Bloomington Organic Gardeners

BACKYARD HABITAT FAQ

Backyard Habitats are sponsored by the Center for Sustainable Living in conjunction with the National Wildlife Federation. Find out more about the National Wildlife Federation by looking at their website www.nwf.org.

DID YOU KNOW that 57,502 backyards have been certified by the National Wildlife Federation in the United States? If you haven't yet certified your yard, please do so. Bloomington is very close to becoming certified as a Wildlife Habitat Community and with your help we can do it in 2006!

How can I get my backyard certified as a Backyard Habitat?

Answer: The National Wildlife Federation certifies backyards as wildlife habitats. You can pick up a kit at the Monroe County Parks and Recreation office on Sixth and Morton. You will get a folder with information, a book, and an application. The cost includes your yard's certification (as long as you fill out the application). If you apply by email, you will pay $15 for just the certification, but this is the easiest and simplist way to get certification.

I don't have year round bird bath for my yard. Can I still be certified?

Answer: You don't need to have a year round water supply for your birds in order to get certified, a seasonal one will do. However, did you know that often water will create a favored habitat for your birds, especially in the winter, when water is frozen and unavailable? Birds will often eat snow to get the required water but this often cools their body temperature to dangerous levels and is certainly not healthy for your birds. So, by all means invest in a water heater, it uses the same electricity as a light bulb and creates an enjoyable spectacle during cold winter days.

I deadhead my flowers in order to get more blooms from them. Is this okay?

Answer: Deadheading your flowers early in the season, so that you can get more blooms is fine, as long as you don't cut the LAST blooms from your plants. Let these create seeds for winter food for the birds. A delightful scene is the goldfinch perched on the stem of the echinacea, picking away at the seed head! Native plants provide good food for your birds and Echinacea seeds tones up their immune system!

I would like to create a new flower bed. When is the best time to do this?

Answer: NOW! Choose your spot, cut the grass as close to the ground as possible and cover with layers of newspaper or cardboard. Make sure you have at least six sheets of newspaper (or one layer of cardboard) and overlap them. Wet completely. Then pile on the leaves (NOT walnut leaves, please - they contain juglone, a powerful seed suppresant). Add other compostables, such as grass clippings, very short pieces of flower stems, manure, worm or other compost and top with mulch. The finished bed should be 18 - 24 inches higher than the surrounding ground. Let the pile decay over the winter and plant in the spring! LASAGNA GARDENS make the best gardens!

Where can I get native plants for my garden?

Answer: Hilltop Garden and Nature Center usually grows natives for sale in the spring. Contact them at 855-2799 for a list of plants.