In your backyard woods, insects and microorganisms abound, both in number of individuals and number of species.
Native insects and microorganisms are key components in many ecological processes, such as nutrient recycling, decomposition, plant succession, natural pest control, and wildlife habitat. A woods devoid of insects and microorganisms would not be healthy; in fact, it would be nonfunctional.
A healthy woods is a functioning ecosystem with young, mature, and dead trees. Key qualities of a healthy woods are high diversity, resiliency to stresses, and sustainable benefits (for example: recreation, wildlife habitat, clean water, and timber).
In This Bulletin
Here’s what’s inside:
- Preventive measures – steps to ensure diversity and vigor in your backyard woods
- Identifying a tree health problem – monitoring symptoms to figure out the issue
- Treatment options – action you can take to protect your backyard woods
