Habitat assessment by mamaebs for EBS GARDENS

Assessment results

Answer given	Our advice
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 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 spring?: 7-9	Add 2 or 3 more kinds of spring flowers.
How many flowers in your garden bloom in fall?: 4-6	Add 3-4 more fall flowers to support fall bees.
How many different pollinator counts will your contribute this year?: Five 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!

Score: 177 (out of a possible 210)

My brother -in-law has several bee hives on our property. There are usually 2-3 working hives year-round. We also have hummingbird feeders. We live in a rural area with springs on our property that run freely year round. Though we do not have specific watering areas for the bees, they do have access to water year round. We also have a small creek that runs near our property. We also have abundant butterflies, moths and other insects in our yard seasonally.

Which garden or space are you describing?:

EBS GARDENS

How large is your yard?:

1.60

acres

Are there areas with bare ground and very few plants?:

Yes

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

Do you have native bunchgrasses?:

Several areas or one large area.

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 summer?:

10 or more

Are flowers planted in clumps?:

Yes.

How much mulch is on the ground?:

None.

Is there fresh, clean water always available with a perch that bees could stand on and drink?:

Yes

Does the garden use herbicides?:

No.

Are pesticides used in the garden?: