Our wooden bee houses are sustainably sourced and handcrafted locally in Western Washington.

Sustainability is important to us at every step of the process. Our manufacturer sources wood from logging companies who use sustainable harvesting methods including: selective, downed tree and post-wildfire forestry techniques. To ensure nothing goes to waste, we also use scrap wood left over from larger projects. 

Our bee houses provide a roof and shelter that protects your nesting bees and nesting material from weather and wind. If needed, protection can be added to prevent birds from eating nesting and developing bees (Bird Guard). The joints are glued and stapled for structural soundness. The Chalet and Tower bee houses include an attic space that can be used for cocoon release. Our Wild Bee Motel and New Wild Solitary Bee Hotel both include a variety of nesting materials for cavity-nesting bee species of many sizes.

Instructions

  • Select a location that faces S to SE, morning sun is optimal to warm the bees so they can begin to fly. Provide afternoon shade in hot locations that are consistently above 90F/32C.
  • Install bee house on a sturdy wall or fence, at eye level for easy observation of bee activity, about 5ft (1.5m) from the ground to protect from pests and predators.
  • Locate the house within 300ft (100m) of your flowers.
  • Position your bee house away from birdhouses and bird feeders.

You can paint or re-stain the bee house. Use low VOC paint and let it dry for a month before installing it.

The keyhole back makes installation easy, just hang the cedar house on a screw or nail. You can also mount the bee house on top of a post.

Place the Natural Reeds into the bee house with the open end facing out. Ensure the solid wood boards for carpenter bees are in the bee house with pre-drilled nesting holes facing out.

Apply InvitaBee Attractants

Wear gloves and lightly and evenly spray the included InvitaBee attractants (for mason bees or for leafcutter bees) on the open ends of your nesting material. The scent of InvitaBee lasts for about three weeks, which is ample time to attract nesting bees.
 

In the fall or winter, uninstall the bee house for storage and this will improve the longevity of the house.

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