Habitat assessment by B.Hamaty | 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%.
Are there areas with pithy twigs (elderberry, cane fruit, sumac, etc…)?: No	Add some plants that have pithy stems to your habitat. Cavity nesting bees spend their winters in the center of the stems of these plants.
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 much of the garden is planted with flowering annual or perennial plants (including shrubs, vegetables and trees)?: A lot (51-75%)	Consider supplementing your garden with some native, pollinator friendly plants and converting some lawn!
Are the flowering plants that you have pollinator friendly?: A lot (51-75%)	Considering adding more pollinator friendly plants.
How many flowers in your garden bloom in spring?: 7-9	Add 2 or 3 more kinds of spring flowers.
How many flowers in your garden bloom in fall?: 7-9	Add 2-3 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.
How much mulch is on the ground?: Everywhere.	Ground nesting bees can't dig through mulch. Consider leaving some areas simply bare ground.
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.
Does the garden use herbicides?: Yes, but I have confirmed they are not toxic to bees.	Consider reducing your herbicide use.
How many different pollinator counts will your contribute this year?: More than one.	We'd love to see pollinator counts from any of the plants in your garden as many times as you can contribute. Thanks!
Is pesticide use avoided when flowers are in bloom?: Pesticides are sometime used while flowers are blooming	Consider spraying pesticides only when flowers are not in bloom.

Score: 112 (out of a possible 210)

Which garden or space are you describing?:

My garden

How large is your yard?:

800.00

square yards

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 flowers planted in clumps?:

Yes.

If you use pesticides, do you avoid using neonicotinoid pesticides?:

Yes. I have checked that the pesticides we have do not include neonicotinoids.

Are pesticides used in the garden?:

Yes

What time of day are pesticides applied?:

Pesticides are applied only at night

Is the drift of pesticides controlled?:

Pesticide drift is controlled.