Habitat assessment by Wonderful1930

Wonderful1930'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 pithy twigs (elderberry, cane fruit, sumac, etc…)?: 
No
Add some plants that have pithy stems to your habitat. Cavity nesting bees spend their winters in the center of the stems of these plants.
Is your nest block near a landmark like a rock?: 
No
Move your nest block if it isn’t getting much use. Bees are more likely to find a nest block if there is a visual clue.
Did you clean or replace your nest block in the last two years?: 
No
Clean your nest block. You can just run a stick in each hole. This will reduce parasitism.
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!
Are the flowering plants that you have pollinator friendly?: 
A lot (51-75%)
Considering adding more pollinator friendly plants.
How many flowers in your garden bloom in spring?: 
7-9
Add 2 or 3 more kinds of spring flowers.
How many flowers in your garden bloom in summer?: 
7-9
Add 1-2 more types of summer flowers to support summer bees.
Is there fresh, clean water always available with a perch that bees could stand on and drink?: 
No
Consider 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.
Consider reducing your herbicide use and be sure it is an herbice that is not toxic to pollinators.
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: 122 (out of a possible 210)

Awesome

Which garden or space are you describing?: 
How large is your yard?: 
30.00
square yards
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
Do you have native bunchgrasses?: 
Several areas or one large area.
Are there bee nesting blocks?: 
Yes
Does your nest block have less than 20 holes?: 
Yes
What is the main type of vegetation in the area you are evaluating (park, garden, yard, farm...)?: 
Native wildflowers
How much of the garden is planted with flowering annual or perennial plants (including shrubs, vegetables and trees)?: 
Most (more than 75%)
How many flowers in your garden bloom in fall?: 
10 or more
How much mulch is on the ground?: 
None.