The forest edge is an important environmental zone that can be improved

The forest edge is the most active area in nature. There is a large variety of plant material in these areas that provides food and nesting opportunities for insects, birds, and other members of the animal family. Online class last month, Two horticulturists at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay discussed the importance forest edges.

Forest edges can be found everywhere: where roads meet woods, where streams meet banks, shorelines, and lakes, and where farm fields meet suburban lawns.

Forest edges are not all the same. Some are hard edges like the road shoulder, the spot where the mowed field or lawn meets trees. Soft edges form in areas where mowing has been less frequent. They allow small trees, shrubs, perennials, and perennials, as well as sprouting from roots, to either seed themselves or spread from the forest into the field.

Andy Brand, horticulturalist, said that a hard edge can soften later. The class was cosponsored by the Maine Landscape & Nursery Association and the botanical gardens.

We are blessed with the diversity of our forest edges. Irene Brady Barber, Maine horticulturalist, said that Maine has a wonderful mix of coniferous as well as deciduous trees. Southern New England, however, is dominated by hardwoods, she said.

A forest edge that is fully developed has seven layers: roots, vines and ground covers, herbaceous perennials and shrubs, as well as the taller trees and lower trees.

Bush hogging is a method of maintaining a forest edge on property. This refers to mowing the area once every five years to remove trees before they grow too large. A little more editing might be helpful.

Removal of invasive plantsEditing should be a major component of that process. Brand and Barber showed at least one photo of forest edges where oriental bittersweet was seen climbing on some of the trees. Even if it is impossible for invasive plants to be removed from their roots, they should be reduced at the very least before they set seed.

Some plants do better in forest edges than others. Rhus, the botanical name for Sumac, is a tough, native shrub that grows along forest edges. This is good because it provides food for chickadees as well as other birds. Both humans and animals, too. Also, native alders can be removed quickly.

However, other natives are worth encouraging along edges and, if they don’t show up on their own enough, even planting. Aralia, also called wild sarsaparilla is a good plant for the edges. It spreads by it roots. Brand said that it can be mixed with ferns that want to grow there.

There are many choices of edge perennials. The most common herbaceous perennials found at forest edges are wood asters, blue violets, and trout lilies. They naturally drop their seeds, and the seeds will remain there until the conditions are right for sprouting. Barber and Brand also recommend Smilacina racemoso, a false Solomons seal. Its fruit can be eaten by many birds and other animals.

For most of their talk, the two speakers focused on shrubs and small trees that thrive at the forest’s edge. Barber suggested that hardwoods and conifers can be mixed. Plant American mountain ash, which is both loved for its attractive fruit and its usefulness as a food source to wildlife. The tress isn’t a real ash, and will not be damaged by the elements. Emerald ash borer They noted that American mountain ash was only recently commercially available.

Another great plant for forest edges is the native viburnum. There are many viburnum varieties that grow well in Maine, including lentago, dentatum and witherod. These viburnum are both attractive and beneficial for wildlife, but they are also susceptible to the invasive species, dentatum. viburnum leaf blight.

Brand and Barber spent two hours discussing the importance of the wildlife and plants that live along the forest edge. It was a pleasure to listen to them. But, I was surprised to hear that they did not mention another less attractive insect that can be found at the forest edge. Maybe they figured their audience largely landscape professionals was so familiar with it, they needn’t bother. Non-professional gardeners need to be aware that the forest edges are prime habitat for the deer tickLyme disease is spread by the tick, as well as the tick-hosting mice.

However, this does not mean that people should stop tending to the forest edge of their property. They should wear protective clothing and conduct thorough tick checks when they enter the house.

This is something they should do wherever and whenever they can.

Tom Atwell is a freelancer who gardens in Cape Elizabeth. You can reach him at: [email protected]

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