Snags

A snag is a standing dead tree, a source of nutrients, shelter, and even beauty. Dead wood attracts insects, and the birds that eat them. Woodpeckers gouge snags, while chickadees, nuthatches, and other small birds probe the surface for food.

As decay continues, birds, squirrels, raccoons, and other wildlife take advantage of the softening wood to create cavities as nests or homes. Narrow crevices in decaying trees can provide shelter for bats and mice as well as smaller bird species such as house wrens.

Nationwide, snags support 1,000 species as “vital habitat,” according to the National Wildlife Federation.

Fallen Logs and Branches

Let logs and tree branches lie in your yard or garden beds. Most don’t last long. They slowly decay as natural processes consume the organic material and return it to the soil.

Fallen wood, it turns out, host an even greater variety of organisms than snags. Here are some tips and tricks for handling fallen wood:

• Make several piles of logs and branches in different configurations.
• Make sure that the log or branch contacts the soil surface.
• Keep termites from attacking a structure by placing the logs well away from the building.