Little Forests Projects
What Are Little Forests?
Little forests, also known as Miyawaki forests, mini forests, micro forests, small forest, or pocket forests, are densely planted, multi-layered small-scale forests designed to replicate natural ecosystems. They grow rapidly, become exceptionally dense, and can rival or even surpass conventional forests in biodiversity. These little forest projects rely on the use of native species that are adapted to the region and provide critical habitats for local wildlife and are part of natural ecology of the region. These projects can vary greatly in size, starting as small as desired. Typically a project like this involves planting two to four species per square metre and includes a mix of species from each forest layer—canopy trees, understory trees, and shrubs as well as a mix of fast-growing shorter lived trees and slow growing longer-lived trees.
Why Little Forests?
- Support Ontario’s native biodiversity.
- Enhance air quality and carbon sequestration.
- Improve soil quality and water retention.
- Create green spaces in urban and suburban areas.
- Work towards reconnecting forests on a fragmented landscape.
- Foster resilience against climate change.
- Community building and can strengthen connections to nature by bringing natural diverse spaces into urban areas.
How Much Space Do You Need?
- Little forests can be as small or as big as you would like. Consider these little forests project for private yards as well as underutilized areas of municipal parks and public lands (work with the landowner, i.e. municipality for public lands plantings).
- Larger spaces allow for greater biodiversity, but even small plots can have significant ecological benefits when planting for all forest layers.
- Choose a size based on available land and resources, ensuring space for all forest layers: canopy, understory, shrub, and ground cover. We suggest you aim for at least 4 x 4 metres but ideally 10 m x 10 m (and not necessarily square). Consider including a pathway through your small forest project.
STEP 1
SITE PREPARATION
Choose a location with access to sunlight.
Identify and remove invasive plants, if present. These can compromise your little forest project and increase the amount of maintenance in coming years.
Prepare and amend the soil in the fall before your planting or in the spring before a fall planting project.
Consider laying cardboard on top of the grass (to suppress the grass), add a layer of compost and soil, add mulch on top to suppress the germination of weed seeds in your soil.
You can choose to skip the cardboard, just aim for a thicker layer of soil. The idea is to suppress the competing grass.
You can also remove the grass and enrich the soil.
step 2
species selection
Choose a diverse selection of species for each of the forest layers.
2-4 plants can be planted per square metre.
Select a healthy variety of canopy species, understory species and shrub species for the most successful and diverse planting that will best mimic natural forest ecosystems. Aim for fast growing, shorter lived trees, as well as slower growing, longer lived trees.
Also consider adding in groundcovers to fill the space between the plantings. This might be something to add in the following years.
Shade tolerant wildflowers and ferns can be added as the trees and shrub grow in and shade the site, think trilliums, bloodroot, wild geraniums, and more…
STEP 3
Planting
Plant densely with a mix of species across different layers.
Be careful not to plant too many canopy trees too close together. Space them away from each other to give them space to fill in. Your understory species will thrive beneath their canopy.
Ensure seedlings are mulched and watered adequately.
Don’t stress too much over their exact placement. Not all may survive and that is ok. In time wildlife will bring in seeds from other native species that will germinate and begin to fill and diversify your little forest even more.
Remember that woody material, branches, leaves and logs make up a natural forest floor, leave this material on site. In the early years of your project you may even want to bring some in.
STEP 4
Maintenance
Water regularly for the first 2-3 years.
Control weeds for the first few years as the plants get established and begin to fill in the space.
Consider adding in groundcovers and then eventually woodland plants as your trees and shrubs grow in and shade the site.
Consider planting herbaceous plants to help fill the space between the trees and shrubs like wild strawberry, sedges, native grasses, and wildflowers, especially along the edges.
Show it off!
Brag to your neighbours!
Help to change the face of what an urban yard looks like!
SUNNY/PART SUN, WELL-DRAINING SOILS
Aim for 2-4 plants per square metre and for at least one plant from the different forest layer groups.
Per Square Metre
- 1 Canopy or Subcanopy Species
- 1 Understory Species
- 1 Shrub Layer Species
WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT LITTLE FORESTS?
SEE LINKS BELOW TO ORGANIZATIONS WITH LITTLE FORESTS PROGRAMS & RESOURCES
CANOPY / SUBCANOPY LAYER
American Basswood (Tilia americana) – Moderate growth; 20-30 m high, high shade tolerance; thrives in deep, moist, well-drained sandy loams, loams, or silt loams; moderate to moist soils. Adaptable to a variety of sites.
American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) – Fast growth and large tree reaching 25-35 m tall; low shade tolerance; prefers deep, rich, moist soils but is adaptable, tolerates clay.
Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa) – Slow growth; 20-30 m tall; moderate shade tolerance; adaptable to sandy, loamy, clayey, and rocky soils, often in limestone soils; dry to moderate moisture.
Eastern Cottonwood (Populus deltoides) – Very fast growth; up to 30 m high; low shade tolerance; thrives in sandy or silty soils; tolerant of moderate to moist and wet soils. Can tolerate a variety of sites.
Eastern White Cedar (Thuja occidentalis) – Slow to moderate growth; 12-15 m tall; high shade tolerance; prefers moist, well-drained calcareous soils and wetlands; moderate to moist moisture but can tolerate drier sites.
Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus) – Moderate growth; up to 30 m tall; moderate to high shade tolerance; grows best in well-drained sandy or loamy soils; dry to moderate moisture. Tolerant tree.
Red Pine (Pinus resinosa) – Moderate growth; up to 25-30 m tall; low shade tolerance; prefers well-drained sandy, acidic soils; dry to moderate moisture.
Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) – Fast growth, large tree; 30 m tall; moderate shade tolerance; thrives in deep, rich, well-drained loamy soils; prefers some moisture.
White Birch (Betula papyrifera) – Moderate to fast growth; up to 25 m tall; low shade tolerance; prefers well-drained sandy or silty soils, often nutrient-poor; moderate to moist moisture.
White Oak (Quercus alba) – Slow growth; 20-30 m tall; moderate to high shade tolerance; adaptable to deep, well-drained loamy, clay, and rocky soils; dry to moderate moisture.
Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea) – Slow growth; 15-20 m tall; high shade tolerance; thrives in cool, moist, well-drained acidic sandy loams; moderate to moist moisture.
Bitternut Hickory (Carya cordiformis) – Moderate growth; up to 35 m; moderate shade tolerance; prefers moist, fertile, well-drained loamy soils; moderate to moist moisture.
Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) – Moderate to fast growth; 15-24 m tall; low to moderate shade tolerance; adaptable to deep, fertile, well-drained loamy, sandy, and rocky soils; dry to moderate moisture.
Kentucky Coffee Tree (Gymnocladus dioicus) – Moderate growth; 18-25 m tall; low shade tolerance; thrives in deep, rich, well-drained loamy or limestone soils; dry to moderate moisture.
Northern Catalpa (Catalpa speciosa) – Fast growth; up to 20 m tall, low shade tolerance; adaptable to sandy, loamy, and clay soils; moderate to moist soils but adaptable.
Red Maple (Acer rubrum) – Moderate growth; up to 25 m; moderate to high shade tolerance; prefers loamy or silty soils but can tolerate some clay sites but do prefer slightly acidic sites; moist to wet moisture, can tolerate some moderately-dry sites once established.
Red Oak (Quercus rubra) – Moderate growth; up to 30 m; moderate shade tolerance; adaptable to loamy, clay, and rocky soils; moderate to moist moisture.
Shagbark Hickory (Carya ovata) – Moderate growth; 15-25 m tall; moderate to high shade tolerance; grows well in loamy, clay, and rocky soils; dry to moderate moisture.
Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) – Moderate growth; 25 m tall; very high shade tolerance; thrives in loamy, rich soils but can tolerate some clay and silty soils; moderate to moist moisture but not waterlogged.
UNDERSTORY LAYER
American Hazelnut (Corylus americana) – Fast growth; low to moderate shade tolerance.
American Mountain Ash (Sorbus americana) – Moderate growth; low to moderate shade tolerance.
American Plum (Prunus americana) – Fast growth; low shade tolerance.
Blue Beech (Carpinus caroliniana) – Slow growth; high shade tolerance.
Canada Plum (Prunus nigra) – Fast growth; low shade tolerance.
Chinquapin Oak (Quercus muehlenbergii) – Moderate growth; low to moderate shade tolerance.
Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) – Fast growth; low to moderate shade tolerance.
Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis) – Moderate growth; moderate shade tolerance.
Highbush Cranberry (Viburnum trilobum) – Moderate growth; high shade tolerance.
Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) – Moderate growth; high shade tolerance.
Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) – Fast growth; moderate shade tolerance.
Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) – Slow to moderate growth; low to moderate shade tolerance.
Hop Hornbeam (Ostrya virginiana) – Slow growth; high shade tolerance.
Hop Tree (Ptelea trifoliata) – Slow growth; moderate to high shade tolerance.
Ironwood (Blue Beech) (Carpinus caroliniana) – Slow growth; high shade tolerance.
Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago) – Moderate growth; high shade tolerance.
Pagoda Dogwood (Cornus alternifolia) – Moderate growth; high shade tolerance.
Pawpaw (Asimina triloba) – Slow to moderate growth; high shade tolerance.
Pin Cherry (Prunus pensylvanica) – Fast growth; low shade tolerance.
Serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis) – Moderate growth; moderate shade tolerance.
Smooth Arrowwood (Viburnum dentatum) – Moderate growth; high shade tolerance.
SHRUB LAYER
Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) – Moderate growth; moderate to high shade tolerance.
Downy Arrowwood (Viburnum rafinesquei) – Moderate growth; high shade tolerance.
Fragrant Sumac (Rhus aromatica) – Moderate growth; low to moderate shade tolerance.
Maple-leaf Viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium) – Moderate growth; high shade tolerance.
Meadowsweet (Spiraea alba) – Moderate to fast growth; low to moderate shade tolerance.
Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius) – Moderate to fast growth; moderate shade tolerance.
Red-osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea) – Fast growth; moderate to high shade tolerance.
Shrubby St. John’s Wort (Hypericum prolificum) – Moderate growth; low to moderate shade tolerance.
Smooth Wild Rose (Rosa blanda) – Moderate growth; low shade tolerance.
Snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus) – Moderate growth; high shade tolerance.
Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) – Slow to moderate growth; high shade tolerance.
Witherod (Viburnum cassinoides) – Moderate growth; high shade tolerance.