Habitat assessment by dogonitpups@aol.com for Home

Assessment results

Answer given	Our advice
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.
Does your nest block have less than 20 holes?: No	Create a nest block with fewer holes. This will reduce parasitism and make it more likely bees will use it.
What is the main type of vegetation in the area you are evaluating (park, garden, yard, farm...)?: Mostly grass	Increase the number of flowering plants in your habitat. Think about using native plants.
How much of the whole yard, park, farm or green space is garden space or wild/natural vegetation?: Some. Between 21-40%.	Consider expanding your gardens and wild spaces and reducing your lawn.
How much of the garden is planted with flowering annual or perennial plants (including shrubs, vegetables and trees)?: Some (25-50%)	Consider supplementing your garden with some native, pollinator friendly plants and converting some lawn!
How many flowers in your garden bloom in spring?: 4-6	Add 4-6 more kinds of spring flowers.
How many flowers in your garden bloom in fall?: 1-3	Add 4-6 more fall flowers to support fall 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?: 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: 162 (out of a possible 210)

Currently it is mostly yard grass that I am slowly replacing with gardens of all types including native warm season grasses, meadow, mass plantings. I have a native garden by house and a butterfly garden further away from house. All plants are native. I am getting a plan created for a frog pond and hope to have it in before end of summer. I also plan to remove a number of loblolly pine trees from the front yard and replace it with hard woods and fruit trees. The yard is surrounded by loblolly pine forest so there will be no great lose in cutting these. The trees will only be topped so there will be 20 feet of snag trees available.

Which garden or space are you describing?:

Home

How large is your yard?:

1.50

acres

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

Are there bee nesting blocks?:

Yes

Is your nest block near a landmark like a rock?:

Yes

Did you clean or replace your nest block in the last two years?:

Yes

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

How much mulch is on the ground?:

Some.

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?: