Creative gardening projects that recycle coarse woody debris
As another boggy Midwestern March begins , we ’re often rounding the bend on our winter pruning tasks and look for more originative garden project . We also may be surround by piles of sticks and logs from winter pruning .
Current practices in bionomic horticulture are evolving to appreciate the value of hold back and recycling organic affair onsite . This let in fallen leave-taking , perennial clippings from springiness and shine sporting - up , and wood of all kinds . Woody debris is loosely categorize as either fine , like twig and control stick , or coarse , like fall log and stomach split .
uncouth woody debris ( CWD ) provides a multitude of benefits as it slowly decompose . Snags and lumber piles allow home ground for hoot , small mammals , amphibians , and a legion of invertebrate . The fungi colonizing CWD better soil conditions for root increase and recycle food back into the grime . As log decompose into the stain , they create spongy “ filth wood , ” which keep back moisture and improves grunge texture .
Few gardeners can embrace the esthetic of haphazardly strew logarithm piles . However , one may transform CWD into artful , operational garden social organisation that age graciously and enrich the garden . These labor are workable even when the ground is cover in C. P. Snow or clay , throw creative activities for a later winter or early fountain day that soften benefits for twelvemonth to come . Here are a few project you may complete with the CWD litter your M .
Cordwood screening wall
Try as we might , most garden still have an unsightly tool - stashing zone , public utility box , or compost area that take disguise . This buxom cordwood wall works best with straight pieces of wood slew into 12 - to-18 - inch lengths of any diameter array from hearty trunks down to outgrowth about 3 inches wide-eyed . Smaller - diameter log just take more longanimity to stack . Line up the heavy opus at ground level to make a reasonably level base bed , and stack toward the top in layers , using incrementally smaller - diam logs . besotted , deliberate stacking create a stylish , uniform feeling . More casual stacking leaves big spaces between logs that can be stuffed by and by with hollow - stemmed flora fabric , such as the dry out stems of Allium ( Alliumspp . and cvs . , Zones 4–10 ) , miscanthus ( Miscanthusspp . and cvs . , Zones 4–9 ) , or silphium ( Silphiumspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–9 ) , which allow egg - laying situation for aboriginal pollinators . Keep pile until your ugly area is out of sight !
Bottom log will easy disintegrate and link up the soil , so the top level of the paries may settle . at the same time , you will probably detect fungi starting to colonise the log , creating a natural glue with their rootlike hyphae and maintain constancy between the logs . More log can always be added to the top to maintain height .
Hill garden retaining wall
This project repurposes a all-embracing sort of CWD and garden rubble , create a innate retaining wall full of constituent matter to slow erosion and enrich garden soil . A layer of soil on top provide an initial substratum for planting , and the interior organic topic slowly die down to create prolific , moisture - retentive garden soil .
The retaining rampart above start with the placement of the most - substantial logs across the side to break up the grade , follow by the addition of small branches , partly decomposed spongelike wood , and leaves for backfill . As layers were tote up , the bulwark was lean back in toward the hill for stability . The whole tidy sum was then top with some soil , which was pack into crevices between the ramification . The area was quick for plant ! mystifying planting holes boost plant ascendent to look for out moisture in the lower levels of the wall . plant right away into cracks in the bulwark works well , or you’re able to plant in the decomposing fabric on either side of the wall if your wall is made of logarithm that are so with child that you ca n’t plant in many crevices . This project is great for combat erosion , since the wall slows water rushing down the side so it can be absorbed and slowly released by the decomposing wood below .
Log planter
strange planting containers are neat for setting the humour and starting a conversation . A partially rotten hollow log or stump with a spongy Department of the Interior makes a great place to grow fern and works that like moist shade , add up atmosphere in a woodland garden or a dim corner . Using a log planter works best in full to fond shade where the tree stump is able to hold back moisture more readily , but it can also be effective in sun with a petty more paying attention lachrymation .
Over the wintertime , garner logs with interesting gap and hollows , and stuff them with a concoction of garden soil and sphagnum moss . Stuff any crevices with moss where soil might spill out . let the log rest and absorb rain and snow in the late wintertime or early spring soaks the log and settles the dirt mix so that you ’re ready to set later in spring . Wedge ferns , shade - broad ground covers such as ajuga ( Ajuga reptansand cvs . , Zones 3–10 ) or three - leave behind stonecrop ( Sedum ternatum , Zones 3–9 ) , and pocket-sized varieties of genus Heuchera ( Heucheraspp . and cvs . , Zones 3 - 8) into the scuttle , and gormandise extra moss all around the plants ; water munificently while plants are set up . In juiceless point , plants benefit from the ample moisture conserved in the spongy Sir Henry Wood as the interior of the logarithm slowly breaks down into productive garden soil .
As the mantra “ Reduce , reuse , recycle ” becomes ever more imperative , gardeners with an plentiful cache of CWD can be grateful for such a beautiful sore stuff , which lend itself to a variety of originative and beneficial garden project . At the end of the day , few affair are more fun than a molder log .
— Erin Presley is a horticulturist at Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison , Wisconsin .
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The snags and stumps of this old log make great areas to plant perennials that require moist shade.Photo: Erin Presley
No one would guess there’s a 4-foot utility box hiding behind this DIY screening wall.Photo: Erin Presley
The hollow stems of faded perennials can fill gaps between pieces of larger wood and provide shelter for overwintering insects.Photo: Erin Presley
Retaining walls slow erosion on slopes or hills and enrich garden soil.Photo: Erin Presley
This retaining wall was built across the slope of a hill to break up the grade. Backfilled with rotting wood and other organic material, this wall awaits a top dressing of soil prior to planting.Photo: Erin Presley
The silverleaf hydrangea shrubs (Hydrangea arborescensssp.radiata, Zones 4–9) right behind this retaining wall are fully hydrated, most likely benefiting from the moisture stored in the decomposing retaining wall. The shrubs several feet in front of the retaining wall, however, are showing signs of drought.Photo: Erin Presley
This birch stump, planted with sedges (Carexspp. and cvs., Zones 3–10), heuchera, and tropical ferns, makes a good conversation starter on display under this shaded overhang.Photo: Erin Presley
This planted stump features wood gray sedge (Carex grisea, Zones 3–9) highlighted with a tropical fern. Hardy ferns and sedges have no problem overwintering outside in a cozy planted stump.Photo: Erin Presley
The white birch log planted with sedges and tropical ferns complements the pink blooms of Tuff Stuff™ mountain hydrangea (Hydrangea serrata‘MAK20’, Zones 5–9) on display in this shady entryway.Photo: Erin Presley
