Habitat assessment by carol jean rasmussen | The Great Sunflower Project

Assessment results

Answer given	Our advice
Are there areas with bare ground and very few plants?: No	Consider increasing the amount of bare ground. Ground nesting bees are more likely to nest where there is bare ground.
Are there areas with sandy loamy soil?: No	Consider increasing the amount of sandy loamy soil. Ground nesting bees often prefer sandy loamy soil as it is easier to dig and drains well. Sandy loam is made up of 10-50% silt or organic matter, 50-75% sand, and less than 20% clay. So if you have 15% sand in your existing soil, you will need to add enough sand to make it at least 50%. If you have 30% clay, you will need to add enough of the sand or compost to bring that percentage down to less than 20%.
Do you have native bunchgrasses?: One smaller area.	Increase the amount of bunch grass in your yard. Many bees nest and overwinter at the base of these grasses.
Are there bee nesting blocks?: No	Supplement your habitats with nest blocks. Learn how to build them here.
What is the main type of vegetation in the area you are evaluating (park, garden, yard, farm...)?: Mix of native and non-native plants	Increase the amount of native plants in your yard.
How much of the whole yard, park, farm or green space is garden space or wild/natural vegetation?: A lot. More than 40%.	You are doing a great job managing for pollinators!
How many flowers in your garden bloom in fall?: 4-6	Add 3-4 more fall flowers to support fall bees.
How many flowers in your garden bloom in summer?: 7-9	Add 1-2 more types of summer flowers to support summer bees.
Is there fresh, clean water always available with a perch that bees could stand on and drink?: No	Consider adding a water element. This can be as simple as a bowl with some rocks thrown in for bees to stand on while drinking.
How many different pollinator counts will your contribute this year?: Ten or more.	We'd love to see pollinator counts from any of the plants in your garden as many times as you can contribute. Thanks for contributing!

Score: 156 (out of a possible 210)

There are now three main flower gardens. One is mostly shaded. One is in the middle of the back yard and is part sun and part shade. One is in the open and gets sun most of the day. This year I am adding a garden in a mostly sunny area dedicated to sunflowers and plan to plant cosmos and yarrow under and around them. I am sowing Arikara and Lemon Queen sunflowers. I have an area fenced in with four raised beds for vegetables and herbs. One large area is tilled and gets sun most of the day this is used for vegetable planting and this year I will concentrate on companion planting by adding herbs and flowers.

Which garden or space are you describing?:

Greene

How large is your yard?:

3.50

acres

Are there low traffic areas where the soil is not turned over, tilled or plowed?:

Yes

Are there areas dead wood, brush piles or snags present?:

Yes

Are there areas with pithy twigs (elderberry, cane fruit, sumac, etc…)?:

Yes

How much of the garden is planted with flowering annual or perennial plants (including shrubs, vegetables and trees)?:

Most (more than 75%)

Are the flowering plants that you have pollinator friendly?:

Most (more than 75%)

How many flowers in your garden bloom in spring?:

10 or more

Are flowers planted in clumps?:

Yes.

How much mulch is on the ground?:

Some.

Does the garden use herbicides?:

No.

Are pesticides used in the garden?: