Branches, stumps, and woody debris
In most cases dead and decaying wood is a benefit to the environment. Therefore, it is not only dead trees that are essential for our local and wider ecosystems. Dead branches and stems in trees and on the ground also play an important role in the ecology of a landscape. It is unfortunately a common recommendation by tree-cutting companies that all dead branches, or deadwood, should be removed from trees. This is sometimes referred to as ‘deadwooding’ or ‘crown cleaning’ and the explanation given is usually a claim that, “if dead branches remain in trees that they will cause disease and decay to the rest of the tree, so it is essential for the health of the tree to remove all dead branches and wood.” This is a false claim: the way trees function, a dead branch in essence has already been ‘walled off’ from the rest of the tree. Even if it is decaying and has fungal and insect activity in it, there is no risk that its existence will impact the rest of the tree.
Trees have a complex way of protecting themselves from disease and external elements that may be harmful to them, so there is no need to remove dead branches or stems, unless they may cause harm to pets or people, or physical damage to other trees, plants, or structures on a property.
Dead branches, depending on their size, can be excellent nesting material for birds. They also provide a great source of food for birds once they fall onto the ground. Decomposing branches create fungal and insect activity, attracting birds. The birds’ foraging can help evolve the soil to become healthier and nutrient rich, so that artificial soil amendments are not required.
This woody debris, regardless of size, can be both a hidden or visible feature in a garden. It will not be long before the local wildlife comes to explore the natural bounty contained within, under, and around it.
Another benefit to leaving dead trees and woody debris in our backyard, is the resulting variety of surfaces on which other plant life, such as mosses, lichens, ferns, and even other trees and shrubs, may grow. Moss and lichen, known as epiphytes, are incredibly important to our local ecology, but that is a story for another time…
