Backyard Habitat Resource Library

ANNOUNCEMENT

To help as many people as possible in their efforts to create habitat for plants, animals, and humans alike, we copied the content below to the front end of our website under the Resources page.

Please be advised that this page was last updated on 11/23/2020, and more/newer content may be available on the Resources page.

Click on the links below to access that topic’s library.

General Information
Nuisance Weeds
Native Plants
Pesticides
Stormwater Management
Wildlife Stewardship
Volunteer Forms and Info

GENERAL INFORMATION

Backyard Habitat Program Resources

Backyard Habitat Program’s Arborist and Landscape Professionals Directory – directory of regional landscape professionals experienced in creating backyard habitats.
Backyard Habitat Certification Program on Facebook – official BHCP Facebook page where we post information about events, honor recent certifications, and provide garden advice.
Friends of Backyard Habitats Facebook Group – public Facebook group, managed by program fans, with over 2000 members that share plants, resources, and pictures. Excellent resource for plant identification (post pics of plants you don’t know).
Backyard Habitat Virtual Open Gardens Tour – Join our Virtual Opens Garden Tour Facebook group.
Native Plants Tracking Sheet – Keep track of how many native plants you add to the your yard.

Soil and Water Conservation Districts

Soil and Water Conservation Districts are amazing resources for educational materials and events, technical assistance, financial support, and much more. Check out their websites to learn what they may be able to offer you:

Workshops, Classes, and More

Master Gardeners (Oregon) and Master Gardeners (Washington) – websites providing exceptional resources for events, classes, workshops, and gardening advice. Call or email them with specific plant ID or gardening issues and questions.
East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District’s Free Workshops – EMSWCD offers workshops and classes on a wide range of conservation topics, at locations throughout East Multnomah County.
Tualatin Soil and Water Conservation District’s Free Workshops – TSWCD offers workshops on topics such as naturescaping, native pollinators, pest management, nuisance weeds, and more.
Clark County Green Neighbors – Green Neighbors offers lots of sustainable gardening tips on their website, along with workshops and other events in Clark County.
Wildlife Botanical Gardens of SW Washington – demonstration garden, classes, and more!
Classes & Books – BHCP website listing for learning more about the theory, practice, and importance of backyard habitat.
Stormwater Stars Free Workshops and Resources – hosted by Southwest Neighborhoods, Inc., these workshops lead participants in hands-on planning and installation of yard-scale stormwater management techniques. Available to participants in West Portland.

Incentives, Discounts and Financial Support

Small Grants for Backyard Habitats and Community Projects – resource list by Backyard Habitat Certification Program
Chip Drop – resource for FREE wood chips
Friends of Trees – website for non-profit tree planting organization offering free or discounted native trees for planting strips and yards. Use promo code Native100 to receive your free native tree.
Treebate – City of Portland rebate program for yard trees
Treefund – City of Vancouver rebate program for yard trees
Don’t forget to use the coupons to local nurseries that are in your resource packet!

NUISANCE WEEDS

Nuisance Weed General Resources

East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District – website with extensive information on nuisance weeds, including a portal for reporting particularly problematic species
Invasive Plants of Portland Poster – City of Portland Bureau of Environmental Services invasive weeds poster
Weedwise – website for Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation Districts’ robust invasive weed program, packed with valuable info.
Tualatin Weed Watchers Workshop – recorded workshop providing an intro to noxious plant controls, review of the weeds of greatest concern in the Tualatin Watershed, and ways you can help report noxious plant infestations.

SILVER Level Weeds – Fact Sheets

GOLD Level Weeds – Fact Sheets

PLATINUM Level Weeds – Fact Sheets

NATURESCAPING WITH NATIVE PLANTS

Articles

Naturescaping with Native Plants – Backyard Habitat
Chickadees Guide to Gardening – Douglas Tallamy
Study On Native Plants and Birds – the Smithsonian
Gardening with Oregon Natives – OSU Extension

Native Plant Nurseries

Nurseries that Sell Native Plants – BHCP website offers an interactive nursery map and list of native seed growers
Edible Natives – website for native foods

Plant Lists

Portland Plant List – comprehensive list of ALL plants native within 50 miles of Portland by City of Portland
Native Plants for Willamette Valley Yards – booklet with excellent photos and icons showcase native plants that are beneficial for wildlife, bees, etc (Metro)
Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest – searchable database, gorgeous images, its a field guide in a website by Mark Turner
Hansen’s Northwest Native Plant Database – website with extensive info on regionally native plants
Butterflies and Hosts Plants – handout by WMSWCD
Native Plants for Erosion Control – handout by Boskey Dell and BHCP
Native Plants Used as Food by Wildlife – Excerpt of the Portland Plant List by City of Portland
Naturescaping for Hummingbirds and Butterflies – handout by EMSWCD
Pacific NW Plants for Bees – handout by Xerces Society
Plants for Pollinators in Oregon – technical report by USDA/National Resource Conservation Service
Pollinator Plants and Bloom Periods – handout by WMSWCD
Deer Resistant Native Plants – list by King County

How to Guides

Naturscaping Presentation – slideshow by East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District.
Sheet Mulching To Remove Lawn – handout by East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District.
Grow Your Own Native Landscape – illustrated guide to growing your own PNW native plants. Be sure to cross-reference with Portland Plant List to determine which are locally native by Washington State University Extension.
Watershed Approach to Landscape Design – presentation, holistic resource for developing a successful naturescaping project. Soil health, appropriate plants and much more by Green Gardens Group.
Collecting And Using Your Own Wildflower Seed – illustrated report providing in-depth info on collection methods, timing, and much more by Xerces Society.
Hardwood Propagation From Cuttings – handout with basic information on species and methods for propagation (by Backyard Habitat Certification Program).
Native Plant Propagation – guide with more in-depth instruction for propagating native plants from hardwood cuttings by WSU Extension.
Conserving Oregon White Oak on Urban and Suburban Landscapes – local how-to-guide for landscaping with White Oak by Mark Griswold Wilson and Ted Labbe.
Meadowscaping Handbook – colorful book outlining locally-specific best practices for designing and installing a native meadow by West Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District.
The Meadow Project – website promoting people to transition lawns to meadowscapes. Note – this is a general/national resource for inspiration. Be sure to select and source locally native plants.
Native Hedgerows – handout with basic info for selecting native hedgerow plants by East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District.

Landscape Designs

Living with Urban Wildlife – website, the best one-stop shop for trouble shooting issues with raccoons, coyotes, crows, woodpeckers and more by Portland Audubon
Cats Safe at Home – website with comprehensive info about catio construction, strategies for keeping cats and wildlife safe, take the pledge to keep your cat indoors and much more by Portland Audubon and the Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon
Minimizing Light Pollution and Lights Out Portland – website, Portland Audubon
Bird Nest Box Instructions – handout by Portland Audubon
Providing Water for Birds – article by Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Snags – the Wildlife Tree – article by Washington Dept of Fish and Wildlife
Wildlife Brush Shelters – article by National Wildlife Federation
Living with Urban Beavers – handout by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
DIY Pollinator Parking Strips – manual by Pollinator Parkways
Bees of Portland – identification guide by City of Portland
Common Bee Pollinators of Oregon Crops – report by Oregon Dept of Agriculture
Mason Bees – presentation by Backyard Habitat Program participant
Beneficial Garden Insects – handout by University of California
Pacific Chorus Frog – article by OSU Extension
Tree Squirrels– article by Oregon Dept of Fish and Wildlife
How to Create Roosts for Bat in your Yard – short article by OSU Extension
Bat Houses FAQ and Construction – handout by Bat Conservation International
Tips for Reducing Window Strikes at Home – article by Portland Audubon

VOLUNTEERS SECTION

Volunteer Training (2019):

Invasive Plants 101 (Michelle Delepine, WMSWCD),
Stormwater Management (SK Amaro, City of Portland BES),
IPM and Pesticides Reduction (Paul Sanford, Metro),
Native Plants and Wildlife Stewardship (Nikkie West, Portland Audubon)

Volunteer Training (2020):

Program Overview Video (Megan Van de Mark, Portland Audubon),
Noxious Weeds PowerPoint and Video (Monte Mattsson, City of Portland BES),
Naturescaping Presentation and Video (Susie Peterson, Columbia Land Trust),
Wildlife Stewardship Video (JP Marchetti-Mendez, Backyard Habitat Certification Program),
Stormwater PowerPoint and Video (SK Amaro, City of Portland BES),
Pesticides PowerPoint and Video (Paul Sanford, Oregon Metro).

Rain Garden Guide – manual, the #1 go to guide for rain garden design, prep, and installation by OSU
Rain Garden Design for Sun – design template by City of Gresham
Rain Garden Design for Shade – design template by City of Gresham
Leave The Leaves – website by Xerces Society
Downspout Disconnection Program – City of Portland
Downspout Disconnect Program – Clark County
Free Water Audits for Lake Oswego Residents – website by City of Lake Oswego
Composting Guide – brochure teaching simple steps to creating healthy soil through composting by Metro
Managing Steep Slopes – handout by Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District
Ecoroofs – website with general information, resources, and permitting, policy, and code details by City of Portland .
Erosion – West Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District. Learn what causes erosion and how to stabilize slopes.
Westside Watershed Resource Center – Provide West Portland residents with technical information and referrals for invasive plant removal, native plant landscaping, stormwater management, and natural gardening.
Geotechnical Engineers – East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District

WILDLIFE STEWARDSHIP

Living with Urban Wildlife – website, the best one-stop shop for trouble shooting issues with raccoons, coyotes, crows, woodpeckers and more by Portland Audubon
Cats Safe at Home – website with comprehensive info about catio construction, strategies for keeping cats and wildlife safe, take the pledge to keep your cat indoors and much more by Portland Audubon and the Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon
Minimizing Light Pollution and Lights Out Portland – website, Portland Audubon
Bird Nest Box Instructions – handout by Portland Audubon
Providing Water for Birds – article by Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Snags – the Wildlife Tree – article by Washington Dept of Fish and Wildlife
Wildlife Brush Shelters – article by National Wildlife Federation
Living with Urban Beavers – handout by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
DIY Pollinator Parking Strips – manual by Pollinator Parkways
Bees of Portland – identification guide by City of Portland
Common Bee Pollinators of Oregon Crops – report by Oregon Dept of Agriculture
Mason Bees – presentation by Backyard Habitat Program participant
Beneficial Garden Insects – handout by University of California
Pacific Chorus Frog – article by OSU Extension
Tree Squirrels– article by Oregon Dept of Fish and Wildlife
How to Create Roosts for Bat in your Yard – short article by OSU Extension
Bat Houses FAQ and Construction – handout by Bat Conservation International
Tips for Reducing Window Strikes at Home – article by Portland Audubon

VOLUNTEERS SECTION

Volunteer Training (2019):

Invasive Plants 101 (Michelle Delepine, WMSWCD),
Stormwater Management (SK Amaro, City of Portland BES),
IPM and Pesticides Reduction (Paul Sanford, Metro),
Native Plants and Wildlife Stewardship (Nikkie West, Portland Audubon)

Volunteer Training (2020):

Program Overview Video (Megan Van de Mark, Portland Audubon),
Noxious Weeds PowerPoint and Video (Monte Mattsson, City of Portland BES),
Naturescaping Presentation and Video (Susie Peterson, Columbia Land Trust),
Wildlife Stewardship Video (JP Marchetti-Mendez, Backyard Habitat Certification Program),
Stormwater PowerPoint and Video (SK Amaro, City of Portland BES),
Pesticides PowerPoint and Video (Paul Sanford, Oregon Metro).

Dry Shade Bed and Sunny Pollinator Garden – by Backyard Habitat Certification Program
Sunny Raingarden and Pollinator Hedgerow – by Backyard Habitat Certification Program
Sun and Shade Rain Garden, Privacy Border and Catio – by Backyard Habitat Certification Program
Sunny Evergreen Privacy Border and Foundation Plantings – by Backyard Habitat Certification Program
Sunny Lawn Free Yard and Parking Strip – by Backyard Habitat Certification Program
Shady Lawn Free Yard and Parking Strip – by Backyard Habitat Certification Program
Landscaping with Oaks – by Backyard Habitat Certification Program
Green Streets – by City of Portland

PESTICIDES REDUCTION

Grow Smart Grow Safe – website that ranks the toxicity of lawn and garden products. We use this resource as the framework for our habitat certification.
Grow Smart Grow Safe – handout explaining how to use the website above.
Common Pesticide Hazard Levels – reference showing red/yellow/green hazard ranking for most-common yard and garden products by OSU Extension and Metro
Healthy Lawn and Garden Pledge – take the pledge and get a free yard sign by Metro
Natural, Pesticide-Free Lawn Care – handout by City of Gresham
Healthy Lawn Care – booklet by Clark County

STORMWATER MANAGEMENT & SOIL HEALTH

Rain Garden Guide – manual, the #1 go to guide for rain garden design, prep, and installation by OSU
Rain Garden Design for Sun – design template by City of Gresham
Rain Garden Design for Shade – design template by City of Gresham
Leave The Leaves – website by Xerces Society
Downspout Disconnection Program – City of Portland
Downspout Disconnect Program – Clark County
Free Water Audits for Lake Oswego Residents – website by City of Lake Oswego
Composting Guide – brochure teaching simple steps to creating healthy soil through composting by Metro
Managing Steep Slopes – handout by Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District
Ecoroofs – website with general information, resources, and permitting, policy, and code details by City of Portland .
Erosion – West Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District. Learn what causes erosion and how to stabilize slopes.
Westside Watershed Resource Center – Provide West Portland residents with technical information and referrals for invasive plant removal, native plant landscaping, stormwater management, and natural gardening.
Geotechnical Engineers – East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District

WILDLIFE STEWARDSHIP

Living with Urban Wildlife – website, the best one-stop shop for trouble shooting issues with raccoons, coyotes, crows, woodpeckers and more by Portland Audubon
Cats Safe at Home – website with comprehensive info about catio construction, strategies for keeping cats and wildlife safe, take the pledge to keep your cat indoors and much more by Portland Audubon and the Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon
Minimizing Light Pollution and Lights Out Portland – website, Portland Audubon
Bird Nest Box Instructions – handout by Portland Audubon
Providing Water for Birds – article by Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Snags – the Wildlife Tree – article by Washington Dept of Fish and Wildlife
Wildlife Brush Shelters – article by National Wildlife Federation
Living with Urban Beavers – handout by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
DIY Pollinator Parking Strips – manual by Pollinator Parkways
Bees of Portland – identification guide by City of Portland
Common Bee Pollinators of Oregon Crops – report by Oregon Dept of Agriculture
Mason Bees – presentation by Backyard Habitat Program participant
Beneficial Garden Insects – handout by University of California
Pacific Chorus Frog – article by OSU Extension
Tree Squirrels– article by Oregon Dept of Fish and Wildlife
How to Create Roosts for Bat in your Yard – short article by OSU Extension
Bat Houses FAQ and Construction – handout by Bat Conservation International
Tips for Reducing Window Strikes at Home – article by Portland Audubon

VOLUNTEERS SECTION

Volunteer Training (2019):

Invasive Plants 101 (Michelle Delepine, WMSWCD),
Stormwater Management (SK Amaro, City of Portland BES),
IPM and Pesticides Reduction (Paul Sanford, Metro),
Native Plants and Wildlife Stewardship (Nikkie West, Portland Audubon)

Volunteer Training (2020):

Program Overview Video (Megan Van de Mark, Portland Audubon),
Noxious Weeds PowerPoint and Video (Monte Mattsson, City of Portland BES),
Naturescaping Presentation and Video (Susie Peterson, Columbia Land Trust),
Wildlife Stewardship Video (JP Marchetti-Mendez, Backyard Habitat Certification Program),
Stormwater PowerPoint and Video (SK Amaro, City of Portland BES),
Pesticides PowerPoint and Video (Paul Sanford, Oregon Metro).

Rain Garden Guide – manual, the #1 go to guide for rain garden design, prep, and installation by OSU
Rain Garden Design for Sun – design template by City of Gresham
Rain Garden Design for Shade – design template by City of Gresham
Leave The Leaves – website by Xerces Society
Downspout Disconnection Program – City of Portland
Downspout Disconnect Program – Clark County
Free Water Audits for Lake Oswego Residents – website by City of Lake Oswego
Composting Guide – brochure teaching simple steps to creating healthy soil through composting by Metro
Managing Steep Slopes – handout by Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District
Ecoroofs – website with general information, resources, and permitting, policy, and code details by City of Portland .
Erosion – West Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District. Learn what causes erosion and how to stabilize slopes.
Westside Watershed Resource Center – Provide West Portland residents with technical information and referrals for invasive plant removal, native plant landscaping, stormwater management, and natural gardening.
Geotechnical Engineers – East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District

WILDLIFE STEWARDSHIP

Living with Urban Wildlife – website, the best one-stop shop for trouble shooting issues with raccoons, coyotes, crows, woodpeckers and more by Portland Audubon
Cats Safe at Home – website with comprehensive info about catio construction, strategies for keeping cats and wildlife safe, take the pledge to keep your cat indoors and much more by Portland Audubon and the Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon
Minimizing Light Pollution and Lights Out Portland – website, Portland Audubon
Bird Nest Box Instructions – handout by Portland Audubon
Providing Water for Birds – article by Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Snags – the Wildlife Tree – article by Washington Dept of Fish and Wildlife
Wildlife Brush Shelters – article by National Wildlife Federation
Living with Urban Beavers – handout by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
DIY Pollinator Parking Strips – manual by Pollinator Parkways
Bees of Portland – identification guide by City of Portland
Common Bee Pollinators of Oregon Crops – report by Oregon Dept of Agriculture
Mason Bees – presentation by Backyard Habitat Program participant
Beneficial Garden Insects – handout by University of California
Pacific Chorus Frog – article by OSU Extension
Tree Squirrels– article by Oregon Dept of Fish and Wildlife
How to Create Roosts for Bat in your Yard – short article by OSU Extension
Bat Houses FAQ and Construction – handout by Bat Conservation International
Tips for Reducing Window Strikes at Home – article by Portland Audubon

VOLUNTEERS SECTION

Volunteer Training (2019):

Invasive Plants 101 (Michelle Delepine, WMSWCD),
Stormwater Management (SK Amaro, City of Portland BES),
IPM and Pesticides Reduction (Paul Sanford, Metro),
Native Plants and Wildlife Stewardship (Nikkie West, Portland Audubon)

Volunteer Training (2020):

Program Overview Video (Megan Van de Mark, Portland Audubon),
Noxious Weeds PowerPoint and Video (Monte Mattsson, City of Portland BES),
Naturescaping Presentation and Video (Susie Peterson, Columbia Land Trust),
Wildlife Stewardship Video (JP Marchetti-Mendez, Backyard Habitat Certification Program),
Stormwater PowerPoint and Video (SK Amaro, City of Portland BES),
Pesticides PowerPoint and Video (Paul Sanford, Oregon Metro).

Dry Shade Bed and Sunny Pollinator Garden – by Backyard Habitat Certification Program
Sunny Raingarden and Pollinator Hedgerow – by Backyard Habitat Certification Program
Sun and Shade Rain Garden, Privacy Border and Catio – by Backyard Habitat Certification Program
Sunny Evergreen Privacy Border and Foundation Plantings – by Backyard Habitat Certification Program
Sunny Lawn Free Yard and Parking Strip – by Backyard Habitat Certification Program
Shady Lawn Free Yard and Parking Strip – by Backyard Habitat Certification Program
Landscaping with Oaks – by Backyard Habitat Certification Program
Green Streets – by City of Portland

PESTICIDES REDUCTION

Grow Smart Grow Safe – website that ranks the toxicity of lawn and garden products. We use this resource as the framework for our habitat certification.
Grow Smart Grow Safe – handout explaining how to use the website above.
Common Pesticide Hazard Levels – reference showing red/yellow/green hazard ranking for most-common yard and garden products by OSU Extension and Metro
Healthy Lawn and Garden Pledge – take the pledge and get a free yard sign by Metro
Natural, Pesticide-Free Lawn Care – handout by City of Gresham
Healthy Lawn Care – booklet by Clark County

STORMWATER MANAGEMENT & SOIL HEALTH

Rain Garden Guide – manual, the #1 go to guide for rain garden design, prep, and installation by OSU
Rain Garden Design for Sun – design template by City of Gresham
Rain Garden Design for Shade – design template by City of Gresham
Leave The Leaves – website by Xerces Society
Downspout Disconnection Program – City of Portland
Downspout Disconnect Program – Clark County
Free Water Audits for Lake Oswego Residents – website by City of Lake Oswego
Composting Guide – brochure teaching simple steps to creating healthy soil through composting by Metro
Managing Steep Slopes – handout by Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District
Ecoroofs – website with general information, resources, and permitting, policy, and code details by City of Portland .
Erosion – West Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District. Learn what causes erosion and how to stabilize slopes.
Westside Watershed Resource Center – Provide West Portland residents with technical information and referrals for invasive plant removal, native plant landscaping, stormwater management, and natural gardening.
Geotechnical Engineers – East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District

WILDLIFE STEWARDSHIP

Living with Urban Wildlife – website, the best one-stop shop for trouble shooting issues with raccoons, coyotes, crows, woodpeckers and more by Portland Audubon
Cats Safe at Home – website with comprehensive info about catio construction, strategies for keeping cats and wildlife safe, take the pledge to keep your cat indoors and much more by Portland Audubon and the Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon
Minimizing Light Pollution and Lights Out Portland – website, Portland Audubon
Bird Nest Box Instructions – handout by Portland Audubon
Providing Water for Birds – article by Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Snags – the Wildlife Tree – article by Washington Dept of Fish and Wildlife
Wildlife Brush Shelters – article by National Wildlife Federation
Living with Urban Beavers – handout by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
DIY Pollinator Parking Strips – manual by Pollinator Parkways
Bees of Portland – identification guide by City of Portland
Common Bee Pollinators of Oregon Crops – report by Oregon Dept of Agriculture
Mason Bees – presentation by Backyard Habitat Program participant
Beneficial Garden Insects – handout by University of California
Pacific Chorus Frog – article by OSU Extension
Tree Squirrels– article by Oregon Dept of Fish and Wildlife
How to Create Roosts for Bat in your Yard – short article by OSU Extension
Bat Houses FAQ and Construction – handout by Bat Conservation International
Tips for Reducing Window Strikes at Home – article by Portland Audubon

VOLUNTEERS SECTION

Volunteer Training (2019):

Invasive Plants 101 (Michelle Delepine, WMSWCD),
Stormwater Management (SK Amaro, City of Portland BES),
IPM and Pesticides Reduction (Paul Sanford, Metro),
Native Plants and Wildlife Stewardship (Nikkie West, Portland Audubon)

Volunteer Training (2020):

Program Overview Video (Megan Van de Mark, Portland Audubon),
Noxious Weeds PowerPoint and Video (Monte Mattsson, City of Portland BES),
Naturescaping Presentation and Video (Susie Peterson, Columbia Land Trust),
Wildlife Stewardship Video (JP Marchetti-Mendez, Backyard Habitat Certification Program),
Stormwater PowerPoint and Video (SK Amaro, City of Portland BES),
Pesticides PowerPoint and Video (Paul Sanford, Oregon Metro).