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WASHTENAW COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT
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Brush Piles

Picture
Brush piles make good cover for several animals including cottontail rabbits, quail and several species of songbirds.  They are also a productive and beneficial way to clean up wind blown trees or treetops after a timber sale.

They can be constructed by placing large boughs or logs (4" and larger) on the ground parallel to each other and a few feet apart in a small area (12' x 12' to 15' x 15') See #1 in diagram.

Place another row of logs on top of the first layer running in the other direction, log cabin-like.  Continue laying branches in this criss-cross fashion until the pile is a 4 to 5 feet tall.  See #2 in diagram.

Small branches and twigs can be piled on top to provide a roof.  See #3 and 4 in diagram. Branches and twigs can be added to the structure each year.

Some people like to insert a few 6 to 8" soil tiles end to end in with the bottom layer of logs.  This provides excellent protection from the weather for rabbits and other small mammals.

Brush piles are most effective when constructed on or near the edge of a woodlot where they are easily accessible to the edge dwelling species.  There should be about 1 or 2 brushpiles per 10 acres.

Washtenaw County Conservation District
(734) 302-8715
info@washtenawcd.org

​ 705 N. Zeeb Rd. Ann Arbor, MI 48103
Copyright 2020
  • About Us
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    • 2020 Millage
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    • Annual Meeting >
      • 2022 WCCD Awardees
    • Conservation Update Newsletter
  • Store
  • Resources
    • School & Community Habitat Grant
    • Rain barrels & Composters >
      • Rain Barrels Information
      • Rain Barrel Common Questions
    • Tool and Equipment Rental >
      • Reserve Tools & Equipment
      • Hand Tool Rentals
      • Herbicide Application Tool Rentals
      • Tool Rental Calendar
      • Equipment Rental Calendar
    • Contractor Lists
    • Hunter Access Program
  • Events
    • Native Plant Expo & Marketplace >
      • 2023 Spring Native Plant Sale >
        • 2023 Spring Milkweed Giveaway
      • 2023 NPEM Speaker Series
      • 2023 NPEM Sponsorship
      • 2023 NPEM Vendor Application
    • Tree & Shrub Distributions >
      • 2023 Spring Tree & Shrub Sale
    • Coffee & Conservation
    • Public Meetings Calendar
  • Conservation Planning
    • NRCS Farm Bill Programs
    • MAEAP
    • MiFarmLink Inquiry
    • Farmer Cost-Share Opportunities
    • MI Farmland Preservation
    • Invasive Species
  • Education
    • Workshops & Programs >
      • Community Conservation Education
      • Conservation Agriculture Education
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    • Online resources >
      • Agriculture >
        • Farmland Preservation
        • Soils >
          • Washtenaw County Soils
          • Soil Sampling >
            • Soil Sampling Article
            • Homeowner Soil Testing
            • Agricultural Soil Testing
        • Windbreaks
        • Composting >
          • Composters
      • Forestry >
        • Community Trees
        • Tree & Shrub Planting Guide
        • Common Tree Diseases & Pests
        • Crop Tree Management
        • Fruit Tree Planting & Care
        • Likelihood of Deer Damage
        • Other Forestry Links
        • Pruning Forest Trees
        • Timber Sales
        • Urban Trees
      • Insects >
        • Animal & Insect Repellents
      • Invasive Species & Control
      • Native Plants >
        • Planting Native Plants
        • Seeding Wildflowers
      • Recycling
      • Water >
        • Groundwater >
          • Groundwater Protection - Agriculture
        • Pond Construction >
          • Pond Management
        • Rain Gardens
        • Shoreline Property
        • Stormwater Runoff & Management
        • Stream Bank Erosion and Control
        • Wells >
          • Water Testing
          • Water Screening Events
        • Wetlands >
          • Wetland Mitigation Banking
        • Wildlife >
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          • Clearcutting
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      • Tree of Heaven
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