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Stumpery, ferns and walnut stumps

robertmoore.00robertmoore.00 Posts: 5
in Garden design
Hi not sure if this is the right category...

I want to create a stumpery on a shaded wooded hillside in the garden. I have some walnut tree stumps, cut about 3 years ago.
I know that walnut is allelopathic but my question is would the chemicals still be active after this time and cause a problem with the ferns?
Hope someone can help. It would be quite a bit of effort to create the stumpery only to watch the ferns wither!
Thanks
Rob

Posts

  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    An interesting problem!  According to this source, ferns are tolerant of juglone, the toxin produced by walnut trees: Black Walnut Tolerant Plants - Planting Around A Black Walnut Tree (gardeningknowhow.com).  Someone else here may know how long the toxin would remain active in old wood and affect other non-tolerant plants.
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @robertmoore.00 I wonder if it might be possible to contact a reputable fern specialist. The Fern Nursery in Lincoln may be able to offer advice.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • robertmoore.00robertmoore.00 Posts: 5
    Thank you Plant Minded. I read the article you provided the link to. I also did some more research and found out that juglone might not be such a problem as people believe. Apparently it oxidises quickly and is more a problem in sandy wet soils. We are on thin sandy soil but not wet, so its 50/50

    GardenerSuze thanks for the suggestion of the Fern Nursey. We are in Suffolk so will also try Fernatix in Eye.

    Picked up three oak stumps today. But would still be nice to use the walnut I have. 
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