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Hello,
We have some oak trees in our garden approx 60 years old, and one of them has been dead for the last 2 years. My partner wants to have it chopped down in case it falls on the house, but I would like to keep at least some of it to provide a habitat for insects, fungi etc. I don't how much of it should be kept. The dead trees I see in woodland managed for wildlife are mostly full size with some branches removed, but that is unfortunately not going to happen. Does anyone have any advice??
Also, I would like to keep some logs for a logpile. Is there an optimum size of log and number of logs, or is it just a question of the more the better??
Thanks,
Caroline
Hello MotacillaFlava!
Forgive me, but you may be called Mo from now on! Welcome to the forum :-)
This is something I've been trying to introduce to my garden, lots of dead wood - I have several offcuts from old trees, some trunk size and others long branch offcuts. I've scattered them about and put the trunks within the foliage of shrubs. I use the flattest part to sit my baskets or pots. I have also drilled some holes in the bark of them to encourage insects to use. The same with the branch offcuts, these are placed under the shrubs at the edge of the lawn.
I may be wrong but I don't think there is a rule of thumb on this only that you keep them out of the most wettest parts of the garden but again this depends on what sort of insects you wish to encourage.
I've also created quite a big log pile of all sorts of wood which doesn't get disturbed at all - it's been going now for about 2 years. In fact we just pile more on top when we have it. You may not want this, but I get lots of mice, the tits and wrens like to forage all over it.
Whatever you do, I wish you good luck!
:-)
Regards
Kerry
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kezmo6310/
Hi Mo :))
Kesmo is spot on.
If you cut down the dead tree for safety reasons you can still keep the trunk as logs on the ground for use as habitat for all sorts. Pile them up perhaps to take up less space.
Pipit
Hello Caroline,
In my experience the size of the logs is not important can be as big or small as you want. important thing is it decays providing lots of food. Lots of gaps in the pile is good.
We built a hibernaculam excavated the soil down a couple of feet then filled it with rubble and big logs. Great place for slow worms etc.
If you could remove any dangerous limbs from the dead oak that would make it safer but not knowing how near it it is to property its difficult to advise you.
Hi MotacillaFlava and welcome to the RSPB Forum. Enjoy yourself here
There is lots of good advice here already. The good points about having a dead tree standing is that makes a great home for Woodpeckers but as it is close to your house that would be too much human disturbance sadly
One thing I would say is that it is better to remove the tree due to the fact it may fall and that would not be a good thing as you already know yourself
I do not think size of the wood is a problem just laying it in an area where there is not too much disturbance so it can become the future home for all sorts of beasties
Love to see pictures of the wood pile once you have sorted the issues out with the tree
Kathy and Dave
Hi Mo welcome to the forum,
Great advice above as always.
At the bottom of my garden I have a largish log pile which is near to a hedge and I've piled the logs up leaving a clear area underneath them, I then covered them in soil and old leaves, this makes a nice ready built home for any hedgehogs to hibernate in over winter. You can also plant over the top of this which makes it less intrusive.
The other thing you could consider is using some of the logs for landscaping around the garden, they can make good step fronts or if planted on their ends will be ideal for natural edging. However you use them the bugs and beetles will set up home in them and this will in turn attract the larger species which prey on them.
Here's two pictures of what I used some old logs and branches for in my garden....just an idea and the ultimate in recycling!!...
Cheers
Love that path and woven twigs (bit too fat for twigs,) small branch weaving - they look so good in a garden, blend in beautifully and as you say, provide food and homes for insects, beetles etc. Lovely! Clever you.
Kezsmum said: Love that path and woven twigs (bit too fat for twigs,) small branch weaving - they look so good in a garden, blend in beautifully and as you say, provide food and homes for insects, beetles etc. Lovely! Clever you.
Thanks Kezsmum,
Once this area is completed and has been planted up they should look better. They also need to weather a bit really then they will blend in with everything else.
Just trying to demonstrate how you can recycle materials which you might otherwise throw away, save some money also!