Create a forest garden: tips for design & the best plants

Forest gardens are an exciting trend that bring many benefits. We explain what is meant by a forest garden and how you can create a forest garden yourself.

More and more people are longing for nature and a lifestyle that is as close to nature as possible. No wonder, then, that forest gardens are becoming increasingly popular. The idyllic garden design creates a place of peace and serenity with its unique structure and lush charm. At the same time, you support your environment with a forest garden: numerous beneficial insects such as Bumblebees and butterflies, but also forest animals and wild plants will find a suitable place here shelter. In addition, like any permaculture, the forest garden is particularly easy to care for. Here we will tell you how you can create a forest garden and which plants are suitable for it.

What is a forest garden?

In a woodland garden, the gardener attempts to imitate or maintain the layout of a natural wooded area in a kitchen garden. The special feature is above all the special structure of the forest garden: This is not, as usual, divided into different beds, but mainly relies on different growth heights. A forest garden typically consists of a herb, a shrub and a tree layer, which exist on top of each other in a small space. The increased integration of trees and shrubs in the kitchen garden results in a higher number of species per area than is the case in a conventional garden, for example. The individual crops benefit from each other, for example by shading the trees contributes to less evaporation in the area of ​​the soil or the ground cover contributes to the erosion of the soil prevent. Ideally, this type of garden design preserves the natural nutrient cycle of the property, which means that the forest garden is considered to be particularly easy to care for and sustainable.

What are the advantages of a forest garden?

Forest gardens are becoming more and more popular - but does this type of garden design really have advantages or is it a short-lived trend? In fact, creating a forest garden is not only aesthetic and beautiful, but also has other benefits. Forest gardens are a real gift, especially for wild animals, because although the naturally predominant vegetation in Germany would consist mainly of forests, today there are only a few in numerous localities natural forests. Gardens and urban areas are only moderately suitable as habitats for many wild animals - a forest garden provides On the other hand, it represents a place of retreat that beneficial insects such as bees and bumblebees, but also birds and squirrels like to use accept.

In addition to the animals, many plants also appreciate the forest garden. Thanks to the tiered arrangement due to the height differences of the various plants, a significantly higher number of different species can thrive in a small space. At the same time, native plants in particular, including numerous wild plants, benefit from this type of garden design. Especially in the shady areas of the forest garden, they find a suitable location, which they are denied in many other gardens. In this way, you can make a contribution to the preservation of biodiversity with the help of your natural garden.

Another advantage of the forest garden is that it is one of the so-called permaculture belongs. This means that, ideally, the forest garden forms a permanent ecosystem that hardly needs to be influenced by humans. As a result, forest gardens are considered to be extremely easy to care for, since, for example, the annual sowing of new plants is saved by the large selection of perennial or recurring species. In addition, the permanent vegetation prevents the soil from being weakened by wind and water erosion. As a result, less fertilizer has to be used in the garden, which is why this form of garden design is considered particularly cheap.

Tip: Since regular harvesting removes nutrients from the soil, you also have to fertilize in the forest garden from time to time. Ideally, one introduces the nutrients through the use of homemade compost or by one green manure back into the ground. But also the use of organic fertilizers, such as the Plantura organic fertilizers, is possible. On the other hand, mineral fertilizers should be avoided, as they interfere with the natural cycles of nutrient supply in the soil and thus inhibit healthy, natural soil life.

Creating and designing a forest garden

The forest garden is very diverse if you look closely at the different levels. The soil, the nutrient supply or the relationship between light and shade can also be just as varied, resulting in numerous small climatic areas. The selection of plants for the forest garden is correspondingly complex: Many plants are generally for suitable for the forest garden, but when planting you have to pay close attention to the individual location requirements respect, think highly of. If these are not met, the new plants cannot survive in the long term - and one would like to save oneself the work of replanting. Below we go into the important elements of the forest garden:

Floor: Before planting can begin, the soil of the forest garden should be inspected be taken: Ideally, this should be humic and store moisture and nutrients well be able. While a former forest property can already meet these requirements well, other soils must first be prepared for their new task. One green manure with clover (trifolium) or Phacelia (Phacelia) can loosen compacted soil and at the same time supplies the soil with new nutrients. Alternatively, you can also use the floor compost or enrich bark humus, but also an organic fertilizer, like the Plantura organic fertilizer, makes sense.

Tip: So that the soil does not dry out, it makes sense to always cover unvegetated soil with bark mulch like ours Plantura organic pine bark to cover - this keeps moisture in the soil and creates a soil quality similar to that of a forest floor. As the plants grow and spread, they will cover the unplanted areas and mulch is no longer necessary. Since the plant nutrient nitrogen can be fixed for a short time after mulching, compensating fertilization is always necessary immediately before mulching. Our Plantura organic universal fertilizer has proven itself in this context.

trees: When designing a forest garden, special attention should be paid to the selection and placement of trees. These form the basic structure of the garden and are not only particularly present visually, but also change the location conditions for smaller plants in their vicinity through their shadows. It is therefore worth making a precise plan for the existing trees in the garden and then considering which locations are suitable for planting new trees. A sufficient distance should be maintained between the individual trees in order not to hinder growth in the following years. Fruit trees are particularly popular in the forest garden, because they are not only visually appealing, but also promise a tasty harvest. Local types of fruit in particular, such as apple (Malus domestica) or cherry (Prunus cerasus, Prunus avium) can be easily integrated into the forest garden.

shrubs: Once the planning of the tree structure in the garden is complete, you can start choosing the other plants. Ideally, you should also start with the selection of large shrubs and hedges that should move into the garden. Here, too, useful plants can be cultivated like the hazel bush or the raspberry integrate well into the forest garden.

Perennials and ground covers: Once you have found a suitable location for the shrubs, you can plant suitable perennials and then groundcover and choose ferns and allocate them a place. In doing so, attention must always be paid to the individual location requirements of the individual plants: above all, the relationship between light and shade, but also The composition of the soil and the moisture in the soil can vary greatly depending on the location in the forest garden, so that not every plant is suitable for every location is. Edible ground covers are, for example, forest blueberries (Vaccinium myrtillus) and of course wild herbs like the plate herb (Claytonia perfoliata).

Plants for the forest garden

Hardly any other garden has such a diversity of species as in a forest garden. The range of plants that are suitable for a forest garden is correspondingly wide: Both tiny ground cover plants such as small periwinkle (Vinca minor) as well as large trees like the oak (Quercus) can easily find their place here. Naturally native plants and shrubs are best suited for the forest garden, as these correspond best to the flora in a naturally formed forest. On the other hand, shade-loving ground covers are particularly suitable for the soil, as they also thrive well under trees and shrubs. Plants that bloom in early spring also like to join forest gardens. Climbing plants are also very welcome in forest gardens, because they use the existing trees as climbing aids and give the garden an almost fairytale flair. Vegetables such as chard (Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris), Onion (Allium cepa) or kale (Brassica oleracea var. sabellica) fit perfectly into the forest garden. Since regular harvesting removes nutrients from the soil, additional fertilization with compost or another organic fertilizer should be taken into account, especially in these areas.

Suitable trees for the forest garden:

• Various fruit trees such as apple (penalty) or cherry (prunus): edible fruits
• Nut trees such as Walnut (Juglans regia) or hazelnut (Corylus avellana): edible fruits
• chestnut (Castanea): the fruits of the sweet chestnuts are edible
• beech (Fagus): Foliage good for humus formation
• birch (Betula): Foliage good for compost
• Spruce (Picea): Needles with healing properties

Suitable shrubs and perennials for the forest garden:

• Various berry bushes such as blueberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) or raspberry (Rubus idaeus): edible berries
• wild roses (pink): Eatable rosehips
• lupine (lupinus): green manure
• thimble (Digitalis purpurea): Ornament and bee pasture; Attention: extremely poisonous!

Suitable plants for the herb layer in the forest garden 

• wood anemone (Anemone nemorosa): poisonous
• snowdrop (Galantus nivalis): slightly toxic
• crocuses (Crocus tommasinianus): slightly toxic
• nettle (Urtica): edible
• sorrel (Rumex acetosa): edible
• plate herb (Claytonia perfoliata): edible
• strawberries (Fragaria x pineapple or Fragaria vesca): edible
• cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon): edible
• woodruff (Gallium odoratum): edible
• Dandelion (Taraxacum sect. ruderalia): edible
• ... and several crops!

Suitable climbing plants for the forest garden:

• ivy (Hedera helix): poisonous
• wild roses (pink): edible
• wild vetchling (Lathyrus silvestris): not eatable
• forest honeysuckle (Lonicera henryi/caprifolium/periclymenum/…): slightly toxic
• hop (Humulus lupulus): usable
• Common clematis (Clematis vitalba): poisonous
• kiwi (Actinidia deliciosa): edible

The 5 best plants for the forest garden

The selection of plants for the forest garden is so large that it is easy to lose track. That's why we've put together the top five plants you need to know about if you're planning a woodland garden:

1. sweet chestnut

The sweet or sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa) with an average growth height of 20 to 25 meters is perfect as a tree for the forest garden. With its spreading crown, the pretty flowers in spring and its golden-yellow foliage in autumn, the sweet chestnut is particularly decorative. Sweet chestnuts need a sunny place, in colder regions they should also be protected, since young trees in particular can react sensitively to frost. In the forest garden, however, it is above all their fruits that bring great joy: the dark brown nuts of the sweet chestnut Not only do squirrels taste good, they can also be collected and eaten by us humans will.

2. blackberries

blackberries (Rubus sect. Rubus) must not be missing in any forest garden. The prickly plant is not only perfectly suited to populating the shrub layer, but also provides a vitamin-rich snack for in between with its juicy fruits. Since blackberries in the wild are mainly found in forest areas and they are slightly acidic Preferring forest soil, it can easily be planted in a sunny to partially shaded spot in the forest garden will. Since blackberries feel particularly at home in the forest garden, they can quickly spread uncontrollably. If you want to prevent this, you should think about a root barrier when planting the blackberry.

3. Forest forget-me-nots

Pretty flowers can also be found in a shade garden. The best proof of this is the forest forget-me-not (Myosotis sylvatica): The cup-shaped individual flowers are a real eye-catcher with their beautiful shade of blue and are a real eye-catcher in the forest garden from April to June. Beneficial insects are also very fond of the small plants, because they are a popular supplier of nectar. The plant for the forest garden feels at home in partially shaded places and hardly needs any care. The entire plant is edible.

4. Apple

The Apple (penalty) is one of the best-known and most important types of fruit - which is why it should not be missing in a forest garden. The humic, nutrient-rich soil of the forest garden is perfect as a location for the apple tree. However, since the apple tree is "only" 10 meters high, when creating the forest garden you should make sure that it is not overshadowed by larger trees in a few years. In addition to its beautiful flowers and delicious fruit, another advantage of the apple tree is that it has a deep taproot. This means that small, shade-tolerant plants can also be planted directly under the apple tree as a shrub layer.

5. hazelnut 

The hazelnut (Corylus avellana) is one of the oldest fruit species used in Europe - and should also find its way into the forest garden. The shrub, which can be up to 7 meters high, naturally grows primarily on forest edges and in hedges, but can also be grown in the forest garden without any problems. It can also tolerate a shady place here, but it forms most of the flowers and fruits in a sunny spot. The hazelnut is particularly popular because of its small, nutty fruits, which you can collect in autumn and which taste wonderful both fresh and in baked goods.

Tip: Of course, you are free to add elements to the forest garden that would be rather untypical for the forest. In classic permaculture, for example, the raised bed is an important element. Filled with fertile soil like that Plantura organic tomato and vegetable soil and your own compost, and mulched with the leaves of your forest trees, it produces healthy fruit that is easy for you to harvest.

Do you want to get started right away and are now looking for the right trees for your forest garden? Then take a look at our article bee friendly trees there is something suitable for you.