An insect hotel enriches your garden in two ways. On the one hand, you give animals a shelter, which they find less and less often in the wild. In addition, the insects keep your garden pest-free. On the other hand, such a hotel is also an eye-catcher. However, you should put the latter advantage at the back. With an insect hotel it is not important that your guests can admire it. First and foremost, the animals should feel comfortable in it.
An insect hotel is best placed among flowers
The right time
It's never too late to set up an insect hotel (€11.33). Fortunately, more and more people are recognizing the positive impact on the ecosystem and are integrating the dwelling into their garden. Just as irrelevant is actually the time of year you offer the shelter. Animals are always looking for shelter. Even if most insect species hatch at the beginning of the year, the generations are usually busy building their nests all year round.
However, it is particularly recommended to set up an insect hotel in late summer. The need is greatest at this time of the year. The insects are already testing whether the space offered is suitable for hibernation.
location
When choosing a location, the following aspects must be taken into account:
- The Alignment
- The height
- The environment
alignment
Insects love it warm. You will certainly notice more activity on sunny days than on overcast weather. It is best to align your insect hotel to the south. At the same time, you should make sure that the dwelling is well protected from precipitation and that there are no drafts on the fans.
height
A minimum height of half a meter makes it difficult for cats to get to the insect hotel. It is best to hang your insect hotel on a wall or tree. If your model is a cottage, consider adding stilts. If the insect hotel is on the ground, there is a risk of moisture penetrating the wood.
Surroundings
As long as you don't obstruct the hotel's flight path, the insects won't be bothered by your presence. Therefore, a balcony is also a good location. However, allergy sufferers, pets and small children should keep their distance. Most importantly, the insects don't have to travel long distances to forage. The planting of some wildflowers in the surrounding beds already serves as a well-frequented food source.