As I am having to slow my bird feeding down until I get my doves sorted out, I am now turning my attention to suitable winter habitats for the other wildlife in my garden.
Up the road from where I live I have noticed in the grounds of a rather large house, they have been busy cutting down trees and have some huge stumps all piled up.
I had this idea (depending on whether the owner is willing) to obtain one or two stumps and use them as shelter. I thought I could drill holes in the bark to make homes for insects. In the summer I could use the stumps as bases for my tubs.
Before I go gamboling up to the owner are there trees which are more suitable than others. Obviously if they are cutting the trees down because of disease then I won't go ahead but is any tree bark suitable if healthy?
Regards
Kerry
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kezmo6310/
Any tree branches or stumps from a Coniferous species will be much slower to decay due to the resin within, such as pines, cedars etc....
Broad leaf species will naturally decay a bit faster, it's not entirely necessary to drill holes into the wood if you dont want to, as beetles and other wood boring insects will manage as the wood 'softens' a bit with age.
I have drilled into small logs for Bee nesting homes and it was really hard work, almost flattened my rechargeable drill on just two bits of wood.
Logs piles are fantastic habits for loads of species to live in and for creatures to feed on those as well.
I obtained some Silver Birch segments the other day and these are going to be placed around my new wildlife pond.
Incidentally Silver Birch decays quite quickly, in about 2 years.
Thanks Juno for your reply. Your reply is of great help to me as I wasn't really sure. When you have a minute will you post a picture of your pond after you have placed your birch segments, I would really love to see it.
We always keep old logs or tree trunks in the garden as they are a great environment for insects and in turn the small birds also enjoy rummaging around them looking for tasty morsels. We have an area in our garden which has a large scotts pine in it which has a preservation order on it and nothing will grow under it so we have put lots of bark down and laid sections of tree trunks as well and if you move back the bark or move the logs there are insects everywhere!
I would if i knew how to, since posting the last message I've gone more for a sand stone surround with logs a bit further away from the edge, I still have more logs to add tomorrow when I get them, also have some native plants and wildflower seedlings coming along nicely.
Will have ago at picture posting. eek.
Well that worked, thats the before, note I am sacraficing about 25% of my Veg plot there.
Hi,
Juno said: I would if i knew how to, since posting the last message I've gone more for a sand stone surround with logs a bit further away from the edge, I still have more logs to add tomorrow when I get them, also have some native plants and wildflower seedlings coming along nicely. Will have ago at picture posting. eek. Well that worked, thats the before, note I am sacraficing about 25% of my Veg plot there.
I would consider putting the stones down first and maybe placing a couple of logs on top with the ends leading into the water. Doing this gives frogs an easy exit and also a place for them to use as cover
Graham
Be Inspired,
Dream it, Crave it, Work for it, Live it.
I have thought about logs in the water a bit, but what will happen to the water as the logs begin to decay.... not found a definitive answer anywhere...
:-?
Hi Juno
Juno said: I have thought about logs in the water a bit, but what will happen to the water as the logs begin to decay.... not found a definitive answer anywhere... :-?
I think it is inevitable that your pond will end up with things that will decay and i cant see a log or two making that much differance. My pond is next to a Mahonia bush which is always dropping leaves and small twigs into it. I try to clear out as much as possible with a net but never get all of it and it never seems a problem. Even the Koa don,t mind.
Hi Juno,
When you said your new pond I didn't realise it was that new!! But it's looking really good so looking forward to seeing the end result.
So am I right in guessing from you photo you are going to have a pond with two levels, deeper bit in the middle and then a shallower bit around the edge - will that be where your plants will go? The reason I am asking is that I don't have a pond yet but would dearly love to have a small one - I have so many water bowls dotted about the garden for the birds that I thought I would consolidate and have just one pond - for birds, frogs and the insects that would like to use it.
Hi lucybob
If I do eventually get my hands on the sections/stumps then I thought I might place them in amongst my beds - I don't know about you but no matter how hard we try we always seem to have a gap in the bed, either the plant doesn't grow where it should, or perhaps the one selected for a particular spot doesn't like it so I thought the stumps may help.
We already have a log pile under our old apple tree which seems to be a success.
Hi Kezmo, dont tell anybody but look here with regards your pond building plans.
http://www.wildaboutgardens.org.uk/thingstodo/inaweekend/put-in-a-pond.aspx