The best hive site on the northern plains gets morning sun, has a windbreak to the north and west, drains well, and is somewhere you'll actually walk to in bad weather. Everything else is refinement. Get those four right and your colonies have a real advantage before you've done anything else.
How much sun do hives need?
Morning sun matters more than all-day sun. Bees start foraging earlier when the entrance warms early, and that adds up over a short season. Full afternoon sun is fine here — our summers rarely punish a colony the way they might further south.
Deep shade is the one to avoid. Shaded hives stay damp, and damp is what kills northern colonies more often than cold does.
Does wind really matter that much?
On the prairie, yes. Constant wind forces a cluster to work harder all winter, and it strips heat from the hive every time bees try to fly in spring.
A windbreak on the north and west sides — a tree line, an outbuilding, a snow fence, stacked straw bales — is one of the highest-return things you can do. It doesn't need to be pretty. It needs to break the wind.
What about drainage?
Never site a hive in a low spot. Spring melt pools there, and a hive standing in cold water is a hive with a moisture problem it can't solve.
Get the hive off the ground on a stand and tilt it very slightly forward — a quarter inch is plenty — so condensation and rain run out the entrance instead of pooling on the bottom board.
How close to the house is too close?
Practically, closer is better. The hives you check are the hives that do well, and a yard you have to drive to gets checked less often than one you can see from the kitchen window.
Point entrances away from walkways, driveways, and the neighbor's yard. A hedge or fence about six feet in front of the entrance forces the flight path up over head height, which solves most complaints before they happen.
What about forage and water?
Bees will fly two miles or more, so you have less control over forage than you'd think. Don't over-plan it.
Water is worth planning. If you don't provide a source, bees will find one — often a neighbor's pool or stock tank. A shallow dish with rocks or a dripping hose within sight of the hive settles it.
Can I keep bees in town?
In most of our territory, yes, but check your city ordinance before you order. Rules vary a lot between towns, and it's a much easier conversation in March than in May with bees already in the yard.
Questions about any of this? Call or text us at (701) 809-0153. We're always happy to help, even if you didn't get your bees from us.