Habitat assessment by Hackley Orchard

Hackley Orchard'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 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%.
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.
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 little. Between 5-20%.
Add a new garden or expand your current garden space. Every little bit helps.
How much of the garden is planted with flowering annual or perennial plants (including shrubs, vegetables and trees)?: 
A lot (51-75%)
Consider supplementing your garden with some native, pollinator friendly plants and converting some lawn!
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!
Is pesticide use avoided when flowers are in bloom?: 
Pesticides are sometime used while flowers are blooming
Consider spraying pesticides only when flowers are not in bloom.

Score: 146 (out of a possible 210)

The pollinator garden is part of our school orchard that has 15 fruit trees. We also have blueberries and a large grape arbor. There are 3 honeybee hives in the orchard as well. We are slowly reclaiming the land back from the mugwort using no dig gardening.

Which garden or space are you describing?: 
Hackley Orchard
How large is your yard?: 
1.00
acres
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
Does your nest block have less than 20 holes?: 
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 spring?: 
10 or more
How many flowers in your garden bloom in fall?: 
10 or more
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?: 
Some.
Is there fresh, clean water always available with a perch that bees could stand on and drink?: 
Yes
If you use pesticides, do you avoid using neonicotinoid pesticides?: 
Yes. I have checked that the pesticides we have do not include neonicotinoids.
Does the garden use herbicides?: 
No.
Are pesticides used in the garden?: 
Yes
What time of day are pesticides applied?: 
Pesticides are applied only at night
Is the drift of pesticides controlled?: 
Pesticide drift is controlled.