• Ground Layer

• Shrubs

• Understory Trees

• Canopy Trees

Silver Level: Beefsteak Plant, Bush Honeysuckle (at least 50% of property cleared), English Ivy (cleared from vertical surfaces), Garlic Mustard, Star-of-Bethlehem, Sweet Autumn Clematis, Wintercreeper (cleared from vertical surfaces)

Gold Level: Autumn Olive, Bush Honeysuckle (at least 75% of property cleared), Burning Bush/Winged Euonymus, English Ivy (all), Field Bindweed, Japanese Knotweed, Japanese Stiltgrass, Multiflora Rose, Nandina, Oriental Bittersweet, Tree of Heaven

Platinum Level: Amur Maple, Asian Bamboo, Bush Honeysuckle (all cleared), Bradford/Callery Pear, Japanese Honeysuckle, Johnson Grass, Mimosa, Privets (all species), Siberian Elm or Lacebark Elm, Wintercreeper (100% cleared)

• At least one avian nest or roost box monitored to keep out non-native birds (European starlings, English house sparrows, and pigeons)

• At least one wildlife water feature (regularly cleaned bird bath, bubbler, pond, natural waterway)

• At least 2 native bee stewardship practices 

  • • leave 10+ inches of perennial stems if doing garden bed clean-up for native stem-nesting bees

    • use leaf mulch instead of wood mulch or leave leaf layer or bare ground for native ground nesting bees

    • include a snag (standing dead tree) or log (fallen tree) of at least 6 inches diameter for native wood nesting bees

• At least one properly installed bat house

  • • Bat houses should be: 15 -20 ft above ground, and mounted on a building or pole (NOT on a tree). More info at Bat Conservation International.

• Indoor cats only

  • • outdoor enclosures such as catios or use of a cat leash/harness are acceptable

• Audubon-approved bird collision prevention installation to reduce window strikes

  • • Any recommendations from Audubon National or  American Bird Conservancy are acceptable

• No broad insecticide spraying for mosquitoes

• Complete Dark Sky home lighting assessment: bit.ly/DarkSkyAssessment

• Eliminate the use of all synthetic pesticides & fertilizers (except for application of herbicides to eradicate non-native invasive plants)

• Reduce the amount of manicured turf grass and impervious surfaces (cement, asphalt, etc.) to less than 10% of the property (minus the footprint of buildings)

• Install at least one Rainwater harvesting system, such as a rain barrel or cistern

• Plant or maintain at least 1 native tree or shrub for every 1,000 square feet of plantable space to absorb rainwater or stabilize slopes

• Install a rain garden or vegetated bioswale 

• Install a vegetative buffer strip at least 3 feet wide or green roof to absorb and filter runoff

• Maintain proper pet waste disposal to prevent stormwater contamination

  1. • • droppings should be regularly collected for disposal or composted in a sealed container.

• Participates in wildlife-oriented community science program such as Bumblebee Atlast or Stream Team)

• Organize or host a Bring Conservation Home supported education event

• Property accepted into at least one native plant/wildlife garden tour such as the Native Plant Garden Tour or Sustainable Backyard Tour 

• Take more than one naturescaping class such as STLCC-Meramec's Go Native or Native Plant School. Webinars from Partners for Native Landscaping, Grow Native!, or Wild Ones are acceptable

• Volunteer regularly with St. Louis Audubon or other nature conservation groups such as Wild Ones or Shaw Nature Reserve

• Become a Master Naturalist through the Missouri or Illinois Master Naturalists or St. Louis Community College