HOW TO START A STUMPERY

APPROACH LOCAL LANDOWNERS OR TREE SURGEONS TO SEE IF THEY HAVE ANY SPARE STUMPS. THEY ARE NOT ALWAYS EASY TO GET HOLD OF. DO NOT REMOVE THEM FROM WOODLAND WITHOUT THE OWNER’S PERMISSION. SOME NURSERIES OFFER STUMPS AND LOGS.

TEST YOUR SOIL SO YOU KNOW WHETHER IT IS ACIDIC OR ALKALINE OR IN BETWEEN (NEUTRAL) AND THEREFORE WHICH PLANTS WILL ENJOY YOUR CONDITIONS.

CLEAR THE SITE OF WEEDS, PARTICULARLY PERENNIAL ONES.

CONSIDER WHERE AND HOW TO PLACE YOUR STUMPS TO SHOWCASE THEIR ‘BEST’ SIDE.

BURY PART OF EACH STUMP IN SOIL TO HELP KEEP IT MOIST AND SO IT LOOKS NATURAL.

INFILL AREAS BETWEEN ROOTS WITH A MIX OF TOPSOIL AND LEAFMOULD. LEAFMOULD MAKES A GREAT SOIL CONDITIONER.

PLANT A SHADY STUMPERY WITH FERNS, HOSTAS, EPIMEDIUMS, WOOD ANEMONES AND GERANIUMS.