Multi-tiered plant communities

Multi-tiered plant communities

Recommended composition for the projectDREVO Living Mountains.

1. The first stage is surface consolidation (1–3 years)

These plants quickly cover the soil and reduce erosion.

Mosses and lichens

They form the primary biological cover.

Retain moisture.

Soil formation begins.

Cereals

Fescue (Fescue spp.)

Polevitsa (Agrostis spp.)

Rump (Bromusspp.) - preferably native perennial species

Legumes

Clover (Trifolium spp.)

Horned lotus (Lotus corniculatus)

Sainfoin (Onobrychis spp.)

They fix nitrogen and quickly improve the soil.

2. The second stage is the shrub layer (2–10 years)

It is the shrubs that begin to stabilize the slope.

Best views:

Hazel (Corylus avellana)

Red deer (Male horn)

Doren (Blood-red hornbeam)

Viburnum (Viburnum opulence)

Beresklet (Euonymus europaeus)

Hawthorn (Hawthorn spp.)

Rose hip (Rosa spp.)

Goat willow (Goat Willow) - in damp places

Functions:

soil stabilization;

snow retention;

accumulation of organic matter;

protecting young trees from the wind.

3. Main tree layer (5–200 years)

⭐ Ash (Tall ash)

One of the best species for fertile slopes due to:

deep root system;

rapid growth;

rich leaf litter;

improving soil structure;

high compatibility with other breeds.

Oak (Oak tree, Q. petraea)

Advantages:

durability;

high stability;

enormous biodiversity;

powerful root system.

Linden (Cordate lime tree)

Advantages:

rich humus;

high value for pollinators;

good shade tolerance.

Elm (Elm spp.)

Especially useful:

on wet slopes;

near the springs;

in the hollows.

Field maple (Acer campestre)

Used as a companion breed.

Cherry (Bird's-eye plum)

Creates additional biodiversity and food supply for birds.

4. Nitrogen-fixing trees

Used temporarily.

Best options:

Alder (Alnus glutinosa, A. incana)

Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides)

Caragana (Caragana arborescens) - in suitable regions

They quickly restore poor soils, but their proportion should be limited so as not to change the natural composition of the forest.

5. Coniferous species

They are planted only where they are a natural part of the local ecosystem.

For example:

Scots pine;

black pine;

larch;

fir;

ale.

It is not recommended to create monocultures of conifers on slopes, especially in fire-prone areas.

6. Groundcover plants

They reduce evaporation and protect the soil.

Suitable for:

periwinkle;

tenacious;

wild strawberry;

deadnettle;

hoofed;

local sedges.

7. Moisture-loving plants for hollows

Sedges (Carex spp.)

Sytnyk (Rush spp.)

Tavolga (Filipendula ulmaria)

Willows

Alder

These species stabilize riverbeds and promote the restoration of springs.

The most effective wood combination

For most temperate mountainous regions of Europe, mixed planting is considered optimal:

The DREVO Approach

For the projectDREVO Living MountainsI would recommend abandoning the idea of ​​planting individual trees and moving on to designplant communitiesEach altitudinal zone (ridge, upper slope, middle slope, lower slope, troughs, and spring zones) is managed with its own set of species, which functions as a single ecosystem. This approach is more resilient to drought, pests, diseases, and extreme weather events than using even the most valuable individual species, including ash.