Hi everybody!
I'm located in the Boston metrowest area of MA. I typically design, plant and maintain ornamental gardens for my clients, mostly on urban properties.
I have a new client whose natural patch (600 sq ft) of woodland was destroyed behind their home by machines for their home construction work. I've introduced them to the idea of a pocket forest as a way to re-wild the place, which they are very much wanting to do.
Only thing is, I've never created a pocket forest before! I'm not too worried, in general, about doing it right, but I DO have one main concern about the plant choice. I'm hoping someone here with experience gardening or creating a pocket forest can address my concern here.
Should I wait to plant the shade-loving shrubs that will live here until the forest tree saplings grow in for at least 3 years?
The planting area is in shade MOST of the day during the growing season. It faces about northwest, and there is a mature Maple tree directly south of the planting area.
BUT the sun will hit the planting area directly MOST of the day through the winter, when all the surrounding deciduous trees are leaf-less. From June - October, the sun is mostly obscured all day EXCEPT for in the late afternoon. The client confirmed that the sun hits that area directly sometime around 4pm until sunset.
I've already decided to plant partial sun- full sun loving shrubs along the mostly western part of the bed, which will get the most sunlight year round.
As for the rest of the bed, do you guys think I should wait to plant the understory trees and shrubs until the sun-loving overstory trees grow in (about 3 years)? I am concerned that the understory plants, if planted before the taller trees grow in to shade them, would get scorched and stressed out and possibly fail to thrive because they'd be getting hit with that late afternoon sun all season, as well as the winter sun.
I've done some research on pocket forests and did not see anything on any of the websites about waiting to plant understory plants. I'm kind of surprised by this!
Thanks for your help, y'all!
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