How to Create a Woodland Garden

Creating a woodland garden is a great way to blend your landscape with the natural surroundings, especially if you live in a wooded area. This type of garden mimics the understory of a forest and incorporates native plants that thrive in partially shaded conditions. 

In this article, we’ll explore how to design and implement a woodland garden. We draw inspiration from a project completed by landscape contractor Jenn Nawada for a homeowner seeking separation between their front yard and a busy street.

What Are Woodland Gardens?

Woodland gardens emulate the natural forest floor, featuring a mix of trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants that thrive in dappled sunlight. These gardens are visually appealing, provide habitat for local wildlife, and require less maintenance than traditional landscaping.

Benefits of Woodland Gardens

Creating a woodland garden offers several advantages:

• Creates a natural buffer between your property and the street
• Enhances the overall aesthetic of your landscape
• Low-maintenance once established
• Provides habitat for local wildlife
• Reduces lawn area, saving time and resources

Key Elements of a Woodland Garden

To create an authentic woodland garden, incorporate these essential elements:

• Meandering paths or stepping stones
• Native trees and shrubs
• Natural features, such as rocks or fallen logs
• Natural mulch or leaf litter
• Understory plants that thrive in partial shade

Planning Your Woodland Garden

Plan your woodland garden carefully before you start planning. This process involves assessing your site, selecting appropriate plants, and creating a layout that mimics nature.

Assessing Your Site

Take time to evaluate your property:

• Check the soil type and drainage
• Consider the topography and any natural features
• Note any existing trees or shrubs that you can incorporate into your design
• Observe the amount of sunlight the area receives throughout the day

Choosing Native Plants

Native plants are instrumental to a successful woodland garden. These plants are adapted to your local climate and soil conditions, making them easier to maintain and more beneficial for local wildlife. Nawada recommends several native plants that flourish in the northeastern United States. She and the homeowner decided on a combination of Winterthur Viburnum (Viburnum nudum ‘Winterthur’), Oakleaf Hydrangea (Snow Queen) and Cardinal red-twig dogwood (Cornus Sericea).

While flowering plants look great in the spring and summer, others create interest year-round. Many plants, such as red-twig dogwood, have stems that change color when the leaves fall, bringing beauty all winter long. Nawada also recommends plants such as viburnums, which flower into berries that attract birds.

Creating a Natural Layout

When designing your woodland garden:

• Avoid straight lines and formal arrangements
• Create layers with taller plants in the back and shorter ones in the front
• Group plants in odd numbers for a more natural look
• Include open areas to mimic natural forest clearings

Preparing the Site of Your Woodland Garden

Once you have a plan, it’s time to prepare the site for planting. If you’re starting with a lawn, you’ll need to remove the grass and any unwanted vegetation. Consider using a method that doesn’t disturb the soil too much, such as sheet mulching or using a turf cutter.

Woodland plants typically prefer rich, well-draining soil high in organic matter. Here’s how to enhance your soil:

• Add compost or well-rotted leaf mold
• Avoid over-tilling, which can damage soil structure
• Incorporate peat moss to increase acidity if needed

If you plan to include paths in your woodland garden, use natural materials such as wood chips, gravel, or stepping stones. Create meandering paths that encourage exploration, and make sure they’re wide enough for comfortable walking.

Planting Your Woodland Garden

With the site prepared, it’s time to start planting. Follow these steps to help your plants get off to a good start.

Call Before You Dig

Before digging and planting, call the local utility location service. This service marks gas and electrical lines. It’s free and required by law. Knowing what’s under your garden helps you avoid problems in the future when the plants’ roots spread.

Planting Trees and Shrubs

Start with the larger plants:

• Rake back any mulch from planting locations.
• Dig holes twice as wide as the root ball and at the same depth.
• Gently tease out the roots if they’re compacted.
• Place the plant in the hole, making sure it’s at the same level it was in the container.
• Backfill with a mixture of native soil and compost. The plant should remain approximately two inches above grade.
• Water thoroughly after planting.

Adding Understory Plants

Once the trees and shrubs are in place, add smaller plants:

• Arrange plants in natural-looking groups.
• Dig holes and add compost as you did for larger plants.
• Plant at the same depth as they were in their containers, keeping plants two inches above grade.
• Water well after planting.

Mulching

Apply a two- to three-inch layer of natural mulch, such as wood chips or leaf litter, around your plants. Keep the mulch a few inches away from plant stems to prevent rot. Mulching helps retain moisture, deters weeds, and slowly adds organic matter to the soil as it decomposes.

Final Touches

After planting and mulching, you may choose to add a few finishing touches, such as decorative rocks, garden sculptures, or even a bench for seating. These elements can add character and functionality to your woodland garden, creating a serene retreat.

Maintaining Your Woodland Garden

Once established, woodland gardens require less maintenance than traditional landscapes. However, they still need some care to remain healthy and thriving.

Watering

Proper watering is crucial, especially for newly planted gardens:

• Water each plant once a day for the first few weeks, spending around one minute on each plant or until the water begins to pool at the bottom.
• After a couple of weeks, water every other day. Drooping plants need water.
• Once established, most woodland plants will only need watering during dry spells.

Pruning and Thinning

Occasional pruning helps maintain the health and appearance of your woodland garden:

• Prune spring-flowering shrubs after they bloom
• Remove dead or diseased branches from trees and shrubs
• Thin out overcrowded areas to improve air circulation

Managing Pests and Diseases

While native plants are generally more resistant to pests and diseases, we still recommend monitoring your garden:

• Encourage beneficial insects by avoiding pesticides
• Regularly inspect plants for signs of problems
• Remove diseased plant material promptly

Seasonal Maintenance

Conduct seasonal checks and maintenance on your woodland garden. In spring, look for winter damage and clear fallen leaves or debris. Summer is a great time for mulching and weeding, and in autumn, you can prepare by planting bulbs for spring blooms or adding late-season plants for winter interest.

Enhancing Your Woodland Garden

Here are some ideas to boost your garden’s beauty and function.

Adding Water Features

A small water feature can add interest and attract wildlife:

• Consider a naturalistic pond or stream.
• Ensure any water feature blends seamlessly with the surrounding landscape.
• Use native aquatic plants to enhance the woodland feel.

Incorporating Seating Areas

Create spaces to enjoy your woodland garden:

• Consider adding a small clearing for a table and chairs.
• Place seating areas where they offer the best views of the garden.
• Use natural materials such as stone or wood for benches.

Attracting Wildlife

Attract native animals and insects to your woodland garden:

• Create brush piles for small animals.
• Install bird feeders and baths.
• Plant native flowers to attract pollinators.