Trees
The top layer in the Forest Garden consists of the canopy of trees and tall shrubs.
In this layer we have windbreakers and nitrogen binders.
But first of all we have fruit, berry and nut trees as well as other trees that produce large amounts of food.
Apple trees, pear trees, apricot trees, cherry trees and plum trees are among the most common.
There is a good range of food-producing trees that work in a Scandinavian climate, and this range is growing not only as a result of an improved climate, but also because more hardy varieties, especially from Russia, have entered the Scandinavian market.
Trees
The top layer in the Forest Garden consists of the
canopy of trees and tall shrubs.
In this layer we have windbreakers and nitrogen binders.
But first of all we have fruit, berry and nut trees as well as other trees that produce large amounts of food.
Apple trees, pear trees, apricot trees, cherry trees and plum trees are among the most common.
There is a good range of food-producing trees that work in a Scandinavian climate, and this range is growing not only as a result of an improved climate, but also because more hardy varieties, especially from Russia, have entered the Scandinavian market.
Design of the tree crown layer in the forest garden
Tree density
The density between trees is critical for everything that grows under the canopy. A rule of thumb is that you have room for one tree per 20-40 m2 in the forest garden. The exception is trees that act as hedges and windbreaks. It all depends on how big the trees you use are and how far north you are (the sun's angle on the horizon). Another rule of thumb is to never plant trees closer than they can unfold to their full potential.
The reason is to avoid getting too deep shade under them, and to avoid spreading diseases by the branches rubbing against each other. The tree garden is three-dimensional, so it also makes sense for tree crowns to overlap at different heights without touching each other. For example, an alder pruned to the bottom 8 meters can have a fruit tree directly south of it with an overlapping crown. The fruit tree loses almost no light and also gets extra frost and wind protection. In addition, the fruit tree will benefit from the extra nitrogen supply via leaf fall and roots from the alder tree.
Self-sustaining
To have a forest garden that is self-sustaining in terms of nitrogen supplies, you should aim to have 10-30 percent nitrogen binders in the tree crown layer, depending on the type of trees you want to use. For example, if you only have fruit trees elsewhere in the canopy, you should have 30 percent nitrogen binders in total. If you have trees with smaller crops, you don't need such a high percentage.
Other factors
Size and shape are of great importance (height x width). In addition, you need to know the tree's sun preferences, need for soil type, need for windrow and fertilization. Many trees will have little value if allowed to grow freely up to their potential size. For example, lime trees are most useful when they are pruned (cut off crosswise at a lower height, so that new branch shoots are added at working height, possibly new root shoots).
Linden can be pruned for 5 years, and you will then have access to fresh leaves from a tree with a diameter of about 5 meters. A free-growing lime tree has a much larger diameter than that.
Plants
Nut/seed and seed trees
Trees with edible leaves