Give Bees A Place To Stay For Fall And Winter With This Hanging Hotel Find

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Keen gardeners will appreciate all the hard work that bees do. They pollinate flowers, fruit, and vegetables, giving you beautiful displays and lots of produce to harvest. You might be surprised to know that there are actually ten types of bees you'll want in your yard, and some native species are actually more productive than the better-known honey bee. When it comes to fall and winter, some bees gather to keep warm while others hibernate. Putting a bee house (or bee hotel) in your garden gives them somewhere safe to stay. It is possible to make your own, but the Mason Bee House from Amazon is a ready-to-use alternative.

The Mason Bee House comes fully assembled with rust-resistant stainless-steel clasps and 3 feet of rope. You can hang it from a tree or fix a bracket to a fence or wall. The wooden frame has been wax coated to preserve the natural appearance and protect it during the winter. Interior tubes provide for nesting and hibernation.

Customers give the Mason Bee House an average of 4.4 stars. Many find it easy to use, and, importantly, that it's popular with bees. There are few complaints, although it was pointed out that the tubes are cardboard, so some protection from wind-blown rain is a good idea and will provide a cozier home for your guests. The current price of the Mason Bee House is $28.90.

Honeybees build their own hives or inhabit man-made ones and rarely use a bee house. These structures are more popular with solitary bees, which might use them all year round as somewhere to lay eggs, as well as for winter warmth. Perhaps unsurprisingly, mason bees are likely to make it their home. These are among the first to come out of hibernation and get to work each year and likely to be an early visitor if you start a pollinator garden. Solitary wasps are another insect that might take up residence, but don't worry, these are beneficial and not aggressive like yellowjackets.

Hang your bee house somewhere where it gets early sunshine and is shielded from the worst of the weather, ideally around 6 feet up. Any higher risks bringing the bees into the range of birds that feed on them. Don't be tempted to remove the wax coating and paint the bee house. Bees are quite sensitive, and the paint smell could put them off. If you really must, then water-based acrylics should be used, being very careful not to get any on the inside.

Natural habitats are increasingly under threat, so a bee house provides much-needed shelter. It's good for the bees and good for your garden. You could DIY one from bamboo sticks, but if you prefer to have something ready to go, the Mason Bee House is affordable and has been specifically designed for comfort during the fall and winter.