By Linda Zielinski
December 19, 2024
One of the old multi-trunked native willows in my garden broke during windstorms this fall. That's what willows can do when they're over 25 years old; this one likely had 50 years on this earth. The tree snapped at two trunks, one 8 feet above ground, and another at about 2 feet. After pruning all the side branches, I considered borrowing a few neighbors' yard waste bins so the bits could be composted, and wondered about sawing down the trunks.
But then I thought, that's so much work, there must be other options. Remembering my Xerces volunteer education about creating habitat for pollinators, I decided to 1) leave the bigger trunks in the yard for burrowing insect habitat and for woodpeckers and flickers to drill on, and 2) use the bigger branches to create a brush pile.
According to Russell Link (author of Landscaping for Wildlife in the Pacific Northwest), brush pile interiors can be used by bushtits, chickadees, juncos, flycatchers, golden-crowned sparrows, song sparrows, thrushes, towhees, and ground-nesting bees. That's 70% of our native bees, including our bumblebee buddies, who may find a convenient bit of bare ground or an old mouse burrow in the pile to use through fall and winter to create nests. On the outside of the brush pile, Link suggests I could see hummingbirds, robins, various sparrows and towhees, and woodpeckers. And yes, so far I've seen towhees and juncos hopping in and out of it!
I'm hoping young willows will sprout from the base of this old tree. Over the 22 years I've observed my willow, I've seen butterflies and moth caterpillars, small birds gathering insects in the leaves to feed their young, and bumblebees coming out of hibernation in late winter to use pollen and nectar. The tree wasn't pretty, but so useful to wildlife. Here's a photo of the broken trunks, and one of the brush piles:
A few months ago, I gave a presentation at the Anacortes Library on leaving the garden "as is" in the fall and winter (e.g., no deadheading, leave the leaves, save your back!). I'll add to that idea by suggesting that if you have fallen branches or trees from windy weather, think about keeping this material for the wildlife in your yard or garden.
Also, check out an excellent article by Portland-based ecological landscape designer and garden consultant, Eileen Stark, about dead wood's life-giving properties for your yard. Her academic background includes biology, wildlife ecology, and landscape design studies. She's a deeply committed conservationist, and the author of Real Gardens Grow Natives: Design, Plant, and Enjoy a Healthy Northwest Garden. Please enjoy her article at https://realgardensgrownatives.com/?p=2325; her website is at realgardensgrownatives.com
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