Pollinator-Friendly Garden Application Tip Sheet

Download a print-friendly copy of the Pollinator-Friendly Garden application tip sheet (PDF)

This tip/worksheet is not intended to be your application. It:

  1. Is an overview of the steps needed to certify your garden;
  2. Contains a worksheet to assist you in gathering the necessary information;
  3. Contains a subset of the links to an extended trove of related information about all things pollinator and eco-friendly gardening.

After obtaining the pertinent background information the application is comprised of 4 steps and sketch/photo requirement. Prior to those steps please review the following:

Planning Recommendations

  • Choose plants that provide pollen and nectar sources from early spring through late fall
  • Provide a variety of flower shapes and sizes
  • For annuals, choose old fashioned heirloom varieties; limit the use of modern hybrids
  • Place herbaceous plants in groups of 3 or more
  • Include native shrubs and trees where possible for the significant role they play with local ecosystems in addition to being great sources of food for insects
  • Seek out wild seed grown native plants

STEP 1: Identify Your Plants and Food Sources

In order to certify the following is required of your garden:

  • At least 70% of species planted are native to your ecoregion.
  • At least 6 different types of plants that provide sufficient pollen and nectar sources for each season. For gardens less than 1/8 acre a minimum of 3 different types of plants for each season is required.
    Note: plants that provide nectar and pollen sources over multiple seasons can count for any of those periods. e.g. Black Eyed Coneflower, Rudbeckia hirta v. pulcherrima, blooms in summer and fall.
  • At least 5 plants that are host plants for butterflies and moths. For gardens less than 1/8 acre, a minimum of 3 host plants are required.

Nectar and Pollen Food Sources:

Pollinators need a diversity of nectar and pollen sources throughout the season. Research shows that native plants are 4 times more attractive to pollinators than non-natives, so planting natives in your yard will supply pollinators with the nutrition they need to thrive. Natives are also well adapted to survive in a particular geographic area according to the climate, soils, rainfall, and availability of pollinators and seed dispersers.

Caterpillar Food Sources:

Pollinators need to be supported at the larval stage of their life cycle, therefore providing food sources for caterpillars is essential. Without host plants for butterfly or moth larvae (caterpillars) there will be no butterflies or moths! Many butterfly and moth larvae can only feed on one or two specific host plants, particularly native trees, shrubs, and perennials, that are vital to their survival.

Native Plant Lists

Plants List with Information on Caterpillars

Help Identifying Plants on Your Property

Plant List Work Sheet for Step 1

The application asks that you list your garden’s pollinator-friendly plants as follows:

  • Botanical Name — genus and species required
  • Common Name
  • Whether they are Native (respond with a Yes or No). If listing a plant as native to your ecoregion which is not listed as native in the recommended sources, please note your source. Sources should be from reputable, science-based organizations.
  • Bloom Time — spring, summer, fall or multiple seasons per instructions in Step 1
  • Whether plants are a Larval Host (respond with a Yes or No)
  • Lepidoptera Name — 5 or 3 required per instructions in Step 1

Plant List Work Sheet for Step 1
Botanical Name Common Name Native
(Yes/No)		 Bloom Time Larval Host
(Yes/No)		 Lepidoptera Name
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           

STEP 2: Provide Water Sources

In order to certify, at least one of the following water sources is required:

  • Birdbath or shallow water source
  • Butterfly puddling area
  • Water garden or pond
  • StreamLocal spring
  • Natural body of water, such as a lake or river

Like all living things, pollinators need a clean source of water. All water sources should be within 200 feet of the certification area and should provide a continuous supply while pollinators are active.

Vernal pools and intermittent streams are not considered reliable water sources for pollinators because they tend to dry up during the summer months.

STEP 3: Provide Shelter

In order to certify, at least two of the following shelters are required:

  • Dead wood
  • Rock pile or wall
  • Spaces of bare ground
  • Man-made bee houses
  • Garden cleanup left until late spring

Like all living things, shelter is essential for pollinator survival. The best way to provide proper nesting sites is by getting to know your pollinators! Bumble bees typically nest at the base of bunch grasses, in old mouse holes or the cavities of trees. Dead wood provides nesting habitat for a variety of pollinators such as bees, wasps, beetles and ants. Many solitary bees will nest in the pith of stems and twigs.

Pollinators also need protection for overwintering so instead of cleaning up your gardens in the fall, wait until late spring. Perennials and grasses left standing will provide shelter and will give winter interest to your garden.

Looking for ways to provide shelter for pollinators?

STEP 4: Safeguarding Pollinator Habitat

Action 1: Eliminate Pesticide Use

In order to certify, the following is required of your garden:

  • Ensure pesticides are not being used in the area being certified

Pesticide is the umbrella term given to a product (conventional or organic) that is being used to manage a pest (insect, weed, disease, mollusk, and rodent). Even homemade products used to control pests are considered pesticides and can pose significant risks.

The University of Maine and University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension are supportive of proper and prudent use of registered pesticides. However, this certification is aimed at celebrating top-tier gardens that are designed as pollinator habitats. Therefore eliminating pesticide use in the area being certified is required.

Looking for more information about pollinators and pesticides?

Action 2: Remove invasive plants and Protect Native Plant Communities

In order to certify, you must avoid acquiring invasive ornamental plants and at least one of the following is required:

  • Do not acquire invasive ornamental plants.
  • Develop a plan to actively remove invasive plants.

Invasive plants threaten pollinator habitat by endangering the native plants that pollinators require for survival.

Invasive plants that move from our yards to woodlands and natural areas threaten diversity that is vital to pollinator survival. We can all help by not planting invasive species and removing existing invasive plants on our properties.

Looking for more information about invasive plants?

Action 3: Implement additional conservation practices

In order to certify, at least three of the following conservation practices are required (check all that apply):

  • Test soil before applying fertilizers
  • Leave lawn clippings and/or fall leaves behind
  • Set mower blade at 3 inches
  • Tolerate “weeds” in lawn
  • Compost kitchen scraps and/or yard “waste”
  • Maintain a light layer of mulch at the base of trees, shrubs, and perennial beds
  • Use drip or soaker hoses, instead of overhead sprinklers
  • Use a rain barrel or other means of capturing/utilizing rainwater to irrigate plants
  • Direct downspouts and gutters to drain onto the lawn, plant beds, or containment areas
  • Water plants only when necessary
  • Other

Conservation practices help preserve habitat for pollinators and other wildlife. Our Pollinator-Friendly Garden Certification program challenges you to implement conservation practices in your certification area or the surrounding area.

More information about gardening ecologically to preserve the beauty of Maine and New Hampshire:

Garden Sketch/Map

In order to certify a sketch map of your garden or area to be certified is required. It should include:

  • The approximate overall dimensions of the area you are certifying though the sketch need not be to scale
  • The location and identity of the plants you have listed as well as the water and shelter sources. Also, show any other plants that are not listed and any landmarks that will help us understand your garden.
  • Mark location and direction your photographs are taken from (see sample in Photo Requirements section below)
  • Be sure your sketch is legible by drawing with a dark pen or marker. You may take a photo of your sketch (see Photo Requirements section below) or scan it. If you experience any difficulty uploading your photos you may email them to extension.pollinators@maine.edu.

Photo Requirements

In order to certify, photographs of your garden are required as follows:

  • Photographs can be uploaded in the appropriate section per the application
  • If you experience any difficulty uploading your photos you may email them to extension.pollinators@maine.edu
  • Please name each photo file with your last name, photo number, and photo name. For
    example: “Smith-1-Overview”; “Smith-2-SummerGroup”; “Smith-3-Water”
  • Photographs must be your own and should give us an understanding of your garden:
    Recommended compositions are:
    — 1 overview showing overall area of your garden
    — 1 closer view showing 3 or 4 species in your plant list
    — 1 water source view
    or
    another closer view showing 3 or 4 species in your plant list and the water source
  • Do not include images of people in your photographs
  • Maximum file size is 1 MB
  • Minimum image width of photograph should be between 800 and 1200 pixels
  • If using a smartphone camera please follow these guidelines:
    — iPhone: select the ‘Large-size’ optioin
    — Android: select the option closest to the ‘6.0 MP’ range
  • If taking a photograph of your sketch map with a camera or phone, try to fill up the screen/frame/viewfinder as much as possible; try to orient the camera/phone with the position of the drawing, i.e., horizontal to horizontal or vertical to vertical.

Congratulations!

You are ready to submit your application online!

Do you have additional questions? Contact our team at extension.pollinators@maine.edu or 207.942.7396.