Log Piles...

[polygro]

I was wondering if there are advantages/disadvantages to using native hardwoods (e.g. beech, oak, ash) or silver birch (which may not be classified as a hardwood, I think, but is probably the easiest wood to get hold of) or pine in a log pile?

Do insects have preferences? Do amphibians prefer sheltering under certain wood? Do you cover your log pile or grow native flowers on it?

Your views are appreciated

Cheers

Polly

[tufftie]

I think some beetles and fungi can be specific to certain types of wood - so i guess a variety would be the thing? As for what to do with it - don't cover it and let things grow through and round it as they will. The rotting wood will naturally provide nutrients to the soil.

[hobble]

I would say any rotting wood/log piles would be good for a variety of insects,fungi etc.
We have many wood/log piles using various types of wood and they all seem to provide a home for something.
As for planting on top of them, I would leave them, moss, and fungi, and weed seeds will do their own stuff.

[dampflippers]

In this country, softwood refers to conifers, and not the hardness of wood.
I'm afraid I used a bag of firewood logs around part of my pond because I didn't have any fresh logs.

I would suggest that native trees might be best, but as said above, a variety would seem to be the answer. Individual logs or branches, and / or a pile. Leave the bark on

[mrs fish]

Any log pile is a good log pile

Some oak would be good as this could attract stag beetles plus I see you live in the south of the country which is where they live As stags take up to 5 years to pupate log piles should not be touched for years or prefebly never

[shirl]

We have many log piles dotted about, all with a variety of tree species, none are covered and the insects, birds and mammals love them. I just let nature do it's own thing and leave the log piles alone.

Shirl

[Kayleigh]

I have log piles all around the garden. The dog keep helping herself to a few

[RobSutton]

I seem to remember reading somewhere of a study that showed there was no benefit (in terms of number of invertebrates found) of putting logs into piles over just leaving them randomly spread around. Has anybody else come across this?

I suppose it does make the place look neater though.

[m1.carson]

Hi,

We had a branch fall off our ornamental cherry and were amazed at the number and variety of birds that used it, shame to clear it up, but it had to go.

Max.

[coasty]

I have a log burner. Anything thats to small or already has some rot in it is destined for the log piles that are behind the pond in my tiny wilderness area.. New logs go on top and the bottom ones eventually rot away. I sometimes add a largish oak log into the pile as it takes them so long to break down. As for residents of said pilesThe frogs live in the basement area the fungi and mosses live in the first floor and the birds live on the roof. Even had a robin nested in the middle of it all last year. Was amazed they al survived and fledged.
As for types of wood I would say silver birch would be perfect but any wood pile is a good wood pile but as the others say dont be tempted to poke about in it....