One question often heard is "why plant shrubs instead of trees?" At Macphail Woods, we use a combination of trees and shrubs in all our plantings. In addition to the diversity of plant species, we gain a variety of feeding and resting areas, food sources and nesting habitat. Here are some of the areas where we find native shrubs to be most useful and the reasons for using certain species:

Controlling erosion along streams:

Species such as willow and alder are very hardy, easily grown and can tolerate the harsh conditions along streams. At Macphail Woods, we are experimenting with a wide variety of native shrubs to stop silt from entering the stream.

Creating windbreaks and hedgerows:

Instead of one or two species of trees that can be susceptible to insect infestations or diseases, a mixed planting of hardwood and softwood trees, plus a variety of shrubs, can make an excellent windbreak. Planting serviceberry, hawthorn and alder ensures a wider variety of animals will use the area through the year and increase its attractiveness.

Improving fish habitat:

Many of the best fishing areas are streams lined with alders that overhang the water and create shade. Depending on the conditions of the stream, other species such as willow and red osier dogwood can also provide shade.

Improving other wildlife habitat:

Shrubs play very important roles in the lives of many animals, providing food, protection, and nesting sites. A dense clump of hawthorn provides excellent protection for smaller birds seeking to escape hawks or domestic cats. Shrubs also provide food throughout the year for many species. Willow buds and catkins are eaten by ruffed grouse (pictured on left) in the early spring, the twigs are heavily browsed by snowshoe hare, and beaver use the branches for building dams and the bark for food. Shrubs also diversify the heights found within a forest, important since some birds feed at one level and rest or nest at another.

Building soil:

Alders, the scourge of many Island farmers, are excellent shrubs for improving soil. They fix nitrogen in root nodules and their falling leaves are very high in nitrogen. The natural fertility of forests depends largely on nutrients contained within the litter (fallen twigs, leaves, fruits) and the rate of decomposition. Shrub leaves generally have high contents of potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen and add complexity and quantity to the annual addition of organic matter to the soil. This enhances the quality of organic matter which stabilises soil and improves moisture retention, nutrient retention, nutrient cycling and aeration.

Landscaping:

Some of the best landscaping plants are native shrubs. They are hardy, inexpensive (or free if you grow your own), and serve many different functions at the same time. The addition of Red Osier Dogwood to an area gives showy flowers in the spring, dense green colour all summer, food and protection for a wide variety of wildlife, and attractive red twigs throughout the year that are especially appealing in winter. Staghorn sumac is another year-round performer, with its exotic shape and fuzzy twigs most noticeable during the winter, compound leaves in the spring and summer that turn a brilliant scarlet during the fall, and long red spires of seed. An assortment of shrubs provides an endless succession of leaves, flowers, seeds, buds, colours and shapes - visual reminders of the complexity of natural systems.

Other reasons we might not be aware of:

Gardeners are realizing the beneficial effects of growing different species of plants together, to deter predators and improve yields. Without a doubt, shrubs have important roles to play that we do not yet understand. Do they attract birds that in turn prey on tree "pests"? Do they diversify a forest to such an extent that they deter large numbers of predators? We do know that they reduce the rate at which forests and soils dry out, reduce wind movement through forests, and help regulate run-off from rainfall and melting snow. Do they help lessen the risk of fire? Again, the edible and medicinal values of many shrubs are well-known, but little work has been done on a large number of others. It points out just how much we have to learn.