I'm in Melbourne, it's windy, lots of trees being cut down or broken off. I'm using that as an opportunity to try out this method which in my situation is really just "fill your garden bed with woody debris and soil".

Eucalyptus trees are everywhere but then I read the oils they produce can prevent growth of plants due to the allelopathic compounds that will spread into the soil. Then I saw banksia pods, even though they aren't similar to pine cones I did see that cones can contain resins and phytochemicals that will promote brown rot fungi (as opposed to white rot fungi) which is harmful to most plants. Not sure if banksia pods fall in that category.

I don't want to overcomplicate this but want to make sure I'm starting on the right footing. Plus these storage tubs are being repurposed and aren't exactly "heavy-duty" so I wanted to fill in as much as I can with lighter material like the pods if possible. I'll be trying to grow typical herbs in this.

Do you have any "easily procured" tree species that work here? Or will banksias do fine?

Thank you!