Q&A for How to Attract Honey Bees

If you would like to farm the bees for honey, then yes, you would need a beehive. If you simply want to bring bees into the area, you do not need a hive.

Natural pollen is the best way to attract bees. American Basswood is said to be one of the most attractive trees for bees.

Try placing a few drops of lemongrass in an area you would like honey bees to visit.

You could try that method, but flowers and nectar would probably work best. If you're really motivated, move the queen to your box, and the rest of the hive will follow.

All of the tubes in the box have openings, so the bees can leave whenever they want.

There is no way to attract only honey bees. In fact, honey bees are relatively rare in the wild in most places compared to other bees, so any honey bees you are attracting, you are "borrowing" from a nearby bee farm. But the good news is it does not matter - all kinds of bees are pollinators and are equally helpful for your garden.

You can purchase them if you need to.

The more the merrier. Also, the more vibrant, the better. They are attracted to bright colors.

Yes, but carefully. You will need to pick the right spot for that particular plant so it gets the right amount of light. And make sure you prep correctly; for example, the soil needs to be in good condition or the plant will go into shock and die.

You can always grow something. If you're having very wet seasons, look at other places (e.g. Seattle) that are very wet and do what they do. Same goes for a dry season -- look at a place like Texas.

You should begin looking for bee houses in mid- March (spring). It will also depend on where you live, and possibly what kind of bee.

No. You could also try and use flowers. You could also try to use sweet scented objects or honey.

You can find organic paint at many hardware or home improvement stores, or at some farming supply stores. You could also try ordering organic paint online.

Usually, having lots of bees around is not a problem. But if it gets to the point that you are afraid to go near your garden, you'd be surprised by how docile bees really are. If you do end up getting stung and are really convinced that you want them to leave, kill off some of the flowers; not with pesticides or herbicides, but simply stop watering them for a little while and the bees won't come.

Apply a repellant spray to the area.

Yes, they are attracted by pheromones.

It is good to have a variety of wildflowers native to your area. The more species of flower you have, the more there is for the bees to pollinate. A large garden is preferable, with different native flowers that bloom through the warm seasons.

Yes, this might work. Bees are attracted to honey because honey is also a food for the bees.

Don't use pesticides. Use local native plants. Choose several colors of flowers. Plant flowers in clumps. Include flowers of different shapes. Have a diversity of plants flowering all season. Plant where bees will visit.

Bees make honey out of pollen they collect from flowers. The only form of a bee feeder that you could make would to be to plant some flowers or your own fruit/vegetable plants.

Early spring is the best time to plant a garden, as it is usually the perfect time for seeds to germinate, but if the temperatures tend to get below freezing, try planting them later in the season.

The most common types of honey bees in Tennessee are Africanized and European honey bees.

It depends where you live, if you live somewhere warm they might get attracted but, it also depends on what's in your small garden. If you have plants that have blooms, then they are most likely to come pay you a visit.

It’s not advisable to feed bees honey, as it could be carrying pathogens from another hive that may infect the bees and cause illness in their hive.