Habitat assessment by VictorW

Victor's picture
Assessment results
Answer givenOur 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 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)?: 
None.
Consider supplementing your garden with some native, pollinator friendly plants, even plants in pots will help!
How many flowers in your garden bloom in fall?: 
1-3
Add 4-6 more fall flowers to support fall bees.
How many flowers in your garden bloom in summer?: 
4-6
Add 2-3 more types of summer flowers to support summer bees.
Are flowers planted in clumps?: 
No.
Consider planting flowers in clumps. Bees are more likely to be attracted to larger patches of flowers of the same type.
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!

Score: 158 (out of a possible 210)

We burnt 4 acres of the property last spring because there were too many woodies and very few forbs. We were going to plant native wildflowers but it was too late in the spring. Currently, dogwood and blackberry have come back from the roots. The goldenrod came back too and is starting to bloom.

Two weeks ago we burnt 16 more acres. One to two acres closest to our school will be planted to wildflowers after we cut the woody stubs to the ground and after the first hard freeze.

Our lemon queen sunflowers cam up but are suffering from some kind of pest that is affecting the upper stems. They do have many flowers. Hoping to have a pollinator count this week or next.

Which garden or space are you describing?: 
Westar Prairie
How large is your yard?: 
20.00
acres
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.
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 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?: 
No