I have several videos on here about harvesting Phragmites reed grass and cutting the tubes for mason Bee culture. Here is an example provided by Brian Guzda of Duncan (https://www.instagram.com/briansmasonbees/?hl=en) which shows how mason bees preferentially fill up the Phragmites tubes before laying their eggs in wooden trays. Brian also comments on those plastic trays-” 70% corn material and 30% plastic resin. I have used one since 2018 and find not a great return with lot of mold and mildew inside the holes. No place for the moisture to be absorbed like wood or cardboard tubes can do. ”
This post was originally published in March 2023**