What Do I Need?

Bees, a bee house and nesting materials are required for successful pollination with solitary bees. Answer the questions below to find out which materials will work best for you. *Note- our recommendations are for the minimum number of bees and nesting materials required for plants being pollinated. If you want to have room to expand and grow your bee population you may want to get the next house size up.

Most vegetables bloom in the summer months, making alfalfa leafcutter bees the best bee for the job. Their name is descriptive of the small holes they cut in the leaves of plants. They use the leaves to build the cocoons for their offspring. They do not destroy the plants but there will be some evidence of their presence. It is worth the small holes for the superior pollination. Better pollination = better tasting and bigger fruits and veggies after all. To read more about leafcutter bees click here.

When determining which size of bee house to purchase it is best to look at how many bees are going to nest in it. We find it best to have at least 5 empty holes for each bee. That way there is room for the bees to reproduce. If there is not adequate nesting materials available the bees will leave to look for a new nesting site.

Remember that it is ok to have multiple species of solitary bees in the same house. Meaning one house can have both spring and summer time bees. Just be sure to have enough empty holes for all the bees to have room to reproduce.

The house should be with in a 100 yards of the blossoms needing pollination. If you have an orchard and vegetable garden that are further than 100 yards apart we recommend have 2 houses. One by the orchard and one by the garden.