and heavy rain.
It won’t be long before bees begin to lay their eggs in your mason bee house bundle. In the Fall bring in your bee bundle and store in a temperature-controlled room, like a storage room or closet. One suggestion is to put the bundle inside a box and cut a small flap-like door.
When the temps warm in spring, bring the box outside, open the flap and wait for the new bees to emerge. Toss your bee bundle and make a new one. If you choose to use the same bundle, clean out each tube and free it of any bacteria or debris.
Thanks for checking out this simple bee house plan. If you are into bees and want to see another example of a DIY bee house, check out this post:
Also, a great way to encourage bees in your yard and promote pollination is with a pollinator garden. Here are some easy plants that return year after year.
