Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Dead trees for life!
I was snowshoeing with friends when one of them pointed out a ‘snag’ and said, “you should write a garden bite about that”. So, Lisa, I did!!
You may wonder what the heck is a snag? It’s a dead tree left upright to decompose naturally and it’s a fantastic cover for wildlife while also providing food.
According to the National Wildlife Federation, Dead trees provide vital habitat for more than 1,000 species of wildlife nationwide. They also count as cover and places for wildlife to raise young.
Wildlife species use nearly every part of a dead tree in every stage of its decay. As mentioned, a place to live for birds, bats and more. A food source due to a dead tree’s attractiveness to insects, mosses, lichens and fungi, nummy gourmet snacks for wildlife!
It’s a “Crow’s Nest” too. Higher branches of those snags serve as look-outs for raptors.
It’s a hiding place for squirrels storing food supplies and a soil refresher as it continues to decay adding vital nutrients back into the soil. Wow, the cycle of life!
So, if you have property and the dead tree is simply an eyesore to you, consider leaving it be anyway. If it’s a hazard to humans, then by all means, cut it down but consider leaving the “debris” to continue decomposing naturally.
We were snowshoeing in an area that was devastated by tornadoes in 2018. It’s amazing, though, how much life it supports with those snags and logs.
And my friend, Lori, shared this fabulous cartoon with me…
