Everything you need to know before keeping Mason Bee’s.

Utilize this link to help guide you through caring for a mason bee house and mason bee’s.  Below are some helpful resources to guide you through the process further.  Remember Mason Bee ADS kits are now available in the district.

***David Suzuki Foundation Pollinators & Native Plants

*** VI Native Pollinator Plants – Guide

***SEED Bombs:   

Materials

1 cup compost OR potting soil & compost mixture

1/2 cup of flour

1 tsp of seeds (or 1/2 tsp for very small seeds)

Instructions

1) First mix the compost and the flour together thoroughly.

2) Then add seeds and gently mix together

3) Add water one tablespoon at a time so that the mixture bonds together like a good dough.  (Add more compost if mixture is too wet).

4) Once the mixture has the right consistency, divide mixture into small pieces and roll into a ball (small marble). A smaller seed ball is much more likely to have better contact with the soil and as the small ball crumbles it provides the start for the root system, but is still heavy enough to anchor the emerging seeds to the ground.

5) Let dry overnight or for 24 hours.

***Ideally, seed bombs should be made the day before rain is forecast and then cast 24 hours later – hopefully before the rain has started! If it doesn’t rain then no matter, the seeds will be fine for a few days.