Because martins love to socialize on telephone and electric wires, put their houses near utility lines if possible. Putting houses near open water is often helpful too. Because martins feed almost exclusively on flying insects, open fields are a powerful attraction. After all, insects are easier to catch in a field than in trees. Keep martin houses away from bee yards.
Martins eat honeybees.
Before you start to put martin houses up, place a pinch of sulfur dust in each nesting compartment. This helps control mites. Put houses on poles 15 to 30 feet tall unless the area has heavy vegetation. A good rule of thumb is the lower the vegetation, the lower the pole can be. If possible, make the pole so you can take the house down for cleaning in fall and storage in winter.