A bee house is a super simple project that you can DIY at your house or your garden to attract bees to your flowers.

The materials you will need are some scrap boards, a log, nails and a hammer, a drill, a hand saw, and some sandpaper.

Once you get your materials ready, follow these simple steps to making a bee house and watch it get inhabited over the next few weeks.

Cut Your Blocks

First, take your piece of log and cut it into two halves, adjusting the size as needed. If the diameter is too big, you can trim it down using a saw. Be sure to wear eye and ear protection when operating any loud tools.

Drill Holes

Once you’ve cut up the log to the size you wish, proceed by drilling holes on the side of the log (about 3 to 4 inches). You will need to drill a minimum of 16 holes or so.

It’s better to drill the holes in a random fashion rather marking the log before drilling. The placement of the holes won’t really matter to the bees, and it will save you some time.

The holes, however, should have a wall on the back side to prevent parasites from entering the bee house.

Fit Roofing Shingles

The bee house is meant to resemble a small house, so the shingles will be used as the roof. This will help protect the bee house from rainwater.

Start by marking the roofing shingles depending on how long you want them and cut them using a saw. Next, nail them together to form a triangular roof. You could use four little nails on each side to hold the roofing shingles in place.

Your final result should resemble a tiny tree house. Be sure to avoid putting nails in the holes you drilled.

Attach the board

Once you have your tiny house ready, all you need to do is attach it to a board that will support the house.

Lay the house on the board you intend to use and cut it to your required length. Next, place the board on the bottom of the bee house and nail it using small nails. Again, be careful not to put nails in the holes you drilled for the bees.

Finishing

If you want your bee house to look nice and smooth, be sure to sand it and maybe even paint the outside if you feel like it. Be careful not to get paint stains on your clothes.

You could also forego the sanding and painting and leave it looking all-natural. However, bees also like comfort, and any splinters in the wall could be harmful to them.

Hanging the Bee House

The last step is to nail the bee house near your garden on a tree or a post. You want to make sure the bee house is secured and does not move around.

It’s recommended to place the bee house facing east or southeast so that the bees can get the morning sun as early as possible.