Season-by-season pointers to care for your beehive

October 1, 2015

If you're new to beekeeping, you may not realize that it's a year-long endeavor. We'll give you a general overview of how to care for your hive each season.

Season-by-season pointers to care for your beehive

Buzzing through the seaons

A beehive goes through 4 main phases each year, and these phases correspond to the seasons. These are the steps that make up the cycle:

  • Spring buildup: As winter ends, the first blossoms appear and more nectar and pollen become available for the bees. The queen responds by laying more eggs to increase the population of the colony.
  • During buildup, most food is consumed to sustain the colony's growth.  There will be little surplus to harvest.
  • Summer flow: By summer, the colony is at its full strength. The adult workers are producing such a large honey surplus that it can be harvested up to three times before autumn reduces the flow.
  • The hive requires little intervention, although there must always be a sufficient number of empty cells available to store honey. As the frames are filled, they can be removed and replaced.
  • Autumn decline: Most honey-providing flowers are fading by autumn, so the bee population will decline from the reduced availability of pollen and nectar.
  • Some supers should be removed to make the hive smaller and easier to keep warm. Although this reduces the amount of honey stored in the hive, enough is left for the bees to survive the winter and start working again in spring.
  • Winter rest: In very cold conditions, bees stop flying and form a tight cluster in the hive to stay warm. The brood nest is small.
  • Under these quiet conditions, the adult workers may live for up to three months. The hive should be left alone as much as possible.

Following these tips will help you stay in tune with your beehive's seasonal changes. And that means two things: happier, healthier bees and a lot more honey!

The material on this website is provided for entertainment, informational and educational purposes only and should never act as a substitute to the advice of an applicable professional. Use of this website is subject to our terms of use and privacy policy.
Close menu