Properly installing your bee house is a critical part of caring for leafcutter bees! You want to make sure you place the house close enough to your plants so the bees will fly over and work in the garden. At the same time, the house should be far enough above the ground to keep your bees safe from pests.

In addition to choosing the right location, you want to place the bee house on a sturdy perch to keep it safe and sound! Below, we will discuss a few different ways to mount your bee house and some methods you should avoid. Keep reading to learn more!

Different Ways to Mount Your Bee House

When installing a bee house in your garden or on your property, there are a few key things to keep in mind. Leafcutter bees are low-flying and drawn to low-growing plants, but that does not mean their home should be directly on the ground.

We recommend mounting your bee house about 4 ft high to keep it safe from ants, squirrels, and other critters that may disturb the nesting tubes and cocoons.

If possible, place the house in the area of your property that gets the most morning sunlight- leafcutter bees love the sun! Keeping the bees close to morning rays will ensure they fly longer throughout the day and spend more time in your garden pollinating.

How you decide to mount your bee house doesn’t need to be complicated- you may already have a few items lying around that you can use! Some ideas for a perch include:

• Decorative flower pots: You can flip a flower pot over and place it close to your garden. This is a great way to reuse a pot that is broken or the wrong size for your plants.
• Garden stools: If you have an extra stool you don’t need, this can act as a great perch and decorative piece for your garden or farmyard.
• The edge of raised garden beds: This is a great way to get your bees close to your plants without placing the house directly on the ground!
• Fence posts: this is a simple solution for farmers and gardeners whose fences are in close proximity to their plants and crops.
• Garage/shed wall: These structures are great central areas that give your bees easy access to your plants!

What to Avoid

When installing your bee house, it is important to make sure that the house is firmly in place and far away from any pests, critters, or potential dangers. To ensure your bees’ safety, avoid placing your bee house…

• On the ground: Mice and other pests can enter the cocoons and harm your bees!
• Near bird or squirrel feeders: If your bees are too close to feeders, they may be eaten by these critters.
• Next to an ant hill: Ants will crawl up and invade the bee cocoons.
• Beside a sprinkler system: You do not want the inside of your bee house to get wet, as this can create mould and bacteria growth in the bee cocoons.
• On hummingbird feeder metal rods: These types of feeder rods are too light and unstable for the weight of our bee houses.

Pre-Order Your Bee House Today

There are plenty of methods for securing your bee house! By choosing the right location, you can enjoy watching your bees fly out to work in the garden and return home at the end of the day.

Do you want a bee house for your garden or property? Partner with Kind Bee Farms and order our full pollinator kit, which includes our Saskatchewan-raised leafcutter bees, nesting tubes, and a wooden bee house.

Visit our Shop today to place a pre-order in the United States or Canada. To learn more facts about leafcutter bees, check out our Blog!