I tried to burn a stump 'downwards' by lighting a small coal fire on top of it, but it hardly touched it. The advice of others re. stump rotting would seem favourite, then construct your rockery on top and forget about it?
Its 3 years in October since we had similar trees cut down,Holes were drilled into them and a stump killer used. While they disintegrated I planted Ferns and Crocosmia corms around them. They are disappearing now,slow but sure.
The whole truth is an instrument that can only be played by an expert.
I do like the little rockery you have there. It might be the best solution as I'm not entirely sure what is underneath the manhole cover. I might have to do some work to make it look more aesthetically pleasing though!
A large pot planted up would hide the manhole cover, the bigger the better ( too heavy to pinch) with maybe a small tree or flowering bush as the centre and planted round with spring bulbs.😁
I've often wished I had a tree stump to use as a base for landscaping. Loads of succulents/ (or sempervivums as was said) particularly are good as they grow in not much and /or all rock garden plants really/ Just if a small concave bit of wood area is chipped out to keep a bit of compost or soil in.
In your photo I see about 5 stumps all with concave areas between them easily scope for adding your spare stones and boulders to a landscaped area. with space to add a few plants/ stumpery design, even add a broken and laid on it's side terracotta pot with plant in perhaps. and more stones scattered around the area in a rough random border design, not circular just random natural shaped.
Or of course you can try the drill holes in and let it die fully over wet winter method. I have had them that don't die that easily though, so if it were me as I said I'd use it as landscape until it does of it's own accord.
Also the attack it with an axe works as my partner did it and fully got out all to ground level of a large conifer.
Also I'd leave all the stumps you do not want just in but by the edge of your front garden , some will just get taken as people walk by, as does furniture these days. Or sell them on ebay or a dritf wood selling channel perhaps, people use them for furniture restoring craftwork and plant decorations/ eco friendly craft works.
The longer stump you've cut off already if you carved out some of one side you could sell it or use yourself as a stump plant pot display laying on it's side. (Depending how big it actually is in width as not sure image gives the real impression of size sometimes.
Here's what I have done with it for now. I cut as much off as I could with the tools I have to hand (mainly a reciprocating saw) but didn't make much headway with the drill. I had all these stones laying around from the previous owner's defunct attempt at a rockery so I made a very crude raised bed around the stump.
Plants were limited to whatever was around the garden plus some things I bought and never found a home for. I watered the heck out of it but I will probably need to add some compost or something at some point as the soil is not very good. We'll see how it goes.
That looks lovely! What a great solution.. it looks very intentional rather than 'I'm trying to hide a stump’ rock circle look that a few of my neighbors have.
We had the same problem.2 huge conifers on front garden.left with massive stumps.drilled holes in them.then bought lavender and planted around them,you have to get long stemmed not the smaller varieties but it really worked!after 4 years the stumps are starting to rot down
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Plants were limited to whatever was around the garden plus some things I bought and never found a home for. I watered the heck out of it but I will probably need to add some compost or something at some point as the soil is not very good. We'll see how it goes.