Wild bee hotel - Ask Extension
Is it too late in the season to put out a bee hotel to attract wild bees?
Knowledgebase
Wild bee hotel #833447
Asked June 02, 2023, 6:59 PM EDT
Is it too late in the season to put out a bee hotel to attract wild bees?
Hennepin County Minnesota
Expert Response
Any time of year is fine for buying or building and installing a bee house. See the following website for more information.
Thank you for the link to the pollinator nests article. It shows collecting hollow stems and bundling them into a container where bees can use them to nest. What I don't understand is when do you get rid of them? How do you know when the bees are through with them? Nothing I've read covers when it's safe to dispose of the straws or hollow reeds. More detail please. Thanks, Dianne
Here are two more articles. It is best to leave them in place for two years. This allows the bees to overwinter for two full years. They will find another spot after that-perhaps another group of stems that you have left for them.
https://beelab.umn.edu/create-nesting-habitat
https://xerces.org/publications/fact-sheets/nesting-overwintering-habitat
https://beelab.umn.edu/create-nesting-habitat
https://xerces.org/publications/fact-sheets/nesting-overwintering-habitat
Thanks so much. The xerces.org article gave much practical advice on managing my garden and landscaped areas to assist our little bees. -- Dianne
You are very welcome. Thanks for looking out for the bees!