Plans for Building a Bumblebee Nest Box
- 1). Dig a couple of inches into the ground in the area you want to place your bumblebee nest, such as the bottom of a hedge, being sure not to make the shallow hole larger in diameter than your chosen flower pot.
- 2). Make several small drainage holes in the length of hose with your knife. Run the hose underground to the area that is to be covered by the flower pot, so that a small portion of it will remain inside, allowing the bees to travel from the entrance of the tube into the nest box. Ensure that the entrance is highly visible.
- 3). Form a cradle out of the chicken wire that is smaller than the diameter of the flower pot. Place a generous handful of your chosen nesting material, such as moss, on top of the cradle. The chicken wire keeps the nesting material off of the soil and promotes ventilation.
- 4). Turn your flower pot upside down and sink it several inches into the soil, covering the chicken wire cradle, nesting material and a small section of the hose.
- 5). Place the small piece of tile or slate atop the drainage hole of the flower pot to prevent rain from getting into the bumblebee nest. All that should be visible is the upper portion of the flower pot and the entrance hole, at a distance away that roughly matches the length of the hose used.
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