With climate change, biodiversity loss, and urban sprawl accelerating, more Ontario property owners are turning to a tiny but mighty solution: the Miyawaki forest. These ultra-dense, fast-growing native forest patches are not only beautiful—they’re powerful tools for restoring ecosystems, sequestering carbon, and bringing the spirit of the wild back to even the smallest patch of land.
Whether you’re stewarding a suburban yard, rural acreage, or community greenspace, the Miyawaki method can transform it into a thriving native forest in just a few years.
Dr. Akira Miyawaki (1928–2021) was a visionary Japanese botanist and plant ecologist who developed a method for rewilding degraded land by densely planting native species. His work was deeply influenced by the idea that native forests, if given the right conditions, will thrive faster and more robustly than we ever imagined.
He created over 1,700 forests in Japan and around the world, often in just 10-20 years. The method has since been adopted globally, including in India, China, Europe, and more recently in Canada and the United States.
Ontario’s natural heritage is rich with native species that evolved to thrive in our soils, our climate, and form relationships with pollinators and wildlife. Since most of our land has been cleared or altered, reintroducing native forest ecosystems, especially in urban spaces, can support and augment:
According to Afforestt, an organization founded by Shubhendu Sharma (a former student of Akira Miyawaki), research has found that Miyawaki forests grow up to 10 times faster, are 30 times denser, and 100 times more biodiverse than conventionally planted forests. As Sharma likes to say, established Miyawaki forests become “a tiny jungle party”.
According to Boomforest.org, the super-high density of the plants means that the trees and shrubs can quickly form a micro-climate on the site. The close plant spacing will support the acceleration of canopy closure, where leaves capture most of the sunlight so it no longer reaches the ground (much like a natural forest). Canopy closure often occurs within about 3-4 years of planting. Canopy closure has several beneficial consequences for the site: lower ground temperatures, better water retention, and less light for weed competition during the forest’s initial establishment period. Boomforest.org goes on to say that “a study carried out in Sardinia, in an environment presented as very hostile to reforestation due to drought and wind, underlines the fact that the benefits of density outweigh any disadvantages (such as the mortality of certain seedlings after a few years). In other words, the trees are more resistant as a community than if they had been planted further apart,” which is how they are commonly planted in the Ontario landscape.
On top of this, the trees and shrubs build relationships with each other. Trees, especially those of the same species, will often graft their roots together over time. These root grafts allow the trees to share resources such as water, sugars and nutrients. With the great work of researchers such as Dr. Suzanne Simard, Professor of Forest Ecology at the University of British Columbia and Author of Finding the Mother Tree, we now understand that tree roots also form intimate relationships with other tree roots through the mycorrhizal fungi that network tree roots together within the soil. This fungal network allows pivotal sharing of resources and also supports tree-to-tree communication. The close proximity of the tree and shrub roots to each other in a Miyawaki-style forest accelerates the establishment of this fungal-root network, which is so important for forest health and resiliency.
Choose 25–30 native species if possible, ideally all locally indigenous to your eco-region.
Great local resources for native species:
Best times to plant: April–May or September–October.
Steps:
Planting is often done as a community event or ceremony. Get the whole family or neighbourhood involved!
After 3 years, the mini-forest becomes self-sustaining! Sit back and watch it grow.
We are now offering custom Miyawaki forest planting, and maintenance services from the Greater Toronto Area up to cottage country. We can help you bring a piece of wild nature back home. Let’s reforest our communities and our hearts, one tiny forest at a time.
Contact Us to book a consultation and begin your own forest story.
Contact Us Today for Quality, Professional, and Experienced Tree care. Where you and your green space are our number one priority.
Ontario has recently experienced a significant ice storm that has caused extensive
damage to trees, properties, and power lines. This event has left many communities
grappling with the aftermath.?
Explore how winter weather affects trees, tips for spring care, planting bareroot trees, deep root fertilizing, and breeding bird surveys with Beautiful Trees Inc.
As Ontario’s autumn leaves complete their dramatic descent, we’re left with a gorgeous, crunchy carpet that’s somehow both beautiful and… a bit of a headache. When your yard starts looking like a leaf hoarder’s paradise, it’s time for action! Whether you are a do-it-yourselfer or looking to hire us to help you this year, leaf management is worth the effort, and here are some reasons why.
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Beautiful Trees Inc.
Main Office (Johl Anderson)
206 Hickman St
Bolton, Ontario L7E 2P4
(416) 738 – 4137
Gravenhurst Yard
(Johl Anderson)
555 Bishop St
Gravenhurst, Ontario P1P 1M4
(705) 645-8445
Thornton Yard (Jon Fry)
5089 20th Sideroad
Thornton, Ontario L0L 2N0
Vandorf Yard (Chris Ward)
2375 Vandorf Rd
Stouffville, Ontario L4A 2J7
