Adding a bee hotel to your yard provides nesting spots for vital pollinators.
Each spring, solitary bees become diligent nest builders.
They lay a single egg in a tunnel, provision it with pollen, and then seal it.
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Theyre alsoexcellent pollinatorsthat will boost the health and productivity of your garden.
If you buy one, choose wisely.
Also, avoid hotels with large-diameter tunnels and pinecones because bees wont nest in either.
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For a more hands-on approach, build your own bee hotel.
Bee hotels come in a variety of styles.
The birdhouse styleresembles a birdhousefilled with removable tunnels.
The wood block style is a solid wood block with holes drilled into it.
Bamboo is ideal for tunnels since it naturally comes in different diameters.
Cut the bamboo into sections and place them in the hotel.
Several organizations offer free detailed plans for DIY birdhouse-style bee hotels, such asthese from North Carolina State University.
When building a bee hotel, always use untreated, natural wood, like pine.
Installation Tips
The correct location is essential for bee hotels.
Place your hotel in asunny location that faces east or southeastto capture the morning sun.
The warmth will help bees start their day early.
Avoid hanging the bee hotel from swaying tree branches.
load the bee hotel at eye level.
Finally, dont spray pesticides around your bee hotel.
You dont want to harm the animals youre trying to help.
Tips for Maintaining a Bee Hotel
Maintenance is a crucial but often overlooked aspect of bee hotels.
You cant just set it and forget it, emphasizes Youngsteadt.Regular cleaningprevents the buildup of diseases and parasites.
Replace or clean nesting material every two to three years.
No one wants to live in a messy hotel, adds Isaacs.
Timing the cleaning of a bee hotel is challenging because its seldom empty.
Bees lay eggs in the spring, and these eggs may not hatch until the following spring or summer.
To avoid this issue, the experts recommend using an emergence box.
An emergence box is critical for bee hotel management.
Place old nesting material into the emergence box in late winter or early spring.
When bees hatch later that spring and summer, theyll fly toward the light and exit the box.
Cleaning wood blocks is particularly challenging.
Youngsteadt suggests lining the tunnels with paper to simplify maintenance.
Remove these liners after the bees hatch.
Without this method, you will probably need to replace the wood block hotel every few years.
Avoid moving them into a warm or heated area, as this could prematurely awaken the bees from dormancy.
Providing Nesting Habitat Naturally
Bee hotels are a fun way to support bee populations.
However, if you prefer a less hands-on approach, provide anatural nesting habitatinstead.
This reduces your workload and helps sustain your local bee populations.
Remember, patience is key.
If you dont see bees in the first season, dont give up.
It can take a while, says Isaacs.
Give your local bees time to discover and make use of the new habitat youve provided.
With persistence and care, your garden can become a thriving sanctuary for these vital pollinators.
