I am a new beekeeper, planning on having only a few hives. I have an opportunity to build a small beeyard (15x20) and am interested in what features I should include or avoid. My thought is to make it generally level, exposed to full sun with a southern exposure. I am thinking about placing a sheet of 6mil plastic on bare ground, held down by turf staples, in the hope that denying small hive beetles an easy way to get to the dirt will reduce their population. I will probably cover the plastic with crushed rock.
Do you think any of this will make a difference? In my ignorance what am I missing? In central Texas will it be too hot in the summer (a year or so ago we had 60+ consecutive days over 100)?