Deciding where to put a bee hotel in your garden can be tricky sometimes. Do you want to encourage bees to come and pollinate your garden but don't know what spot they will like the most? We did the research to bring you the answer.
You should place a bee hotel against a flat surface and away from areas with high winds. If you live somewhere that gets cold, we recommend placing your hotel facing the sun to keep your bees warm for the winter. It's also important your bee hotel is away from the ground, to protect it from animals.
As we begin, we will cover all things bee hotels and tag some related products. Whether you want to save the bees or need help pollinating, keeping your hotel safe and secure is essential. With that said, let's get right into this topic!
What Does A Bee Hotel Do?
When it comes to the purpose of a bee hotel, this is a great way to attract bees to your garden. Generally, placing a hotel in your yard will give bees somewhere to make their nests and live.
Guest-wise, solitary bees that tend to fly solo are typically the ones that make their way into the hotel. With that said, you won't have hundreds of bees coming to live in your garden but should have a few.
Where Is The Best Place To Put A Bee Hotel?
To get the most bees into your hotel, we suggest placing it in the sun, facing south or southeast. Bees, in particular, love the sun and prefer their home to be warm in temperature.
When it comes to keeping your bees safe, try to keep your hotel at least three to four feet off the ground.
This bee hotel has a hexagon shape, measures 8 x 8 x 4 inches, is fully coated with varnish, and promises to be waterproof.
Click here to see this bee hotel on Amazon.
When Should You Put Out A Bee Hotel?
Although every bee is different, many look for new homes during the early spring. A good time to put out your bee hotel would be late winter, just before the bees start their search.
If you decide to keep your bee hotel out all year, make sure to keep it as dry as possible. Bees can handle the weather changes, but too much moisture in their home can be deadly.
What Do You Do With A Bee Hotel In The Winter?
During the winter, it's best not to move or bother the bees/eggs in your hotel. Most times, bees can adapt to colder temperatures and protect themselves without the help of humans.
If the weather is extremely wet and cold, this is when we suggest moving your hotel into a patio or shed space to keep it safe. With that said, you don't want your hotel to get too warm, or the eggs will prematurely hatch and not have anything to eat.
What Do You Put In A Bee Hotel?
When decorating a bee hotel, try to mimic a typical bee nest as close as possible. Generally, bees like to have wood drilled with holes, hollow bamboo stalks, and other natural materials.
Out of the options you can use for a hotel, we recommend choosing solid wood or bamboo. The closer you get to a "natural" bee nest, the more a bee will want to stay in your hotel.
This wooden bee hotel is high-quality pine and bamboo, sustainably made, measures 8 x 7 x 5 inches, and promises to be easy to install.
Click here to see this bee hotel on Amazon.
How Do I Attract Bees To My Hotel?
For those having trouble getting bees to their hotel, try planting bee-friendly plants around your garden. A few good options include lavender, sunflowers, cosmos, and sage to get your hotel some attention.
Bees generally live close to flowering shrubs and trees, so the more you have, the busier your garden and hotel will be.
This pack of seeds is heirloom and GMO-free, and comes in a few size options.
Check here to see these lavender seeds on Amazon.
This mix comes with 1000 cosmos seeds, has an expected spring bloom time, grows up to 60 inches, and comes from a family-owned company.
Click here to see this seed mix on Amazon.
How Do You Make A Bee Hotel Out Of A Block Of Wood?
For anyone wanting to make their own bee hotel from wood, we've got you covered. To do this, start by getting a block of wood measuring at least 75 millimeters thick, an electric drill, and drill bits ranging from two to ten millimeters in diameter.
Once you have your supplies, start by drilling holes into the wood, avoiding going all the way through. Make sure to space the holes apart so each bee has its own place to nest. You can make as many holes as you need; just don't let them be too close together.
These unfinished wood blocks measure 6 x 3 x 3 inches, comes with six pieces, and have great reviews from online customers.
Click here to see these wooden blocks on Amazon.
Wooden Block Bee Hotel Tutorial
Here is a video tutorial from The Royal Parks official " data-lasso-id="11642">YouTube channel to check out. Of course, if you want to add extra elements to your bee hotel, you certainly can follow this DIY guide's suggestion.
Are Bee Hotels Good For Bees?
When it comes to a bee hotel being good for bees, we have to agree. You are creating a safe space for bees and a place for them to lay their eggs.
With climate change affecting ecosystems worldwide, many bees are having a difficult time finding proper shelter. In general, as long as you make your bee hotel with natural ingredients, it is a great idea to try in your garden.
Are Bees Going Extinct?
As much as it hurts us to say it, yes, bees are threatened with extinction. Although there is no simple solution, creating more habitats for bees is a great way to help them repopulate.
Between ever-changing climates and increased natural disasters, bees have seen unprecedented levels of loss in their populations. Although you might not think it, our planet needs bees to pollinate and balance the delicate ecosystems that support our everyday lives.
Our Final Thoughts
Whether you want to do your part to save the bees or need your garden pollinated, having a bee hotel is a good idea. From what we found, you should place your bee hotel in a sunny, protected area of your yard facing the south. Regarding how high your hotel should be, we recommend three to four feet above the ground.
If you want to build your own DIY bee hotel, using a thick wooden block is a great idea and shouldn't take too long to get done. Regardless of where you live, make sure to keep your bee hotel as dry as possible, and don't be afraid to get creative with your design.
Are you still with us? Check out these super helpful related posts:
15 Gorgeous Trees With White Bark [And Where You Can Grow Them]
Best Fertilizers For Maple Trees - 4 Different Types To Consider