Ms. Lexxxy,
There is another alternative which you could consider. The dead stump can be converted to a “planter” and become a focal point, with a display of stunning annuals that change every year. The basic concept is to construct a “drum” of Welded galvanized steel wire of small mesh with the stump at the center. The bottom of the roll of wire securely digs into the soil at the base of the stump, in a perimeter.
The top is supported by two or more cross-arms of pressure-treated lumber, of suitable dimension, 2x4? I would use ¾ inch x 22 inch galvanized steel CARRIAGE BOLTS, and several of them, to bolt the arms to the stump in a radial axis: 12 o’clock to 6 o’clock, 9 to 3, 10-4, 8-2. Same on the bottom but angled into the soil, perhaps?
The top of the cage can overtop the stump and be filled with potting mix, as should the sides of the cage. The cage should be wrapped by woven polypropylene weed barrier, e.g Shawfabrics LUMITE. A double row, strongly secured with appropriate wire or ties and then covered over with hessian or burlap which also is secured with ties to the weed fabric and the welded wire. This will make the weedcloth last a long time, and when the hessian is frayed, you only need to wrap new material around the old from the outside for the planter to look very spruce and new. This hessian is the same thin jute cloth we wrap our conifers in to prevent winter/deer damage.
The growing medium ideally should be PROMIX OUTDOOR GROWING MIX. This is expensive, at around $32/3.8 cu.ft bale. The next in quality is FAFARD Growing Mix, followed by various PEATLITE based growing mixes. Please never use Miracle Gro brand mixes or soil, or anything with the word “soil” in it, or anything with “peat + humic” together. If you should want to economize and go to a fair bit of mess and trouble, or have someone to do this for you, I should be happy to offer my modifications of the Cornell Peatlite mix.
When the cage is prepared, it is useful to use a hot metal rod or tube to melt planting holes . With a light touch, the hessian and weed barriers are weakened just enough that a sharp poke is enough o slip in the plugs of flower seedlings. In this porous medium, watering is easy from the top, and so is fertigation with a coil of soaker hose and a hozon device. In the presence of water and fertilizers, stumps will break down far more rapidly. Your hostas at the base of the stump will od fabulously well, as a result of this cage.
You can grow lots of eyecatching semi- trailing plants, like bold petunias, or mix and match them with an array of summer annuals and perennials now to be easily had from garden centers and from specialists like Bluestone Perennials and
http://www.northcreeknurseries.com/
Or, you could find an old or new 45 gallon HDPE [not PVA] trash can, of a nice neutral gray color. Cut off its botton and securely mount it over your stump with the base dug into a perimeter hidden by your hostas. Please make sure it will stay upright. Fill it up with Promix, so that it overtops the top of the stump. Plant trailing petunias which will soon hang over the sides.
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