The following companies sell bee houses that have deep (approximately 6″ / 152 mm) nesting holes, have disposable or cleanable components, have protective roof overhangs (usually), and are not suspended by a string. If I’ve missed somebody, send me a note and I’ll update this post.
- Beediverse
- Bee Foster
- Bee With Me
- Buzz Heroes
- CJ Wildlife (UK)
- Crown Bees
- Forest Flower Shop
- Good Riddance Farm
- Healing Farm
- Hive and Garden
- Kinsmen
- Knox Cellars
- MasonbeesUK (UK)
- Mason Bee Central
- One Green World
- Osmia Bee Company
- Park Seed
- Pollen Bee Nest
- Potting Shed Creations
- Prairie Moon Nursery
- Rent Mason Bees
- Rock Pond Nursery
- Territorial Seed Company
- The Bees Waggle
- Two Bees Apiary
- Welliver Outdoor
There is no perfect house, so do a little research with local bee experts to see what might be best for your area. Also, no single house is going to attract all types of bees. Figure out what type of bee you want and then find a house that suits it. Personally, I’m a fan of having several, smaller houses so that I can situate them in different parts of the yard. I also like to think that this separation reduces the ability of parasitic wasps to lay eggs in the tunnels. I.e., if you have a hotel with hundreds of holes, that makes it very easy for parasitic wasps to go hole to hole.
Here’s a guide to avoiding low-quality bee houses that are for sale at most garden centers. If you’re handy, you can also make your own (it’s fun).
