When Should I Start Putting Out Swarm Traps?

Good Sunday Evening! I see on different bee forums online that people want to know when is the best time to put out swarm traps. Before I answer that question I want to remind you that beekeeping suggestions are always subject to your location. Always remember that beekeeping is local! But for the answer to the question at hand, my answer is that its best to keep baited swarm traps out all year long. Why? For me there are several reasons. The main one for me is because where I live in West Central Louisiana we have fairly short and mild winters. Some are shorter and milder than others. I have talked to some folks here in the state that have caught swarms in December and January that did quite well on there own the next year. For a swarm caught that time I might recommend pouring a bag of sugar in the trap to help ensure their survival.
So, all that said, I am placing swarm traps now, baited with pure lemongrass oil, and will be checking them every couple of weeks. How many should you put out? Well, that depends on you really, but I put out twice as many traps as what I hope to catch. That means if you are hoping to catch 10 wild swarms, you need to put out 20 traps. Just my opinion, but its better to catch too many colonies than not enough. Odds are in the south you will catch a couple of swarms per year per trap, so make sure you've got adequate hives built for them.
This year I am putting out five bar Kenyan Top-Bar swarm traps. I plan to leave them out permanently, therefore when I check them every couple of weeks I'll be bringing there forever homes with me and just swapping out top bars and rebaiting with lemongrass oil. 
Another question you may be asking is "Where do you put these traps?" Anywhere I can. I do try to keep them at least 5 miles from the Bee Farm. The reason for this is so they don't try to find where they came from and go back. I've had this happen before, and before I could go back and get them again the water meter reader had sprayed them and killed them. So 5 plus miles is what I try to do. As far as locations, I place them in wooded areas on the highway right-of-way, or private land owners property (with the landowners permission), along dirt roads, the edge of pipelines or power transmission lines. If you'll notice in the pictures I'll label them so that people wandering up on them will know what they are and that they are regularly checked along with my phone number in case there is a problem with their location. Most people are honest and mature enough not to mess with them. Oh, and yes, I put some on the ground. The bees don't care, and i'm too fat and lazy to be carrying ladders around with me in the woods.. I've had luck with doing that on the farm so I'll let you know how it works in the woods. I don't foresee any issues with it though. That's all for now. Happy beekeeping!