Certify Your Garden as Pollinator/Wildlife Friendly

Avid gardeners create havens that promote pollinators, birds, and wildlife. The gardeners' reward is natural beauty that supports the environment and provides a sense of peace and well-being. The gardeners' efforts are recognized through pollinator and habitat certification programs. All of these programs have the commonalities of growing native plants, reducing or eliminating pesticide use, providing shelter, and offering a water source. All programs require a processing fee, and the level of application involvement varies among the organizations.

Penn State Extension Master Gardener Program - Pollinator Friendly Garden Certification

The Penn State Extension Master Gardener program, Pollinator Friendly Habitat Certification, recognizes gardens that support the life cycles of various pollinators. The detailed application process allows applicants to inventory their garden landscape and review their pest management practices. There are four steps to this certification program. The first step is to identify the trees, shrubs, and perennials that provide nectar and pollen for pollinators. The application lists acceptable plant species, and the applicant checks the number of trees, shrubs, and perennials on the property. The perennials are organized by early, mid, and late-season bloom times. Plants that support caterpillars are listed separately.

The second step is to select the garden's water source, such as a birdbath, pond, or stream, while the third step is to choose the shelters provided to pollinators for nesting and overwintering. Such sites include dead wood, rock piles, and leaving some garden cleanup until spring. The application's fourth step is to identify how the gardener safeguards the pollinators' habitat, such as eliminating invasive plants and reducing pesticide use.

The remainder of the application asks for geographic location, a verification of the submitted information, and a $10 processing fee. Garden photos and sketches are submitted with the application. The application requires about eight weeks for processing. If the garden is designated as pollinator-friendly, the gardener can purchase a Penn State Extension Master Gardener Pollinator-Friendly Garden sign for $30.

North American Butterfly Association - Butterfly Garden Habitat Program

For gardeners with a focus on butterflies, the North American Butterfly Association sponsors a Butterfly Garden Habitat Program. To join this program, the garden must have at least three different native caterpillar food plants; at least three different native butterfly nectar sources; and avoidance of pesticide usage. Applicants can submit directly through their website; the cost is $15.

National Wildlife Federation - Certified Wildlife Habitat®

The National Wildlife Federation offers a Certified Wildlife Habitat® program. Applicants confirm they offer food, water, cover, places to raise young, and sustainable practices that promote wildlife. A garden certification walk-through checklist assesses sustainable gardening practices. The $20 application fee includes promotions and discounts for Federation resources. In addition, the National Wildlife Federation offers a Sacred Grounds™ certification program for faith-based organizations that create wildlife habitats on their communal property by engaging congregations and advancing faith stewardship practices. The requirements are similar to the Certified Wildlife Habitat® requirements but are applied within a faith-based community

The Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania - Certified Backyard Habitat Program

The Certified Backyard Habitat Program helps the gardener create a backyard environment that supports birds, pollinators, and wildlife. Interested gardeners contact the Audubon Society, which sends a representative to visit the garden twice during the application process. The gardener and Society create a custom garden plan using a variety of resources. There are three levels within the Certification: Habitat Guardian [Silver level], Habitat Champion [Gold level], Habitat Hero [Platinum level]. Each level centers on native plants, natural products, wildlife stewardship, clean water, and homeowner engagement. The levels vary depending on the gardeners' degree of commitment and involvement in environmental stewardship. The cost for the Certification Program enrollment is $35 for Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania members and $50 for non-members (includes a complimentary one-year household membership. Please note that the program is currently open only to residents of Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Washington, and Westmoreland Counties in southwestern Pennsylvania

These pollinator and wildlife garden certifications are a sample of programs that recognize backyard and garden habitats that support environmental health. Gardeners can review each certification's requirements for guidelines on what makes a healthy habitat. With or without certification, the pollinators, birds, and wildlife appreciate gardeners' efforts every day.