Assessment results Answer givenOur advice Are there areas with bare ground and very few plants?: NoConsider 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?: NoConsider 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 low traffic areas where the soil is not turned over, tilled or plowed?: NoSet aside some areas for no tilling, plowing or turning over. Ground nesting bees nest anywhere from the top inches to several feet below the surface. Reducing disturbance allows those bees to survive to the next year. Are there areas dead wood, brush piles or snags present?: NoLeave some dead wood, brush or snags in your habitat. Cavity nesting bees spend their winters in the holes found in these items. Are there areas with pithy twigs (elderberry, cane fruit, sumac, etc…)?: NoAdd 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?: None.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?: NoSupplement 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...)?: All grassIncrease 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?: Not much. Less than 5%.Add a flower garden to your habitat or let some part of it go wild. How much of the garden is planted with flowering annual or perennial plants (including shrubs, vegetables and trees)?: Not much (1-25%)Consider supplementing your garden with some native, pollinator friendly plants and converting some lawn! Are the flowering plants that you have pollinator friendly?: Not much (1-25%)Considering adding more pollinator friendly plants. How many flowers in your garden bloom in spring?: 1-3Add 7 to 9 more kinds of spring flowers. How many flowers in your garden bloom in fall?: noneAdd fall flowers to support fall bees. How many flowers in your garden bloom in summer?: 0Add 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 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?: NoConsider 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?: None this year.Join us! We'd love to see pollinator counts from any of the plants in your garden. Thanks! Score: 54 (out of a possible 210) Which garden or space are you describing?: BeeHow large is your yard?: 0.50acresAre pesticides used in the garden?: No
