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Recycling woody debris like fallen twigs, branches, and logs is foundational to nurturing a healthy garden ecosystem. Keeping woody debris onsite fosters the development of fungal and invertebrate communities to build soil, and creates habitat for birds and insects, while saving labor and resources involved with material hauling. Join Erin Presley, horticulturist at Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison, WI, as we outline easy and attractive ways to save and re-incorporate your garden's precious woody debris.

Erin Presley earned a bachelor's degree in Horticulture from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and began working at Olbrich Botanic Gardens in 2014, where she manages the Herb, Woodland, and Pond Gardens. Her interests include native woodland plantings, sedges, low-maintenance and drought-tolerant gardening styles, recycling woody debris, and all things related to herbs, vegetables, and cooking.  Erin collaborates with herb societies, master gardeners, and local community organizations. Erin is the 2021 inaugural winner of the American Public Gardens Association's Gerry Donnelly Future Leaders award, and has appeared on the nationally syndicated podcast Cultivating Place and Wisconsin Public Radio's Garden Talk and is a contributor for Fine Gardening magazine.