Habitat assessment by vee025

vee025'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 dead wood, brush piles or snags present?: 
No
Leave 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…)?: 
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.
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.
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.
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?: 
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?: 
Some (25-50%)
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 fall?: 
1-3
Add 4-6 more fall flowers to support fall bees.
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?: 
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!

Score: 118 (out of a possible 210)

Which garden or space are you describing?: 
los angeles
How large is your yard?: 
5.00
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 bee nesting blocks?: 
Yes
Did you clean or replace your nest block in the last two years?: 
Yes
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.
Are pesticides used in the garden?: 
No