Q: What do your bees need in March?

March is notorious for seemingly healthy colonies starving to death.

• Watch for blooms! The silver maples are almost out and many trees have buds.
• Lift the hives and open the lids to make sure the bees are alive and that there are sufficient stores.
• Feed if needed (sugar candy, fondant, granulated sugar)
• Repair and paint equipment
• Plan for spring splits
• Plan out the year's mite treatments and other interventions

January

• Make sure your bees are alive, and confirm honey stores
• Feed if needed (sugar candy, fondant, granulated sugar)
• Repair and paint equipment
• Order bees (packages, nucs, queens)
• Plan for spring splits
• Plan out the year's mite treatments and other interventions
• Design honey labels!

February

• On a warm day, check to make sure your bees are flying
• Confirm honey stores: lift the hive and peek into the top (ideally you can get used to just lifting the hive to gauge the stores)
• Feed if needed (sugar candy, fondant, granulated sugar)
• Repair and paint equipment
• Hurry up and order bees (packages, nucs, queens)—you are late and supplies are limited
• Plan for spring splits
• Plan out the year's mite treatments and other interventions