Garden debris meets creative design with the dead hedge. Two rows of posts, about a foot or two apart, is the start of the dead hedge. The dead hedge is a creative way to use our garden debris in a way to benefit nature that’s a bit tidier than leaving random piles about the garden. I like this idea, of securing old twigs, branches, clippings, really anything from the garden, between the two parallel rows of posts. Within the debris, snugged between the upright posts, insects can find a home. If it’s shadier, perhaps a bit damp, toads and salamanders may find a place to settle. A long, slightly meandering dead hedge could be an excellent visual break between two areas of the garden. Or, as I am thinking, a few short dead hedges in our long skinny shade garden to break up the space and add backdrops for more diminutive plants like snow drops or spring ephemerals. I have a few shrubs that are calling for a hard cut back this spring, those cuttings would work well to start filling in the dead hedge space. For the posts, some old bamboo canes can be used. I’ll be sure to post again, as we build our dead hedges. Stay tuned!
