With its bare limb and weathered bark , that dead Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree might look like more of a liability than anything utilitarian . But what looks like dead weight could really be one of the most valuable part of your landscape painting . When leave standing , a idle Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree becomes an unexpected asset to the surroundings around it . Birds like woodpeckers are draw to it first , create nesting spaces in the softened wood . Once they move on , other animals like bird of Minerva , squirrel , and even raccoon take over the space .
Upright idle trees , called snags , are especially useful because they cater shelter that ’s high off the priming and out of scope from most predators . In fact , more than 1,200 wildlife species in the U.S. depend on already dead or decaying Ellen Price Wood for food , tax shelter , or nesting . Beyond wildlife , dead tree also aid your yard by slowly release nutrients into the grunge and even help to immobilize carbon paper .
Of naturally , not every dead tree is good to keep . Before you leave the tree up ( peculiarly if it ’s unstable or leaning near your home ) you ’ll want to consult a master who can assess whether it ’s time toremove dead tree rootsbefore they become a peril . But when condition let , keeping that Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree right where it is can be one of the most valuable choices you could make for your yard .
How dead trees improve your soil and support plant life
When a dead tree diagram begin to break down , it ’s easy to retrieve it ’s just clutter the ground . But that slow decay is doing herculean body of work for the health of your filth and surrounding plants . Fungi are among the first to show up . Some species have the rare ability to break down lignin , one of the sturdy element in forest .
Once that ’s done , the softer part become approachable to other fungi , worm , and bacterium . As the breakdown continues , nutrients like nitrogen and carbon are let go back into the soil , feeding nearby plants and encouraging young ontogeny . Young saplings often sprout in the protective shade of these fallen giants , with rich , moist soil helping them take root .
Dead trees also play a role in controlling water stream . Their yield wood holds wet , reduces the risk of erosion , and ameliorate the soil ’s power to keep nutrients . That do them especially of import during dry periods or in overworked landscape . And from a clime slant , leaving heavy trees to rot naturally helps extend their part as carbon sinkhole , slowing the release of C dioxide into the line .
How to repurpose a dead tree if you don’t want to leave it to rot
If letting a dead tree rot naturally does n’t become your landscape gardening style , you ’re not alone . While there are well-defined ecologic benefit to leave it untouched , not everyone wants a decaying trunk front and center in their yard . The good news is , you do n’t have to choose between beauty and mathematical function . With a little creative thinking , that same tree can still serve a purpose , just in a more polished , intentional way .
One option is to keep the trunk standing and use it as a garden feature film . Some householder pick out toattach birdhouses to treesthat are still standing , change by reversal the trunk into a support for pollinator homes or nest boxful . Others dress it up with climb vines or seasonal decorations . Even simple touches , likemaking garden statuesor hidden detail among the bark , can make the space tone design rather than neglected .
If you ’d rather take the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree but still make usage of the Mrs. Henry Wood , there are stack of practical ideas . change by reversal heavyset sections into bench , cut up out planters , or lay cross - part as stepping stones through your garden . you’re able to also break down the barque and modest branches to produce mulch , giving back nutrients to the soil in that same spot .
