FAQ
General Questions
I have a low income. How can I participate?
Enrollment in the Backyard Habitat Certification Program is now offered on a sliding scale, starting at $5, to help increase financial accessibility and remove barriers to participation. By collectively supporting each other, this movement can have an even greater impact!
We encourage you to pay the amount that is meaningful and affordable for you.
Do you certify front yards? Why is the program called Backyard Habitat?
We recognize that our name is misleading. We actually can’t certify only portions of the property, so when you enroll in the program, expect us to help you transform the front, back, and side yards and even the parking strip.
Why do I need your program to create habitat?
You don’t! Anyone can create a wildlife habitat in their gardens, and we are happy to provide free resources on our website for you to do exactly that. Now, if you want experts’ assistance and a sense of community, we are here to help.
How does the program work?
1. You apply to be part of the program.
2. A Backyard Habitat Technician will contact you to set up a site visit. The Technician will walk through your entire property, not just the backyard. They will identify the harmful weeds recommended for removal, listen to your goals and desires for the space, and make recommendations based on your conversation.
3. Following that visit, you’ll receive a personalized Site Report document via email with recommendations and a recap of the steps you have to take to reach certification. That is your homework, where we provide several benefits, resources, and discounts to help you create habitat.
4. When you complete your site report’s recommendations, contact us, and a trained certification volunteer will schedule another site visit with you. Once certified, you’ll be rewarded with a beautiful metal sign!
5. Certifications expire after three years. Renewing your certification is as easy as replying to an online questionnaire that we will send you close to the expiration date.
See our webpage for more details.
Where can I see more pictures of other habitats?
Why don’t you post more pictures of participants’ habitats?
We definitely hear everyone’s interest in seeing more photos of participants’ yards, and we appreciate the feedback.
Certifications visits are performed by volunteers, and we already ask a lot of them. We’ve focused the certification post on the participants’ photos to recognize the individuals doing the work! We encourage participants to share additional photos of their yards in the posts’ comments if possible, but we leave it up to them since we have limited capacity.
That said, your interest in seeing more photos of fellow participants’ habitats inspired us to create a virtual version of the Open Gardens Project, where we share participants habitat building stories, complete with their own photos and their answers to questions about the process of building their habitat. You can check it out at:
https://backyardhabitats.org/category/open-gardens-project/.
How can I help the program?
• Install metal signs in visible areas.
• Volunteer.
• Tell others about the program and encourage them to enroll.
• Testimonials.
• Donate!
How many people work for the program?
We have five full-time staff, 14 contracted Habitat Technicians, and 80+ volunteers.
I’m a new homeowner of a certified yard. How can I continue certification?
Great! You’ll want to sign up and receive your own site visit so you can get the discounts and other benefits to help you continue the habitat that’s been built.
I found an injured animal. What do I do?
Please contact the Wildlife Care Center.
I don’t have a yard but would like to support wildlife. Can I participate?
Container gardening is an excellent way for people living in apartments to support wildlife. In particular, planting some native plants in the space you have and providing sources of water are both particularly helpful to pollinators and other important species.
While we currently aren’t set up to provide in-person site visits to folks living in apartments, we’re happy for you to utilize the many resources on our website. Here are some resources we hope are helpful as you seek to create wildlife habitat at home:
Creating a Healthy Apartment or Townhouse – Audubon
How to Grow Pacific NW Native Plants in Outdoor Containers – Real Gardens Grow Natives
Turning a Small Space Into a Big Attraction for Wildlife – The National Wildlife Federation
Brighten Up Your Balcony or Patio with a DIY Native-Plant Garden – Audubon
The National Wildlife Federation is an organization with a national program that also awards yard signs and is able to certify apartments, as long as food sources, water sources, cover, and places for wildlife to raise young are incorporated.
Friends of Backyard Habitat Facebook page – potential source of free native plants and other ideas
One other idea would be to talk to your landlord about signing up your apartment complex for the program. That way everyone living in the complex can benefit from increased access to native plants and all that they provide.
Enrollment Questions
What are the benefits of enrolling in your program?
• Initial site visit and property walkthrough with a Habitat Technician
• Follow-up customized Site report
• Discounts flyer that includes 10 to 25% off native plants at several local retail nurseries
• “Certification in Progress” metal sign
• Follow-up phone calls and email support from Backyard Habitat staff
• One-year membership to Portland Audubon
• Wholesale prices on soil and mulch from ProGro Mixes in Sherwood
• Invitation to participate in the Backyard Habitat’s Open Garden Tour
Should I prepare my yard before enrolling in the program?
Your yard doesn’t have to be planted for you to join the program. We welcome everyone, from blank canvases to well-established native habitats.
What is your service area?
These are our Program Areas.
* Clackamas County – Damascus, Gladstone, Happy Valley, Jennings Lodge, Johnson City, Lake Oswego, Milwaukie, Oak Grove, Oregon City, Rivergrove, West Linn, and Wilsonville.
* Clark County – the entire county.
* Multnomah County – Fairview, Gresham, Portland, Troutdale, and Wood Village.
* Washington County – Beaverton, Tigard, Tualatin, King City, unincorporated Washington County, Cornelius, Forest Grove, Hillsboro, and Sherwood.
Will you expand your service area in the future?
We don’t have plans to expand into other counties at this time.
What can I do if I am outside your service area?
• Subscribe to our e-newsletter.
• Contact your local municipality, soil and water conservation district, watershed council, or other conservation agencies or organizations to learn if a similar program is available or could be developed near you.
• Use the resources from our website to create habitat.
• The National Wildlife Federation Certification and Homegrown National Park are national programs that also award signs and other benefits.
Is there a property size limit?
We only provide services to residential lots smaller than one (1) acre. Non-residential lots can be larger than one acre (businesses, religious institutions, community centers, parks, etc.).
Can you certify only part of my property?
No. Unfortunately, we have to follow your legal lot size as determined by your city/county.
How much does it cost to participate?
Enrollment is offered on a sliding scale, starting at $5, to help increase financial accessibility and remove barriers to participation. We don’t charge for anything else.
Initial Visits
How long will it take for a technician to contact me once I enroll?
Please allow up to four months to hear from one of our habitat technicians to schedule your visit.
What should I expect in the initial visit?
Once you enroll, a Backyard Habitat Technician will contact you to schedule an initial site visit. The Technician will walk through your entire property, not just the backyard. They will identify the harmful weeds recommended for removal, listen to your goals and desires for the space, and make recommendations based on your conversation. Following that visit, you’ll receive a customized Site Report via email with recommendations and a recap of the steps you have to take to reach certification.
How long does the initial visit take?
It usually takes one hour but can take longer for larger lots.
What if I have questions about my site report?
Email your Habitat Technician, or contact us. We are here to support you, and we have a vast network of program supporters able to help you, too!
Certification Criteria
What does it mean to have a yard or outdoor space certified?
To be certified means that someone from our program did a walkthrough of your garden and determined that you met a minimum threshold of our certification criteria document.
What are the certification levels?
We currently have Silver, Gold, and Platinum certification levels.
What are the differences between the different certification levels?
Silver is the easiest certification to achieve, and Platinum is the hardest. Each level has different requirements. Please visit our Certification Criteria document to read those requirements.
The certification levels have different benefits, too.
How long will it take for me to be certified?
That depends on how much work is required, how much time and energy you have, and how many resources are available. Some people reach certification in a few weeks, while others may take many years. We are here to support you in reaching your goals as soon as possible. Please let us know of your barriers to reaching certification.
Can I have a follow-up visit to check if I am ready for certification?
While we don’t have the resources to provide multiple site visits, we try to provide multiple avenues to determine what you need to do to get certified. The first is the customized site report you received during your initial site visit, which shares the specific steps needed to reach certification. The other is our Certification Criteria handout.
I’m selling the property. Should I certify before I sell it?
We encourage new owners to re-enroll in the program to get indispensable knowledge about our program and how to keep up with the work done by the previous owners. In other words, you shouldn’t rush to certify.
Naturescaping
What does naturescaping mean?
Naturescaping (or nature scaping) is a method of landscape design focused on planting a majority of native plants in the landscape, thus allowing people and wildlife to coexist.
What are considered naturescaped areas?
For our program, it means most of the plants in plantable areas are native and represent at least three canopy layers.
What are canopy layers?
Canopy layers refer to the mature size of plants. The main canopy layers are groundcover, small shrub, large shrub, small tree, and large tree.
What are plantable areas?
Plantable areas are all areas of the property lot that can be planted (not a building, shed, driveway, etc.).
Do you provide gardening services (ex: planting, weeding)? Who can help me with my garden?
No, but we keep a Landscape Directory where you can hire a professional near you!
Can I have ornamental plants in the garden?
Of course! Feel free to keep or plant any ornamentals that you’re fond of. For certification purposes, we just ask that your dedicated native planting beds consist of mostly native plants.
How do I know what plants are considered “native?”
Our program uses the Portland Plant List to determine if a plant is native to this region.
What are cultivars and varieties of plants? Are they native?
A cultivar is a plant that has been modified by humans to accentuate particular characteristics. A hybrid refers to two different species or varieties that have been cross-pollinated. While hybrids can occur naturally, they most often occur when humans cross-pollinate two species to bring out specifically desired traits such as bloom color or size. Ecologists agree that if the bloom has been altered, so too has its relationship with insects and wildlife. While cultivar and hybrid native plants are not necessarily a bad choice, for the purposes of our program, we encourage choosing true native plants to maximize habitat value and help support efforts to conserve and maintain their populations.
Do my plants need to be mature to contribute to my naturescape?
The age of the plants does not matter. Our technicians and volunteers recognize the size that the species would be as adults. We want people to get certified as soon as possible and not have to wait many decades to have a tall canopy layer.
Weeds
Do I have to remove all the weeds from my garden?
No. You only have to remove the weeds that would prevent you from achieving your desired certification level. For a list of those weeds, please see our certification criteria document.
Pesticides Reduction
I need to use pesticides to eradicate a pest infestation. Can I still get certified?
Experts often recommend pesticides to eradicate infestations, be it of introduced insects or plants threatening our ecosystems. We recommend working with your local Soil and Water Conservation District to determine if pesticides are necessary and waiting to implement wildlife stewardship items until the treatment is done. Depending on the product used, you cannot be certified until the pesticide treatment is finished. Visit Grow Smart Grow Safe for more information.
Stormwater Management
Do French drains count as “disconnected downspouts?”
Yes, French drains are one method of redirecting stormwater into the soil and disconnecting your downspouts.
I live in an area where disconnecting my downspouts is discouraged.
That is okay! We always recommend checking with your local government before disconnecting downspouts. The good news is that there are many other items in the Stormwater Management menu that you can still do.
Do I need to keep my raingarden filled year-round?
No. Your raingarden is supposed to temporarily retain water, but the plants would be able to live in dry land.
Wildlife Stewardship
Can I get certified if I have pets?
Yes, there are no restrictions on pets. The only restriction would be to achieve platinum certification, where you cannot own a free-roaming cat.
I want a platinum certification, but I have an outdoor cat.
Because platinum habitats attract so much wildlife, we require that cats be kept indoors, in outdoor enclosures, or leashed when outside. The goal is to prevent your habitat from becoming a hunting ground for your cat. The Cats Safe at Home website has many resources that you may find helpful.
Upgrades
How can I get my certification level upgraded?
Once you meet the criteria for a certification level upgrade, contact us, and we’ll ask a certification volunteer to coordinate an upgrade visit with you.
Post-Certification
I sold my certified property. How can I transfer my certification to the new owners?
Certifications are not transferable. We encourage new owners of certified properties to enroll in the program to experience the process and education from the beginning.
What do I do after moving from my enrolled property?
Contact us to let us know so we can update our database to reflect the change.
If you moved within our program area, please consider enrolling your new property in the program.
Where is my certification sticker?
Once you’re certified, the volunteer will give you the Backyard Habitat metal sign, but you’ll receive a follow-up letter with the certification sticker and a gift card in the mail within six months. You don’t have to wait for the sticker to proudly display your new certification sign and celebrate your fantastic achievement!
Renewals
How do I schedule a renewal visit?
If you’re ready to renew your certification, contact us (link to form), and you’ll be directed to a form to complete your renewal virtually!
Why should I renew my certification?
Renewing your certification helps us track the progress and impact of the program over time. This helps us demonstrate the measurable, positive impacts of Backyard Habitats in neighborhoods! Renewal also allows you to continue receiving invitations to our Open Garden Events and access to exclusive resources and annual coupons to local native plant nurseries.