Q. We have had orchard bee blocks in place for several years now and all the holes seem to be getting filled up. Is there a time when we should clean them out or should we just hang more blocks? Seems like the nests are always still hatching or being refilled. We don’t want to kill our precious bees, that’s for sure. Thanks. Marty Williams – Sumner, WA
A. I think you are much better off putting out more blocks. If the old blocks become unsuitable to the bees over time they will abandon the old blocks and move to the new ones. Wood blocks are not easy to clean. What would make them unsuitable would be parasite or disease. Professional growers 5/16 paper tube inserts in wood blocks so they can replace them each year. This is also how they are sold. Although orchard bees prefer wood they will also nest in plastic drinking straws that have been folded in half, taped together and inserted into a soup can that has been mounted on an outdoor wall. Knox Cellars produces many of these products so you don’t have to. Their products are carried at many independent local garden centers. You can contact them at: Knox Cellars, 25724 NE 10th St., Sammamish, WA 98074