As defined by the National Wildlife Federation’s Backyard Habitat program, a Certified Habitat provides:
Click any picture for explanation and ideas.
Special Resource: Value of Native Plants in Your Yard
Below are a number of Ohio-specific handouts with information & tips to help you invite nature to your yard.
Once you’ve made some changes, you can apply for habitat certification on-line or by mail.
The Fine Print:
- All documents on this site are copyrighted material unless otherwise labeled.
- Permission is specifically granted to view, print and distribute these documents at no cost as long as they are not modified in any way.
- If you wish to add any document to another web site, you must provide a link to our site instead ( https://backyardhabitat.info ). We periodically update the information as we learn more, and we want you to have the best information on hand.
Read All About It: Gardening For Wildlife
A brief overview by noted author and researcher Douglas Tallamy, published in the Wild Ones Journal, Volume 22, No. 2..
Want to see local proof of the value gardening for wildlife can bring? This yard has been the subject of two research studies measuring the changes observed during the transition from traditional lawn & flowerbeds to native plants and chemical free gardening practices. This is a typical residential property on a 50′ x 100′ lot.
- The first study tracks wildlife diversity in our yard over a 6-year time span, and shows that wildlife diversity correlates directly to the diversity of chemical free native plant species.
- The second study compares our habitat yard with an adjacent “typical” yard where chemical fertilizers and pesticides are used, non-native and cultivar plants are the norm, and traditional landscaping practices are followed (including low mower height). This study currently covers a 2-year time span and documents major differences between the adjoining properties.
Here is a poster based on research studies, showing how:
- Sustainable practices greatly impact (and improve) wildlife diversity over 5 years
- Sustainable care compares with traditional yard care on an adjacent property
Here are specific recommendations drawn from the study results which should be implemented widely by
property owners, government officials, schools, farmers and landscape professionals.
