Resist the urge to cultivate. Use fallen and pruned tree branches to construct a brush pile for wildlife or chip for soil mulch. Convert danger trees to snags 20 feet or taller so that they may provide a home to cavity-nesting birds. Save a significant section of a fallen tree for a nurse log. Organic matter in the soil protects plants against drought and flood by holding moisture away from plant roots until needed.
Organic soil allows plants to produce complex starches and proteins.
Chemical fertilizers encourage plants to produce simple sugars and amino acids that are more tasty to insects. Organic soil protects plants against disease. Organic matter as soil mulch provides foraging habitat for beneficial wildlife. Seeds not removed from plants attract birds and other wildlife. Brush piles built from branches offer cover and increased foraging possibilities.