When to put out a bee hotel, and when the bees emerge
The year, month by month
| When | What happens | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Late Feb – early Mar | Nothing flying yet | Hang the hotel, south or south-east, 1–1.5m up, fixed firmly |
| March – April | Red mason bees emerge at 12–14°C and start nesting | Leave it alone; make sure bare damp soil is available for mud |
| May – August | Leafcutters and smaller species nest; mud and leaf caps appear | Keep flowers in bloom, avoid insecticides |
| September – October | Nesting ends; larvae develop inside sealed cells | Do not clean, open or move the hotel |
| November – February | Brood overwinters as prepupae or adults inside the cells | Leave it outside; the cold is part of the cycle |
Missed the spring window?
Put it up anyway. Leafcutter bees nest well into summer, so a hotel hung in May or June can still be used in its first year, and it will be in exactly the right place when the mason bees appear next March. Late is far better than waiting.
When do bees emerge from a bee hotel?
Mason bees emerge in March and April, males first — they hatch from the cells nearest the entrance, which is why tunnel depth matters. Leafcutters emerge later, from May into summer. You will see chewed caps, fresh holes in old plugs and bees hovering in front of the tunnels on the first warm mornings.
Do not bring it indoors for winter
A heated shed or porch can trigger early emergence with nothing in flower to feed on. The brood needs a natural cold period. Leave the hotel where it is — a good one is built for that.
A hotel that can stay out year-round
Untreated Western red cedar resists rot without any treatment, and a hand-formed copper roof overhanging on every side keeps winter rain off the tunnel entrances. £39.99 with free worldwide shipping and a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can have it on the wall before the mason bees appear.
Built to the standard this guide describes
Untreated Western red cedar, a hand-formed copper roof, tunnels from 2mm to 10mm sanded mirror-smooth, and a solid rear panel. From £39.99 with free worldwide shipping and 30 days to change your mind.