Inspired by Nature
Gardening by the Yard : Episode GBY-1613 -- More Projects »
If you want to mimic nature in your garden, take a hike. What better place is there to find inspiration and cues than out in the woods? Mother Nature has plenty to teach:
The next time you have a tree cut down for whatever reason, consider two things. One, don't cut it down at all. Just let it stay there. It's called a snag (figure A), and that will attract wildlife. But if it poses a danger, you might want to consider at least leaving the stump. As the snag rots over time, moss may even start to grow. Soon enough, all types of birds and insects will call it their new home. If there is plenty of moss in your neck of the woods, why not just let it run wild? It provides a beautiful and lush environment and requires virtually no maintenance.
Each year gardeners spend billions on bagged mulch products made from various woods. Fallen, rotten logs (figure B) provide mulch for the forest floor, and when combined with leaves and other kinds of litter, help create the ideal environment. The forest plants are doing just fine without any supplemental fertilizer. Doing a little pruning in your yard? Don't just toss it all in the trash; the cut branches can still serve a functional purpose in your yard. If you have a remote corner in your yard, consider using it to throw all your clippings. Make a big pile of sticks and twigs. It may look a bit unsightly, but it is great for wildlife. It will serve as a home for rabbits and other critters. If you provide food and water sources along with shelter and places for animals to breed, you're on your way to getting your own backyard certified as a wildlife sanctuary. Many homeowners love having their grass growing right up to the edge of their trees. This isn't a very natural look at all, and you won't see this very often in the wild. Plus, string trimmers are a common cause of damage to young trees. Consider throwing in a least a few conifers with the deciduous. Landscapes that lack evergreens look dull in the wintertime. A few choice conifers will add nice color year-round.
One of the most important lessons you can learn from a walk in the woods is how critical plant diversity is to the survival of all the plants. In the woods there can be at least 20 to 30 plants represented in one area, all looking reasonably healthy without pesticides. It takes only one insect or disease to come in and wipe out the entire population of a monoculture. With diversity, you're protected. Many gardening books suggest that when you plant things like ferns you should plant them in 12- to 18-inch centers. Why not forget about equal spacing and just randomly stick them in the ground (figure C)? Manmade water features using stones that are all the same size can be boring and contrived. In the woods, you see varying sizes of rocks, from large boulders to small stones, naturally located in no particular order (figure D). Take a look at how the stones break up the space. The way they divert the water in different directions gives it a lot of character.
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