Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Assemble post clamps, but leave the nuts loose. Martin house kits come with house, mounting pole and all hardware required for assembly.
Put the pieces of the pole together. There are three sections, and the individual ends of the pole sections are flared, so the smaller pieces fit into the larger.
Tighten the nuts on the post clamps until they are secure. To adjust tension on the cam arm for raising and lowering the house, move the lever until it is parallel to the ground. Adjust the pole height according to assembly instructions and lock into place.
Pack lower end of the bottom pole piece with newspaper to prevent concrete from filling the pole when set.
Dig a hole in the desired location for your martin house. The hole should be six to eight inches in diameter and about 28 inches deep. Pour coarse gravel in the hole to a depth of four inches.
Fill the hole with concrete to about three inches below ground level and use guy wires or rope to hold the pole upright until the concrete sets. Attach two wires or light-weight rope to the top of the pole and stretch to the ground at a 45 degree angle, anchoring them to the ground with ground stakes to hold the pole upright. You can also slip the end of the pole through a piece of sturdy pipe slightly larger than the pole before setting in the concrete to hold it upright.
Lower the pole after the concrete sets and attach the martin house according to the package directions. Raise the pole so that the house is seven to twelve feet above the ground at the base.