How to Build a Bug Hotel for Your Garden

Create a cozy, safe home for beneficial insects in your backyard using natural materials. HowTo: Family Edition: family how-tos that actually help.

1. Prepare your frame. Find a dry, sheltered spot in your garden to place your crate or box. If you are using a cardboard box, make sure it is tucked under a roof or porch so it stays dry.
2. Gather your materials. Collect natural items like twigs, hollow reeds, and pinecones. Ask a grown-up to help you cut sticks so they fit snugly inside your box or crate.
3. Build the rooms. Pack your materials into the box horizontally. Try to mix different textures—place the hollow reeds in one corner, pinecones in another, and twigs in the middle. The tighter they are packed, the safer the bugs will feel.
4. Secure the hotel. Use twine to tie any loose bundles of sticks together so they don't fall out. Once the box is full, it should be sturdy enough that the materials stay in place.