The pattern of a forest garden

In this extract from her book The Plant Lover's Backyard Forest Garden, Pippa Chapman explains the different layers that make up the forest garden and how these can help to accommodate different plants

- Pippa Chapman

The ecology of a young woodland can be handily broken down into seven layers. Each layer is at a different level so they are not competing for growing space. The ideal is that your forest garden will incorporate plants from each layer to maximise use of the vertical space within your garden. In reality there is no strict rule that says if yours only has four or five layers you cannot call it a forest garden. It is an aspiration, and especially on a smaller scale, all seven layers can be difficult to achieve.

SEVEN LAYERS OF A FOREST GARDEN

1: CANOPY LAYER These are the tallest trees such as nut trees or large fruit trees. In small gardens this layer is usually absent as many gardens wouldn’t manage to accommodate even one large tree, never mind allow any light to reach the floor for the other layers.

2: LOWER TREE LAYER Dwarf fruit and nut trees, usually under 3m in height.

3: SHRUB LAYER  These are usually currant bushes or other berries.

4: HERBACEOUS LAYER These are the plants that will grow each year but die right back to ground level in the winter, unless they are evergreen. They are distinguished from the shrubs by the absence of a permanent branching structure.

5: GROUND COVER LAYER Plants that hug the ground; these are usually spreading plants that grow along the soil surface and cover the bare ground.

6: RHIZOSPHERE Many think of the soil surface as the lowest layer, however many plants have edible roots. Several of our staple crops grow in the rhizosphere, such as carrots and potatoes.