Trees are integral parts of the forest ecosystem and make a grand statement in our landscapes. We love trees, in all of the forms and functions. But it hasn’t been a great year for trees here at the Frog Pond Veg Patch. Earlier in the year we took down the ornamental crab apple tree in our front yard because it was mostly dead. And then we noticed that a number of our large pine trees had turned brown. It appears that those will have to come down as well. While we are sad to see them go, this will create some new and exciting opportunities for our property. Plus dead trees do have benefits to the ecosystem!
Why Are The Trees Coming Down?
Sadly, we noticed that some of our large pine trees died. We don’t know what caused their death, but the tops of the trees turned brown and there was evidence of woodpeckers trying to get at insects. Whether insect damage is the culprit or just a consequence, we don’t know. We had tree service experts confirm that the trees were dead and need to come down.
Benefits of Dead Trees
While you may not typically think of fallen trees as beneficial to your garden, they offer a surprising number of benefits to the ecosystem.
- Food and Habitat: They provide food and habitat for a variety of wildlife.
- Nutrient Cycling: As they break down, they return valuable nutrients to the soil.
- Visual Interest: Their ever-changing forms add visual interest to the garden.
Here are some ways to utilize dead trees:
- Stumps: Incorporate stumps as sculptural elements in your garden.
- Logs: Leave logs around the edges of your yard to provide habitat for beneficial insects and microbes.
- Branches: Build dead hedges with fallen sticks and branches to create low walls.
Woodpeckers and Other Wildlife: Woodpeckers are attracted to dead trees and create holes that can become homes for other wildlife. Consider adding bird boxes to your garden if you don’t have dead trees.
Why Aren’t We Using the Trees On Our Property?
Even though dead trees offer benefits, we are not going to chip down the trees being removed and use them as mulch on our property. This is because we are concerned about the potential spread of insects or diseases to other parts of the propert
What Will Happen to This Space?
The removal of these large trees will create a clearing in our wooded area, opening up new possibilities.
- New Structure: We could potentially build a structure in this area.
- Woodland Garden: The clearing could also become a beautiful woodland garden.
- New Planting Opportunities: The trees currently block a lot of afternoon sun in the front yard. Removing them will allow us to approach the landscaping in the front garden in new and different ways.
We will keep you updated on what we decide to do with this space, so make sure to subscribe to our channel and follow along on our journey!
Check out the full video to see how dead trees contribute to the natural landscaping!
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