Make it happen.
Choose a shaded or semi-shaded corner
Pick a calm spot that will not need frequent access and can stay a little damp. Near shrubs, a fence line or the back of a border is often ideal because wildlife can move in and out under cover.
Start with larger logs on the soil
Lay the thickest logs directly onto the ground so fungi, beetles and other decomposers can begin their work. Vary the spacing rather than making the stack too neat, because uneven gaps create more usable crevices.
Layer in sticks, bark and leaf litter
Add smaller branches, twigs, bark and handfuls of dry leaves between the larger pieces. This creates pockets with different moisture levels and helps the pile shelter everything from insects to frogs and overwintering pollinators.
Cap it with leaves and leave it undisturbed
Top the structure with extra leaves or loose brushwood to hold shade and slow the drying wind. Once built, disturb it as little as possible and resist the urge to tidy because the most useful piles gradually settle and soften over time.
