Log Style Home
This home is made from a section of a heavy branch or trunk of a tree.
Materials
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6 inch diameter or larger log approximately 6 to 8 inches long
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Metal Strap or mounting board 1 x 4 x 6 to 10 inch long untreated lumber
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Nails or screws to fasten mounting to back of house
Note - Roof is not needed as the bark or round surface of the log will naturally shed water
Materials
-
6 inch diameter or larger log approximately 6 to 8 inches long
-
Metal Strap or mounting board 1 x 4 x 6 to 10 inch long untreated lumber
-
Nails or screws to fasten mounting to back of house
Note - Roof is not needed as the bark or round surface of the log will naturally shed water
After two years, it is best to retire your wood log to prevent buildup of diseases and parasites. Take your nest log down from its mounting location and place it with the holes facing down in a protected location away from the mounting location to allow the bees to hatch. If you leave the block up or near the original mounting location there is a potential more bees will colonize it.
Once the season is over you can drill out all the holes to clean out the old burrows and soak the log with the holes up in a solution of 1 part Clorox to 10 parts waster. Place the holes facing up in the solution allowing the solution to enter the holes.
Let the solution sit in the holes overnight and then rinse it out with clean water and let drain and dry with the holes facing down till next spring when you can hang the home back out in your garden for the next generation of inhabitants.