Habitat assessment by ndsommer for Andalusia, Alabama

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Assessment results
Answer givenOur advice
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?: 
Not much. Less than 5%.
Add a flower garden to your habitat or let some part of it go wild.
How many flowers in your garden bloom in fall?: 
1-3
Add 4-6 more fall flowers to support fall bees.
How much mulch is on the ground?: 
Everywhere.
Ground nesting bees can't dig through mulch. Consider leaving some areas simply bare ground.
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?: 
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: 173 (out of a possible 210)

We have a total 180 in southeast Alabama. Under the CRP program, 40 acres are planted in long leaf pines with native grasses such as broom sage and blue stem grass growing within the pines; 3.5 acres are planted for food plots where peas, corn, winter wheat, turnips, clover, Sunne hemp, oats, alfalfa, rape, and sunflowers grow throughout the year. Until March 2015, I had 1-3 bee boxes on the property. The garden, planted near our barn and cabin, has varieties of black-eyed Susan, gladiola, daffodil, Mexican petunia, raspberry, blueberry, fig, rose, lavender, pole and bush bean, watermelon, tomato, sunflower, zinnia, basil, pepper. We mulch with pine straw and prepare the soil with lime, chicken manure, and composting material from the kitchen. It is our plan to plant hairy vetch for the fall and winter seasons.

Which garden or space are you describing?: 
Andalusia, Alabama
How large is your yard?: 
64.00
square yards
Are there areas with bare ground and very few plants?: 
Yes
Are there areas with sandy loamy soil?: 
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 spring?: 
10 or more
How many flowers in your garden bloom in summer?: 
10 or more
Are flowers planted in clumps?: 
Yes.
Is there fresh, clean water always available with a perch that bees could stand on and drink?: 
Yes
Are pesticides used in the garden?: 
No