BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
To convert existing areas to a new native area , site preparation is key and may require more than one season of effort to reduce competition from invasive or other undesirable plants prior to planting . For more information on establishing a native area , university Extension specialists and published information , such as Making Room for Native Pollinators , can be consulted .
In addition to foraging habitat , pollinators require nesting sites . Providing nesting sites for native species can be accomplished by making simple alterations in landscaped or natural areas , such as : Leaving exposed patches of bare soil in natural areas . Leaving dead trees , stumps , and posts . Planting hollow-stem grass species . Providing stem bundles of hollow plant stems like bamboo . Creating bee blocks for solitary nesters such as mason and leafcutter bees . Creating artificial boxes for bumble bees . A clean , reliable source of water is another essential habitat consideration for pollinators . Pollinators can use natural and human-made water features such as running water , pools , ponds and small containers of water . Water sources should have a shallow or sloping side , so the pollinators can easily approach the water without drowning . In addition , irrigation management practices that preserve ground nesting pollinators include irrigating in the early morning before pollinators leave their nests to forage and avoiding flooding any areas .
HABITAT CORRIDORS Sports field facilities can make a positive and significant impact on wildlife diversity by creating new habitat corridors or expanding existing corridors . Corridors are areas of habitat physically connecting plant and animal populations that cannot maintain healthy , genetically diverse populations when highly fragmented due to human activities or structures ( UC-Davis , 2008 ). To achieve the goal of creating or expanding corridors , habitat patches can be linked with continuous strips of natural vegetation both within the facility and linking to patches outside the facility boundaries . This increases the area available to native wildlife species .
INVASIVE SPECIES Invasive species are non-native plants and animals that may negatively affect the environment , human health , and the economy . These species include noxious weeds , nonnative insects ( such as earthworms and other soil-dwelling pests that may be found in soils and potting media ) and some non-native animals . University Extension specialists and publications can provide information on the species sportsfieldmanagementonline . com June 2023 | SportsField Management
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