Plants that like decomposing wood?
Garden noob
Posts: 260
We had half a dozen overgrown conifers along one side of our garden that completely blocked the light (~25' tall). We cut them down low 2.5 years ago, then finally built a raised bed on top of the stumps 1.5 years ago. The raised bed included manure, compost and topsoil in roughly equal proportions, topping up with topsoil when needed.
Most stumps are 10-12" below the surface; one is only 2" below the surface. Strategic planting of shrubs between the submerged stumps has worked well so far and nothing seems to have suffered in the raised bed.
I'm conscious that the decomposing stumps and roots will be robbing the soil of its nitrogen. As we look to introduce more smaller plants closer to the stumps, are there any that like/tolerate these conditions? E.g. woodland plants? We have a preference for any flowers that attract bees.
Plan B is to increase the nitrogen level around the stumps (e.g. chicken manure pellets). In ~1 year I plan to dig out any problematic stumps when they're softer (getting there, but not there yet).
Posts
Look up hugelkultur. I wouldn't particularly bother removing the stumps if you don't need to.
my garden is full of stumps, there's no way I could dig up a stump. Where there aren't stumps there's brick rubble. Anything grows, maybe not those big and blousey things you see advertised but I don't want those anyway. Don't pay too much attention to the robbing nitrogen thing. It's true but over-rated as a problem. Right now snowdrops and celandines are looking good. If it's shady (I'm assuming that from the mention of woodland plants) pulmonarias, astrantias, aquilegias will do well. Cyclamen, corydalis, (lutea and ochroleuca). Lots, visit a few woodland type gardens.
In the sticks near Peterborough
Thanks for the ideas. Yes, it's a shady spot along the West fence, but also with a bridge not far behind, so it really doesn't get a lot of sun beyond midday. Our smaller plants in the border include native bluebells and lily of the valley, with snowdrops and winter aconites on order... So we're going with a woodland theme, especially in the shadiest spots. I've attached a before/after shot if that helps (the latest picture taken in Oct when our annuals had finished, so the bed is a little bare).
It's great to hear that the nitrogen-robbing is an over-stated problem. Re digging up stumps, I'm thinking mainly of one large one that I didn't manage to cut low enough and is just below the surface. You can't plant anything there. It's now soft enough to chip away at the edges with a spade, so I reckon by next year it should be easy to remove the worst of it. It'll feel therapeutic to know it's gone.
I forgot Geranium phaeum, essential
You can't plant on a stump but creeping plants will cover. I've had Geranium macrorrhizum (another good one) growing into a willow stump with bark.
In the sticks near Peterborough
I've got a tree stump in there
Hardy geraniums will certainly do well. They cope with almost anything.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
That's nice Fairy
I'll see if I can find one of my stumps.
Found one
In the sticks near Peterborough
Wow, that looks stunning, and not a stump to be seen! Geraniums are definitely in the mix now
Lovely nut
Depending on your soil conditions and your climate G.noob - you can work round them. Lots of plants are happy in dry soil if you get enough rainfall, but if the soil's dryish and you're in a dryish area, you can still have a beautiful display like nut's. I have very different conditions to her - wetter soil and lots of rain.
In short - you can make a great garden - stumps or not!
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...