From old to new! You thought your bulky pallets were long gone? Before you stack the seemingly useless utensils in the garden, transform them into a visual eye-catcher with the instructions on this page. At the same time, you are making a major contribution to animal welfare by building an insect hotel. So let's get to the hammer and nail. The setup isn't as difficult as you might think.
Pallets are great for an insect hotel
Advantages of an insect hotel made of pallets
- They make a contribution to insect protection.
- Insects help pollinate your garden plants.
- You recycle old material and save disposal costs.
- Pallets offer high stability and allow easy insertion of the filling material.
- By reusing the pallets you save costs for a new model.
- Wooden pallets are an environmentally friendly natural material.
- Pallets are usually weatherproof.
Creation of the pallets
Perhaps you still have old pallets in stock. Also ask around in the neighborhood or with acquaintances. But even if you have to contact a company for the purchase, there are usually no costs. Most companies are grateful if you take their old pallets away and even give them away.
tips
Despite your best efforts, you can't muster pallets? Just try fruit or wine crates.
building instructions
Building an insect hotel from pallets is undemanding and simple. Simply stack several pallets on top of each other until the desired height is reached. Choose a sunny, sheltered location for your insect hotel. However, it is important that you give the top pallet a sloping roof. This allows rainwater to run off and prevents the formation of moisture. The gaps between the wooden boards already indicate the compartments. All you have to do now is fill them in appropriately. Bricks are recommended for the compartments in the top row.
Tip: Without an obvious source of food, the most beautiful insect hotel remains uninhabited. Do not mow wild herbs, but turn your garden into a natural oasis.
filling material
- For wild bees and wasps: bricks, cones, bamboo tubes, drilled hardwood
- For earwigs, lacewings and ladybugs: wood wool, straw
- For butterflies: thin branches