604-788-3656
Congratulations on your Mason Bee home and/or cocoon purchase! We have outlined some information for you with easy instruction to get you up and running. Click here to download out set up instructions.
We are all aware of the crisis we are facing with the shortage of bees. One of every three bites of food we consume is pollinated by bees, therefore it is crucial that we do our part to help our bee population.
The orchard Mason Bees are the perfect solution for all our spring pollination for fruit trees, flowers and gardens. They are hard workers, easy to care for and fun to watch. Mason Bees are non-aggressive and do not swarm. They fly approximately 300 feet from their home and should benefit you and your neighbors garden.
Free Mason Bee Maintenance Program:
I am offering a free Mason Bee maintenance program for anyone who is too busy but would like to enjoy the Mason Bee pollination experience. With this program I will do all the work, from setting up your Mason Bee home to harvesting your cocoons, cleaning and storing the cocoons for winter and having the cocoons ready for spring release. Please contact me for details of how to qualify for this program.
Let’s get started!
1. Immediately place your Mason Bee Cocoons in your fridge at approximately 38° F or 3.33° C to keep them dormant until you are ready to release them in the Mason Bee home.
2. Depending on weather and food supply you can release them anytime from March to the end of April.
3. Hang your Mason Been home facing South out of direct rain and wind. Morning sun is crucial as the sun warms up the bees wings for early flying.
4. Your home needs to be at least 4 feet off the ground or higher, preferably under a soffit or a back wall, or at a height that you can easily monitor and enjoy the action.
5. Remove the tab of your Mason Bee cocoons box. Place cocoon box with open end on top of nesting block facing about 3 inches of your homes back wall.
6. Temperature should approximately 50° Fahrenheit or 10° Celsius for approximately 4 to 5 days for the Mason Bees to emerge from their cocoons.
7. Your garden/backyard needs to contain at least 25% of blossoms for their food supply. When the Mason Bees emerge, food supply is very important for them otherwise they will fly away to look for food and a new home.
8. Mason Bees require a supply of mud to plug up the tunnel after they have deposited an egg on the pollen pillow. If you have no mud supply, dig a hole approximately 12 inches wide and deep and add water somewhere near your Mason Bee home.
Important: Never move your Mason Bee home once your bees have emerged. They will have a difficult time finding their home as they are used to their previous location.
9. Sometime by the middle to the end of June when you see no more bees flying in and out of their home. Take your home down and place it in your garden shed or garage, this help protect your cocoons from predators. This also keeps your baby cocoons nice and dry.
10. Anytime in October you can open up your nesting blocks and harvest your Mason Bees.
If you have any questions please contact me at 604-788-3656.
Saving the environment one bee at a time!
