Seasonal Beekeeping Calendar (Monthly Tasks): Essential Guide

This professional, month-by-month plan helps U.S. beekeepers keep their colonies healthy, productive, and resilient all year.

The guide explains what the bees are doing each month, what the keeper should prioritize, and how to save time while protecting the hive. It folds in practical cues like nectar flows, winter cluster behavior, and goldenrod bloom windows.

You’ll find clear rules for emergency feeding, safe inspection times, and mite management windows. The plan flags dearths, robbing risk, and ventilation needs during hot weather.

Use local bloom observations to fine-tune timing, and check the linked reference for inspection timing and winter store targets at inspection timing and winter store targets.

This actionable outline suits new and skilled keepers who want to align equipment, treatments, and harvest timing. For applied seasonal task lists and deeper procedure notes see a complementary guide at detailed task guidance.

Key Takeaways

• Follow a month-by-month plan to match hive needs with local nectar windows.
• Heft rather than open hives in winter; aim for adequate honey stores.
• Inspect regularly from spring when temperatures allow and watch for swarm cues.
• Monitor varroa in key months and treat within recommended windows.
• Prepare equipment and feed ahead of dearths and harvests for smooth planning.

How to Use This Ultimate Guide and Stay On Track All Year

Treat this guide as your field checklist. Scan the relevant month section before each visit so you can stage feed, treatments, and equipment at the right time. This saves time and reduces hive disturbance.

User intent and what this monthly calendar covers

Use local cues — maple and dandelion bloom, main nectar flow, goldenrod, then first frosts — to decide when to add boxes or stop liquid feed. Work only on days near or above 50°F for quick peeks in late winter and early spring.

Safety, climate notes, and U.S. timing cues

Observe the colony: pollen in baskets, fresh white wax, or fanning at the entrance confirm a flow and help you adjust supering. Prepare spares (frames, supers, nuc boxes, queen cages) ahead of peak windows to avoid delays that raise swarm risk.

• Wear protection on cool or windy days; keep openings short to avoid chilling brood.
• Record brood pattern, stores, mite counts, and population each month to guide treatments.
• If you begin emergency feeding, continue until natural nectar sustains build-up.

Remain flexible: shift actions a week or two for local weather while keeping the sequence and decision points intact for the best results all year.

January: Winter Cluster Care, Dead Bees, and Food Stores

January calls for quiet observation: colonies shrink into a tight cluster to preserve heat. The cluster often spans 4–8 frames while workers wrap the queen and shiver to keep brood warm. Expect low flight activity and steady consumption of honey.

Quick checks and simple winter actions

Do not open the hive unless it’s an emergency. If you must peek, choose a calm, sunny day and move fast to avoid chilling the cluster.

Clear the entrance of snow and debris so bees can ventilate and take short cleansing flights on warm days. Finding more dead bees on the bottom board or dragged outside is normal and usually signals a functioning colony.

• Weigh or lift the back of the hive to estimate stores; a very light hive needs immediate emergency feeding.
• Emergency feed options: frames of honey, sugar boards, fondant, or granulated sugar. Continue feeding until natural nectar returns.
• Check lids and hive weights after storms; secure equipment to prevent moisture and wind damage.
• Use January to repair frames, service the smoker, and order queens, nucs, or parts before suppliers sell out.

Minimal intrusion is key: prioritize warmth, clear entrances, and enough honey so colonies can survive winter.

February: Monitor Food Stores and Early Brood Starts

February remains a winter month of careful balance. Longer daylight often nudges the cluster upward into the top brood chamber. On mild 50°F+ days the queen may lay eggs and a small central brood patch appears.

Colonies can use roughly 25 pounds of honey this month. A quick top check on calm warm days lets you assess remaining honey without removing frames. Keep the entrance clear for ventilation and short cleansing flights.

Feeding and brood support

• Fondant: easy, low-moisture emergency feed placed above the cluster.
• Sugar boards: good for top access and steady consumption.
• Dry sugar: works if several warm days let bees collect water.

“Feed consistently until natural nectar returns; small brood patches raise energy needs fast.”

Order packages, nucs, queens, and prepare equipment now so boxes and frames are painted, dry, and ready by mid‑March. Start a spring checklist to track splits, super inventory, and ventilation needs as brood expands.

March: Prevent Starvation and Assess Brood Pattern

March is a critical month when colonies often run low and quick checks can mean the difference between survival and loss. Inspect only on calm, windless 50°F+ warm days and move fast to avoid chilling brood.

When to open the hive and what to look for

Lift the outer cover and peek at the top frames. Look for sealed honey in upper frames and eggs or fresh larvae to confirm the queen is present.

Assess the overall brood pattern quickly; a compact, even pattern signals strength. If stores look light, take action at once.

Feeding strategy: sugar syrup vs. sugar board vs. frames of honey

Cold snaps: use fondant or granulated sugar under the cover. If days stay reliably mild, switch to sugar syrup for easier consumption.

Once you start supplemental feed, keep it going until the natural nectar flow begins. Prepare extra frames and supers now so you can add space when foraging increases.

Early mite monitoring and planning spring treatments

Begin Varroa checks this month and plan treatments that won’t taint honey stores. Consider combining weak, disease-free hives to conserve resources and reduce mite pressure.

Remove entrance reducers and mouse guards as traffic builds to improve ventilation and foraging efficiency.

April: Spring Build-Up, Reversals, and Swarm Prevention

April ushers a sharp rise in hive activity as early blossoms kick the colony into growth. This month focuses on supporting rapid brood expansion while preventing congestion and swarming.

Brood checks and re-queening decisions

On a warm, calm day perform a full inspection. Look for solid brood pattern, healthy larvae, and laying behavior.

If brood is spotty or the queen fails to lay well, re-queen early to avoid weak colonies later in spring.

Nutrition: protein and carbohydrates

Offer protein via pollen patties or frames of pollen to support brood growth. Provide carbs with sugar boards or a light sugar syrup until bees stop taking it.

Boxes, bottom boards, and swarm readiness

Reverse boxes only when brood is consolidated low and the box above is mostly empty. Do not reverse if brood spans both boxes.

Clean the bottom board while boxes are open to remove winter debris and improve airflow. Watch for swarm signs and add space or prepare splits and traps if congestion appears.

• Complete spring treatments before adding supers, per label directions.
• Assemble painted, dry equipment and feeders before installing packages or nucs.
• Note increased drone numbers as a cue that mating flights and splitting windows are near.

“Standardize inspections every few days this month to track population, brood quality, and stores.”

May: Peak Growth, Adding Hive Bodies, and Honey Supers

Rapid growth in May makes it essential to add space and check for congestion before bees make swarm preparations. Overwintered hives commonly reach about 80% strength by mid‑May. Watch frame draw and brood coverage to decide when to expand.

Swarm indicators, control protocols, and ventilation

Inspect every 7–10 days for queen cells on frame bottoms, tight brood nests, or backfilling that limits the queen’s laying space. If you see queen cups or crowded frames, act quickly to split or add room.

Make sure to provide strong ventilation: open entrances, consider upper vents, and add shade on hot afternoons to lower swarming pressure.

Mite checks before supers; IPM choices that fit nectar flow

Perform varroa checks before adding honey supers and finish any non‑compatible treatments in time. Some products allow treatment with supers on—always follow label directions.

• Add hive bodies when ~80% of frames are drawn or capped; packages usually need a second brood box by month’s end.
• Keep at least one drawn super ahead during nectar to prevent backfilling and early swarm triggers.
• Balance colonies by moving frames of emerging brood to reduce pressure and verify queen productivity; replace failing queens before the main flow peaks.
• Maintain water nearby and trim vegetation around hives for access and airflow.

“Weekly inspections and timely space management in May preserve colony strength and protect honey quality.”

For inspection timing and store targets consult this concise guidance: inspection timing and winter store targets.

June: Nectar Flow Management and Space for Honey

In June, rapid foraging and heavy nectar intake demand careful space and heat management. Peak colony population often occurs now and can carry into July. Frequent, quick checks keep the hive from becoming congested and triggering swarms.

When and how to add and rotate supers

Add honey supers incrementally. Place new supers closer to the brood nest to encourage filling. Rotate partly filled supers upward so bees finish curing honey in the highest boxes.

Keep one super ahead to prevent backfilling the brood area and to protect stores.

Keeping hives cool: shade, entrances, and water

Provide shade during the hottest hours and leave ample entrances open for airflow. Use screened inner covers or staggered supers to improve ventilation and reduce heat stress.

Ensure a reliable water source nearby; colonies may use over a gallon per day for cooling. If bees find neighbor pools, that creates problems—offer a clean water point instead.

“Harvest capped early honey to create varietal lots and free space for continued nectar curing.”

Continue routine mite monitoring and check the queen’s laying pattern during the flow. Clean comb in supers and avoid brood in extraction boxes to keep honey quality high.

July: Harvest Timing, Dearth Awareness, and Robbing Risks

July brings a turning point: ripe honey, rising robbing risk, and peak colony numbers that demand fast decisions.

Signs honey is ripe and when to harvest

Look for about 90% capping on frames and test uncapped cells. Shake a frame gently; if no syrup drips, the honey is stable.

Pull ripe supers promptly to avoid moisture uptake during humid days and to free space for any ongoing nectar flow.

Population balance and protecting stores

Strong colonies often peak mid‑July. Evaluate weak units now and consider combining them or re‑queening to boost winter prospects.

Late July commonly brings a dearth. Reduce exposed feeds, tighten the entrance, or add robbing screens if aggression rises.

“Provide water and ventilation — on hot days a hive may use up to 1.5 gallons for cooling.”

Keep mite records and coordinate extraction gear and storage to protect honey quality. Stay alert — late swarms can still occur if congestion and heat coincide.

August: Prepare Winter Bees and Control Mites

Late summer is the critical window when colonies shift from summer work to producing the long‑lived bees that will carry the hive through winter. Protecting brood now improves survival and spring build‑up next year.

Target mite thresholds and treatment windows

Do a formal mite count by mid‑August. Treat promptly if results hit roughly a 3% infestation. Choose a treatment that fits current temperatures and follow label directions carefully.

Formic acid works when it is cool enough; thymol options suit moderate heat. Remember oxalic acid only kills phoretic mites — it does not reach mites inside capped brood and may need repeat applications or combination in an IPM plan.

Adjusting supers as nectar wanes

Remove extra supers mid‑month so any remaining goldenrod or fall nectar goes into the hive’s winter weight. Align removals with product labels to protect honey quality when treatments require supers off.

• Check brood pattern and queen performance to confirm strong winter bee production.
• Monitor hive weight and plan fall feeding if stores will be short.
• Reduce hive volume later to help the colony conserve heat and guard food.
• Watch for robbing as flows decline; use entrance reducers or screens if needed.

“Protect the larval phase now — healthy winter bees mean a stronger start next year.”

For a concise planning tool, see the beekeeping calendar to time inspections and treatments for the rest of the year.

September: Final Inspections, Food Stores, and Robbing Screens

Early September is the time for one deep, methodical inspection. Evaluate population density, queen health, and the weight of honey and syrup in each hive. Many keepers aim for roughly 100 pounds of carbohydrates per colony to carry through winter.

Weight goals, entrance reduction, and goldenrod flow

Confirm stores by hefting or using a scale. If a hive is short, plan heavy syrup now and monitor uptake over several calm days.

Install robbing screens and reduce the main entrance before goldenrod ends. That late bloom can provide a final nectar sources boost, but once it stops robbing risk rises quickly.

When to combine weaker colonies

Combine weaker, disease‑free colonies into stronger ones rather than nursing marginal units late in the year. This preserves bees and honey for a single, viable colony next year.

• Test upper entrances now so bees can propolize gaps and improve moisture control.
• After a full inspection, avoid breaking boxes apart; let the interior stabilize.
• Track mite status after August treatments and plan follow-ups if counts remain elevated.
• Clear vegetation around stands to improve airflow and reduce pest harborage as temperatures fall.

“Make sure the colony has cohesive brood and a laying queen so the population carries into late fall.”

October: Winter Configuration, Moisture Control, and Insulation

October is the month to set your hives for steady cold-weather performance and reduce moisture threats. Tidy the exterior, confirm equipment is sound, and plan final feed changes so the colony enters winter with stable access to stores.

Upper vents, feeds, and hive volume

Make sure each hive has an upper entrance to vent warm, damp air away from the cluster and to provide an exit if lower entrances freeze or are blocked.

Install moisture control components—quilts, moisture boards, or absorbent material—so condensation does not drip onto frames and brood. As nights dip into the low 40s, pull liquid feed to avoid chilling and fermentation.

Switch to solid feeds (fondant or sugar boards) when freezes are likely. Reduce hive volume to match cluster size so bees can keep stores and brood within easy contact.

• Confirm stores and position honey above the cluster.
• Secure covers, add wind protection, and fit mouse guards at entrances.
• Do a final exterior seal of seams and allow bees to propolize in fair weather.

“October choices shape winter outcomes—prioritize ventilation, moisture control, and secure food access for healthy bees all year.”

November: Clustered Colonies and Broodless Mite Treatments

November finds most colonies tucked into a tight cluster, a quiet window for targeted mite control. Many hives are broodless now, so where legal and appropriate, oxalic acid treatments can reach phoretic mites not protected under capped brood.

Late treatments do not restore already damaged winter bees. Instead, they lower mite pressure to help the colony start strong next year.

Choose calm, sunny days near freezing for any external checks and avoid opening the hive. Stable, cold but not frigid weather helps the cluster conserve energy and reduces resource use.

Confirm upper entrances are clear and that wind protection and stands are secure before storms. If moisture is suspected, inspect exterior ventilation paths without breaking cluster contact.

• Monitor hive heft from outside and plan mid‑winter solid feed if stores seem marginal.
• Record mite treatment dates so spring follow‑ups can be timed and tracked.
• Keep the apiary tidy, remove spare equipment that could harbor pests, and secure stands for winter storms.

“Minimal disturbance is the norm in November—prioritize broodless mite management to protect spring population growth.”

December: Minimal Intrusion, Planning Next Year

With bees clustered in December, focus on planning and light exterior care rather than opening boxes. A stable, undisturbed cluster is the best defense for colonies to survive winter.

Minimize intrusion. Clear entrances of snow or a few dead bees to keep airflow. Do this quickly on calm, sunny days and avoid breaking the cluster.

After the winter solstice, consumption may rise as brood rearing slowly resumes. Monitor hive weight from outside—lift the back briefly—to check stores without opening frames.

Use December for logistics: inventory equipment, frames, and supers now. Place orders early to avoid shortages and lead times when suppliers fill come spring.

• Check lids, nuts, and hive weights after storms; re‑secure windbreaks as needed.
• Map goals for splits, queen replacements, and honey production to streamline next year’s schedule.
• Pre‑label storage containers and prep extraction gear so harvest day runs smoothly.
• Schedule winter education—club meetings, workshops, and reading—to sharpen spring practices.

“A quiet, well‑planned December turns the first warm days of next year into efficient, productive time in the yard.”

For resources on planning and reading lists, see beekeeping resources and books. Thoughtful, low‑impact care in December sets the hive up to thrive when warmer days return.

Seasonal Beekeeping Calendar (Monthly Tasks): Quick-Scan Reference

Use this quick reference to line up inspections, feeds, and treatments so each visit takes minutes instead of hours.

At-a-glance monthly actions and timing for U.S. yards

Jan–Feb: Tight clusters are normal. Clear entrances and continue emergency feed if started. Do not open brood frames unless it’s an emergency.

Mar–May: Inspect on 50°F+ days. Prevent starvation in March and confirm the queen is laying. Start early mite checks and add pollen patties late March. In April and May, do spring cleanups, consider reversals, and add hive bodies before major swarming. Make sure mite checks are completed before adding supers.

Jun–Aug: Stay a super ahead during peak flow. Rotate and add supers, provide water and shade, and harvest early varietals when capped. In July expect a dearth and use robbing screens as needed. In August target ~3% varroa by mid‑month and remove excess supers to focus fall nectar into stores.

Sep–Dec: Do a final inspection in September and aim for weight targets for winter stores. Install upper entrances and combine weak colonies. In October install moisture control and pull liquid feed before freezes. November is a low‑disturbance window for broodless oxalic acid treatments where appropriate. December: minimal intrusion and plan equipment and orders for next year.

• Quick prep: stage equipment and supplies ahead of key windows.
• Timing rule: act on warm, calm days and avoid long inspections in cold weather.
• Record-keeping: note mite counts, queen status, and stores each visit.

“A short, consistent routine across the year saves time and preserves colony strength.”

Nectar Flow, Pollen Sources, and Timing Your Honey Supers

A clear map of nearby nectar and pollen sources lets you add honey supers when bees need room. Track early bloomers — dandelions, willows, maples, and fruit trees — and later sources like clover, linden, milkweed, and fall goldenrod.

Mapping local nectar sources

Create a local bloom calendar so you can stage equipment before big flows. Note timing of trees and shrubs and record when pollen types change. Diverse pollen supports brood rearing and reduces the need for extra protein supplements.

Supering strategy to prevent backfilling and swarms

Read flow indicators closely: fresh white wax, fast comb drawing, fanning, and a heavy nectar smell at the entrance. When these appear, add supers one or two at a time and make sure you keep at least one super ahead.

• Rotate partly filled supers upward and insert empties next to the brood to encourage upward storage.
• Stage clean frames and extra supers before the first major flow to avoid shortages.
• Coordinate IPM around super additions so treatments comply with labels and do not contaminate honey.

“A tuned supering plan preserves brood space, lowers swarm pressure, and yields better honey.”

Verify ventilation as boxes stack up; airflow helps ripen nectar and controls hive temperature. A steady supering rhythm pays off with higher-quality honey and calmer colonies during peak flow.

Swarm Management and Splits for a Strong Next Year

Spotting early swarm cues helps you act quickly and protect hive strength for the next year. Inspect weekly during peak swarm months and focus on the upper brood chamber where queen cells often form on the bottom bars of frames.

Detecting swarm cells and timing splits

Look for sealed queen cells, backfilling, and tight brood patterns. Reverse brood boxes to give the queen more laying space and remove entrance reducers on overwintered colonies to improve airflow and activity.

“Catching queen cells early makes a controlled split far easier than chasing a free swarm.”

Hiving a swarm and walk-away split essentials

To split: stage equipment, find and move the queen with brood, and ensure each unit has capped brood and nurse bees. Add a caged queen or a selected capped queen cell.

• Mark split dates and check for eggs in about four weeks.
• When hiving a swarm, set a complete hive, shake bees onto a sheet in front of the entrance, and watch for fanning.
• Feed 2:1 syrup after hiving to settle the group and help comb building.
• Keep at least one super ahead during flows to reduce swarm impulses.
• Rotate out old comb and re-queen every 1–2 years to curb swarming tendencies.

Track split and swarm outcomes to refine queen sourcing, timing, and equipment needs next season. A focused approach now yields stronger colonies and better performance next year. For checklists to guide spring actions see spring checklists.

Conclusion

, A year of well-timed care pays off with stable winter survival and reliable harvests. Protect winter clusters, feed and inspect smartly in spring, and add supers during peak flow to capture quality honey.

Make timely decisions each month so small actions compound into stronger colonies and fewer emergencies. Stay observant of local blooms, weather, and colony signals and adjust your plan in real time.

Document hive checks, mite counts, and queen performance. Stage equipment ahead of peak windows to save time and reduce swarm triggers.

Finish fall with proper weight targets, upper entrances, and moisture control. Use broodless mite options late in the year when legal to protect spring build‑up.

Revisit the quick‑scan before each visit and work with local clubs to fine‑tune timing. Steady, season‑appropriate care yields resilient bees and a reliable, high‑quality honey crop.