Forest gardens are generally organized into the following layers:
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- Canopy
- large trees that form an overstory
- late-stage succession
- ex) walnuts, chestnuts, hickories, oaks, persimmons, honey locust
- Sub-canopy
- smaller trees fill on gaps of canopy
- mid-stage succession
- ex) mulberries, pawpaws, dwarf/semi-dwarf fruit trees, redbuds
- Shrub layer
- mid-stage succession
- Hazelnuts, elderberries, seaberries, currants, raspberries
- Herbaceous layer
- Groundcover
- protects soil from harsh weather and erosion while canopy fills in
- early-stage succession
- ex) violets, nasturtiums, plantain, arugula
- Rhizosphere (root layer)
- Fungal layer
- recycles nutrients and feeds the whole system
- all stages of succession
- ex) trametes, winecap, oysters, jelly ear, chanterelles, soil molds
- Vine layer
- all stages of succession
- ex) hardy kiwi, grapes, beans, morning glory
- Canopy