6 Best Forest Gardening Youtube Channels

Are you passionate about sustainable, organic gardening and homesteading? Then you're in for a real treat! In this article, we've rounded up the best YouTube channels for all the forest gardening, permaculture, home-steading, food forest, sustainability, organic, and general gardening tips and advice you can handle. So grab some popcorn and get comfortable? you're about to learn a lot! Read on to discover the best YouTube channels for your specific hobbies and interests.

Forest gardening: Top Youtube Channels

Challenges of Forest Gardening and How to Overcome Them

Forest gardening is a type of agroforestry system that mimics a natural forest ecosystem, incorporating edible plants into a bolstered landscape. While this type of gardening is extremely popular among those looking for a sustainable and productive solution to their landscape needs, there are some challenges that can come with attempting to create a forest garden.

1. The first challenge is sourcing quality propagules for the garden. Unlike a traditional vegetable garden, where seed or vegetative propagules are available from many sources, it can be difficult to find propagules native to the local area that will be successful in a forest garden. Sourcing local, native propagules is essential for the success of a forest gardening approach. It can often be necessary to reach out to a local nursery or specialty seed producer to source high-quality native propagules, especially if growing perennial plants.
2. The second obstacle is plant establishment in the garden. Establishing a forest garden is no easy feat, as the plants in the garden are competing for limited resources with each other and the surrounding ecosystem. As such, it is important to pay special attention to the design of the garden and the placement of plantings, as well as the use of supplemental water and mulch. Creating a diverse mix of plants that can thrive in different microclimates will also help ensure successful planting of the garden. By utilizing a thoughtful design plan and attentive care, the plants in the garden will have a greater chance of survival and successful growth.

Overall, forest gardening can be a fulfilling and productive experience when done correctly. By sourcing local native propagules, creating a thoughtful design plan, and providing supplemental water and mulches, anyone can create a thriving forest garden in their landscapes. With the right method and a bit of care, soon the garden can become the focal point of the landscape.

Avoiding Common Mistakes in Forest Gardening

Gardening is a beloved activity by many, and forest gardening offers the additional benefit of introducing vegetation from all different types of atmospheres. However, as you create a forest garden, there are many pitfalls you can end up falling into if you don't take the time to plan and gain knowledge prior to starting the process. To help you avoid common mistakes in forest gardening, here are a few tips.

1. First, it is important to research native plants and trees to your area. Many nurseries or botanical gardens might have a variety of native plants and trees available. As you plan and install your forest garden, this helps increase biodiversity and give you access to other natural resources.
2. Second, remember to pay attention to your plants during transitional periods. As the seasons change, this can cause drastic temperature, soil, and moisture shifts. It is important to monitor your garden and adjust your watering and care appropriately. To make your garden even more diverse, you might want to experiment and introduce some non-native plants and trees as well.
3. Lastly, remember to have fun! Forest gardening is an enjoyable and creative activity, and the results can be incredible. As you invest more time in the process, you will begin to understand the plants and their environment better and eventually, you will be able to garden without fear. 

Forest gardening is a fun and rewarding project, and if you keep these basic tips in mind, you'll avoid common mistakes and get right to business.

Ideas For Providing Wildlife Habitats Through Forest Gardening

As we humans have adopted more of natural habitats for residential and commercial development, wildlife habitats have suffered. To counter this, forest gardening has become a popular activity that provides attractive and productive growing solutions for gardeners, while also providing habitats for wild animals.

• Forest gardening is a practice of growing crops in layers from ground cover to climbers and trees. These layers provide microclimates which are important for habitat building and food production. Planting perennial crops, hedgerows and shelterbelts offers important natural food and shelter to our wild neighbours. You could also plant a variety of native trees and shrubs in your garden, such as oak, hazel, hawthorn and willow, to provide homes for birds, bats and small mammals.
• In addition, providing a source of water, shelter and nesting sites is key to helping wildlife. A bird bath or pond is an ideal place for birds to drink and bathe; while nesting boxes and log piles provide perfect homes for insects, amphibians and small mammals. You could also try leaving some dead wood in the garden as a habitat for beneficial wildlife species. 

With a little patience, you can create and maintain a beautiful woodland garden that will provide a safe haven to many creatures throughout the year.