Bees care for themselves in most situations, but we made a list of ways you can get them off to a great start.
Keep your hive off the ground:
Honeybees don’t care for dampness, and the ground can get quite wet during the spring months when they begin to thrive. The best place to mount your artificial hive is off the ground in a tree, on the side of a wooden fence, or even the side of a garage. Think of places you might mount a birdfeeder…those are typically good locations.
Release Your Bee Population in Spring: Honeybees begin to thrive during the Spring. It’s important to remember, though, judge Spring based on your local climate. Just because the calendar says Spring doesn’t mean it’s warm enough for bees to survive. When the flowers start to bloom in your area, it’s time to release the bees.
Keep Flowers Nearby:
Bees need to pollinate flowers, so it’s best to keep a few potted flowers near your beehive. The more flowers they’re near, the better!
Feed Your Bees:
Help your bees out by feeding them nectar. They’ll be happy as a camper, and they won’t abandon the hive, because they have free food (Just like a 20-year-old). To make nectar, dissolve equal parts water and sugar in a pot on the stove over medium/high heat. Then, store it in glass canning jars. Top the jars with bee feeder lids, invert, and leave outside near the hive. You may find the bees will not need as much nectar when the nearby flowers go into full bloom.