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Index- Wildflower Gardening Web Index
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Trees and Woodland
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Trees are planted in most wildlife gardens.
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All species of trees native or non native are suitable for the wild
garden. Native trees tend to be the best at attracting wildlife as birds
and insects are familiar with them. Native trees at their best attract
wildlife when planted with fellow plant companions from that native tree's
ecosystem. (e.g. Birch and Wild Strawberry). It is of little value if an
Oak tree attracts hundreds of species to it self, if those species are not
in the locality.
(Try and match the trees you are planting to the locality)
If you plant a tree that has berries, one tree may not be enough to
attract the wildlife. However if on your street, the same berry
species exists, birds may be more inclined to visit your area.
Non native Trees that produce fruit and seed or have edible leaves are
the next best choice.
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Design
Ideas |
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When choosing trees designing for eventual size is wise.
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Planting trees that grow to the required height and no more will make
for very low maintenance.
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If trees have to be cut, create compost by shredding or chipping the
prunings.
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Young Trees are best planted as whips and mulched.
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Dwarf conifers and evergreen shrub are vital for over wintering
ladybirds.
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Shelter Belt
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Any garden requiring shelter should have that shelter planted first.
This offers an ideal opportunity to introduce seed and berry forming
species. For the backbone of the shelter belt we first try to use native
trees and shrubs that grow well in the area . Remember to plant
native evergreens such as Yew, Juniper, Scot Pine (all which require
protection when young) as well as Wind hardy birch (for a small garden)
Ash or Oak as multi - stem shrub (for a medium sized garden) mixed with
whip grown standards of Mountain Ash (Sorbus Aucuparia) and Prunus Avium).
Interplant the shelter belt with wild dog rose and in space allows the vigorous
Old Mans Beard a native clematis.
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Pioneer plant species:
Alder, Elderberry, Willow
(Salix) all grow easily
and very fast. If they out grow the shelterbelt, cut them to kill them and
leave the branches to rot and to decay into humus. After a few years
when tree and shrubs have grown large enough to create shade,
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Plant wind
hardy wild strawberry, wild raspberry, and Blackberry, if you don't want Brambles in your garden, you can cheat by planting with thornless
blackberry, ornamental bramble (rubus species) and Black Current to the
edges.
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Any tree can be used to form a woodland. For a woodland to develop
over the long term, they should be productive, well designed and planted
with easy to maintain mixtures of trees.
DBN tends to place wind firm conifers to the north.
Across the whole wood plant 20% firm trees of choice ensuring that the
wood has a future, fire resistant species should be kept away from
evergreens and light demanding species mixed with shade bearers.
Some trees produce the best leaf litter ( Beech, Hornbeam, Larch,
Alder).
The entire boundary except for vista and access should be planted with
shrub to attract wildlife from outside and to protect forest floor leaf
litter from the effect of wind and drying out.
Forest floor leaf litter is vital for ground carpeting wildflowers.
The wood after 8 years can be planted with
Azalea and Rhododendron for
the gardener.
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Wet Woodlands - Endangered ecosystems
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Due to the development of land in Ireland, wet woodlands are now one of
Irelands most endangered ecosystems. Design By Nature customers who
have wet soil and are considering planting trees should design a wet
woodland. Prunus padus, the Bird Cherry Tree* is now nearly extinct
in Ireland. Under plant with this, Golden Saxifraga, Wood Avens,
Autumn Crocus*, Globe flowers*, Marsh Marigold and you can recreate an
ecosystem that will directly help conservation of native species on a
global scale.
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Autumn Crocus*
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*These are protected species. Ensure when you purchase them from
your garden centre that they come from a wild flower nursery and not from
the wild. |
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Golden Saxifrage |
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Next Page: Trees
and shrub species that Sandro has planted in Ireland |
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"Sandro, when we bought our house 17 years ago,
you gave us a present of a Black Mulberry Tree - like the one in the
Botanical Gardens in Dublin, that fruits juicily and profusely every
year. Why are the fruits on our tree White and
Inedible?" "When I planted it, I was convinced
it was a black mulberry, that's what the label said. That's why
traceability is so important - Coillte, the Irish Forest Company have
now native strains of trees produced at their Ballintemple Nursery in
Carlow. So ask for native trees in your local garden centre |
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