Where to Hang a Bee House: Mason Bee Setup, Sun, Direction, and Common Mistakes
Think those cute little houses in the backyard are just for birds? Think again! They can be for bees, too. This year, as people become more aware of bee populations declining, bee houses are taking center stage as popular garden decorations. They are charming, valuable habitats for our essential pollinators. After all, we wouldn't be able to live without the bees! Learn how to save the bees simply: Hang a bee house today! Read on.
Quick Reference: Hanging a Bee House
- Direction: face east or southeast for morning sun. Mason bees need direct sun to warm up to flight temperature.
- Height: 4 to 7 feet off the ground. Above lawnmower height, below predator reach.
- Shelter: under a roof overhang or with a deep cap. Rain in the nest tubes kills larvae.
- What lives in it: native solitary bees (mason, leafcutter). NOT honey bees or wasps.
- Maintenance: harvest cocoons in fall, replace tubes annually to prevent mite buildup.
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A bee house is for solitary native bees (mason bees, leafcutter bees), not honey bees. Hung correctly, it can fill with hundreds of pollinators inside one season and dramatically boost yield on every fruit tree and vegetable bed within 300 feet. Hung wrong, it kills the larvae and breeds mites. This guide is what extension researchers and the Xerces Society agree on for placement, height, direction, and the cleaning schedule that keeps a bee house healthy year over year.
Why Position Matters for a Bee House
Per USDA ARS native pollinator research, the three most common bee-house failures are bad direction, bad height, and no rain cover. Each one drops occupancy by 60+ percent.
- Direction (east-southeast). Mason bees are ectothermic; they need direct morning sun to reach flight temperature (about 55 F). A north-facing house stays too cold most mornings.
- Height (4 to 7 feet). Above lawnmower vibration, below the easy reach of raccoons, opossums, and deer.
- Rain cover. Water in nesting tubes drowns or molds developing larvae. A 2 to 4 inch roof overhang is essential.
- Stillness. Mount to a fixed structure (post, wall). Swinging in wind disrupts nesting.
The 5 Biggest Bee House Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)
Xerces Society and UMN Extension document these as the five mistakes that turn a bee house into a bee trap.
- Hanging in a tree. Trees swing in wind, leak rain through the canopy, and host predators. Mount to a fence post, wall, or shed instead.
- Plastic tubes that cannot be opened. Trapped moisture and mite buildup. Use paper liners or bamboo that can be removed and cleaned.
- Never cleaning. Untouched houses accumulate parasitic mites within 2 to 3 years and collapse the population. Harvest cocoons each fall and replace tubes.
- Pesticide use within 300 ft. Native bees forage closely. Neonicotinoid lawn sprays kill more solitary bees than any other cause.
- Cluttered with too many tubes. Crowded houses spread parasites between nests. Limit to 20 to 30 tubes per house.
Bee House Setup and Maintenance (Original Detail)
Below are the original sections on what bee houses are, choosing a safe one, hanging it, when bees move in, wasp risks, and seasonal maintenance.
Our partners at Kingsyard offer this wonderful Kingsyard Wooden Mason Bee Butterfly Ladybug House:
Note: Kingsyard is an affiliate of ours, we may make commission off purchases.
Year-Round Bee House Maintenance Schedule
Mason bee life cycle is February to June. Maintenance follows the calendar.
- February to early March: set out the house once daytime temperatures reach 55 F.
- March to June: watch for adult emergence and new nesting. Do not disturb.
- July to August: nesting complete. Move filled tubes to a sheltered shed or garage for the summer.
- October to November: open tubes, harvest cocoons, wash with cold water, store in a fridge at 36 to 40 F until February.
- January: set up fresh nesting tubes in a cleaned house.
Bee House FAQ
What direction should a bee house face?
East or southeast. Mason bees need direct morning sun to warm to the 55 F flight temperature, and they will not occupy a north-facing house in any meaningful numbers. The Xerces Society specifically recommends east-southeast for the northern US and southeast for the southern US.
How high should you hang a bee house?
4 to 7 feet off the ground. Lower and lawnmower vibration disturbs the nesting; higher and routine maintenance becomes impractical. Mount to a stable post, wall, or shed, never a free-swinging branch.
What bees use a bee house?
Native solitary cavity-nesters: mason bees (Osmia species), leafcutter bees (Megachile species), and occasionally small carpenter bees. Honey bees and bumble bees do NOT use bee houses; they nest in hives and ground colonies.
Do bee houses attract wasps?
Sometimes. Some predatory wasps (notably mason wasps) use the same kind of tubes and are largely harmless. Yellow jackets and paper wasps do not. If you find unfamiliar nests, observe before removing; many native wasps are valuable garden predators.
When do mason bees come out of a bee house?
Adult mason bees emerge in early spring once daytime temperatures stay above 55 F. In the lower Midwest and Northeast this is mid-March to mid-April. Males emerge first, mate, then die within 2 to 3 weeks. Females nest from mid-March to early June.
How do you clean a bee house?
Open tubes in October, gently extract cocoons (do not crush), rinse cocoons in cool water with a drop of bleach, dry on paper towel, and refrigerate in a ventilated container at 36 to 40 F until February. Discard old tubes; install fresh ones for spring.
Will a bee house increase fruit and vegetable yields?
Yes. Mason bees are 50 to 100 times more efficient pollinators per individual than honey bees on tree fruits (apples, cherries, blueberries). Per Xerces Society research, even 50 nesting females in a backyard can substantially boost yield on a small orchard.
Amber Kanuckel
Amber Kanuckel is a freelance writer from rural Ohio who loves all things outdoors. She specializes in home, garden, environmental, and green living topics.
- Amber Kanuckel
- Amber Kanuckel
- Amber Kanuckel
- Amber Kanuckel
Can bee houses be left outside during Colorado winter where it snows and gets very cold or should it
be moved into unheated barn or should it not be available during winter? Would it be possible
to put it out in early fall?
Are these bee houses solely for bees to reproduce? And what is the difference between these bees and the ones that make honey?
I’m no expert, but from what I’ve read, the houses are to encourage these bees to reproduce in your yard. Carpenter bees are among the native species that pollinate around 15% of our agricultural crops… so we want to encourage them. Honeybees are both pollinators and honey makers. Carpenter bees are really fun to watch and kids love the distinction between them and Bumblebees – which are larger than Honeybees but smaller than Carpenter bees. Carpenter bees have a “shiny hiney” and Bumblebees have a “fuzzy butt” … at 52 this still makes me giggle LOL.
HAHAHA! We love that saying!
I’ve had a bee house all season and I was taking it apart to harvest the cocoons and noticed that the 4 of the tubes were caked with what looks to be a sticky substance possibly honey. It would almost be impossible to remove the cocoons. Shall I just leave them be and just store the trays in the garage for the winter ?
I just bought 2 bee houses I could not find any that were 6 to 8 inches deep anywhere. I have a massive garden and I need all the pollinators I can convince to hang around!
Hi Kate,
The above were suggestions but I’m sure if you have one that’s slightly smaller, it should work. Anything to encourage more pollinators to your garden. Let us know how it goes.
For those who might be concerned about getting stung, most native species are not aggressive and won’t bother you.
What do the bees use the pinecone for ?
Hi Jessica, not sure what or where you see pinecones? Let us know.
There are pinecones literally in the first bee house pictured. I guess you would say in the bee house basement?
Oh you’re right – Sorry Emily. They are just another place for the bees to make a nest. You don’t have to use pine cones. I was looking at our story not the picture.
I would love to have a bee house in my garden, how do I get started.
The pine cones are just an alternative for the bees to make a nest. Just more nooks and crannies.
Thanks Misty!
I am interested in getting a bee house for my garden. i want to provide a safe place for the bee’s and so they can polinate my garden. i know that as long as you don’t hurt them they won’t hurt you but are beneficial for crops so we need to help keep them alive. Since i rent this is the best way I could do it.
Good luck Susan. We do have a link in this article that refers you to a good source for them. Thank you for doing your part to help bees.
Just wondering – the article says the tubes should be 6-8 inches long, but none of the photos (including the “how to make your own”) show tubes longer than about 3 inches (which would be 6 cm).
Hi Paul,
Our article suggests that you use the longer tubes to dissuade wasps from taking up nest in your bee house. The suggested size makes these tubes more appealing to bees rather than wasps. Yes, certain wasps do live in bee houses. Use tubes with a 5/16” to 3/8” inside diameter to attract larger mason bees and smaller 1/4” diameter tubes to attract leafcutter bees.
No Bees no life
I would not, allergies. Not against this, just prefer they be far from where I am.