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Tree stump planting.

purplerallimpurplerallim Posts: 5,287
in Problem solving
I have a stump I was planning to get the hubby to cut up , but am now wondering whether to plant it up. It is at the base of a fence about 18" tall the same long and about 12" deep. In shade most of the day. There is a small amount of room around it for soil, but I wondered about drilling holes into the stump and planting these. So would have to be hardy, small and nutrient poor tolerant .🤔
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  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I have ferns, primulas and ajuga round mine, as well as copious amounts of  moss  ;)

    It's by my little pond, so there's also caltha, drumstick primulas, and snowdrops earlier in the year. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • purplerallimpurplerallim Posts: 5,287
    As my soil is very alkaline I was wondering if there is a way to make a acid bed, maybe alpines , not sure.
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    You might find alpines and stumps don't sit comfortably together. The never occur together naturally. 


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • purplerallimpurplerallim Posts: 5,287
    I already have woodland plants under trees at other end of garden, so was looking for something different. Moss is a nice idea,  but don't know how to go about it.
  • TheveggardenerTheveggardener Posts: 1,057

    purplerallim I did this last year drilled lots of holes then chiselled it out to something around 10 inches deep. Just a couple of pis not mine I might add but off the internet.

    You can see this is planted in the the stump again in the stump.


    Last one. The one on the left is what I did with one of my three stumps. Hope this helps.



  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    Ferns would be ideal, particularly Polypodium vulgare (which you see growing naturally on tree bark in ancient woodlands).
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    My ferns have just seeded there Will - I didn't plant them, or the moss. It grows in abundance here. We have a little resin hedgehog there, under the caltha,  which was my daughter's when she was little. He's now got a mossy overcoat too :)

    The little saxifrage known as London Pride [Saxifraga urbium] would grow there too, as well as other saxifrages, and Heucheras would be happy. The saxifrages might even survive in the trunk itself.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • TopbirdTopbird Posts: 8,355
    I think (don’t know) that I would be correct in saying that rotting wood in gardens provides an important habitat for some insects. For example, I believe stag beetles larvae need rotting wood to survive.

    So your stump could provide some shelter for critters over the coming years as it slowly rots away - and if you can make it pretty in the meantime that’s a win-win.

    I planted a small leafed variegated ivy next to a stump and it looks pretty enough trailing over, but I love the idea of using it as a planter.
    Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
  • purplerallimpurplerallim Posts: 5,287
    That's why I thought of use it don't lose it.🙂 I was thinking of small plants( the London pride sounds good) so the stump wouldn't be overwhelmed but they would help with the rotting process. 
  • purplerallimpurplerallim Posts: 5,287
    This is the area tucked away in a corner I haven't touched in three years ( busy sorting the rest up till now) it is in as much light as it gets in this picture, until about mid day. It is edged by stone against a path. Was wondering about sedums or sempervivium with London pride around base? 🤔

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