5 Ways to Use Fallen Trees, According to Arborists

A dead tree lying in the middle of your yard can detract from your home’s overall beauty. But before having it hauled away and disposed of, consider the many ways you can give it a second life. From turning leaves into garden mulch to repurposing the trunk into a beautiful garden path, using fallen trees in the garden is a sustainable practice that helps your green spaces thrive. Ahead, arborists share the genius ways they’ve used fallen trees to support plants and local wildlife.

Make Mulch

If the fallen tree still has leaves, harvest them to create nutrient-rich mulch for your garden. Start by collecting dry leaves from the tree. Next, break them into smaller pieces by cutting them with garden shears or by hand. Then, collect all the smaller branches from the tree. "Any wood that is too small or decayed for burning as firewood can easily be chipped and used as mulch for gardens," says Eric North, PhD, ISA certified arborist and urban forestry program manager at Arbor Day Foundation. Combine the leaves and wood, then layer the material wherever you plan to plant.

Create Path Borders

If you have walkways or dirt paths in your backyard, consider edging them with fallen logs to form natural borders. Wood pieces can form a striking garden pathway by helping outline walking routes and blending in with the natural landscape, says North. Simply cut thicker branches into smaller logs and use them to create a beautiful border. This wood doesn’t have to be treated, allowing it to decay naturally and providing organic matter for the soil.

Chop Firewood

Fallen trees can also be used for firewood. If you have a wood-burning fireplace, it is a cost-effective way to heat your home and may reduce utility bills, says Rich Middleton, an arborist at environmental consultancy Tyler Grange. For the best results, Middleton recommends employing a local arborist to chop the wood. "Because fresh wood contains about 45 percent water, it should be stored in a dry, well-ventilated area for at least 12 months before it’s burned," he says.

Boost Biodiversity

Consider allowing the tree to decompose naturally to support fungi and surrounding trees. "Retaining a certain amount of dead wood within an environment can allow the surrounding trees to benefit," Middleton says. Some fungi will take the easiest opportunity available to them, utilizing the dead tree rather than "attacking" healthy, standing trees, he says.

At the same time, dead wood is also incredibly valuable to wildlife, supporting biodiversity by providing shelter, nesting, and food sources for birds, insects, and small mammals. In fact, fallen trees are a favorite feeding spot of pileated woodpeckers, who love the carpenter ants often found there.

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Make Furniture

Another way to use fallen trees is to hire an arborist with a mobile sawmill to mill the fallen wood into planks that you can later turn into furniture, says Middleton. (You can also craft furniture and sculptural pieces with branches as they are.)

Before using the wood, however, ensure the planks are stored in a well-ventilated, covered area where air can circulate around all sides of the wood, ensuring the pieces are completely dry. "This takes around a year per inch thickness of timber, but making furniture is a really lovely way of reusing fallen wood and prolonging the usefulness of the tree."