A stumpery is a garden that uses tree stumps and logs as an organizing feature. The stumpery caught the imagination of the Victorian gardener and was emulated throughout England.
What can I plant in a stumpery?
A stumpery is similar to a log pile, but is a permanent feature, consisting of upright logs, half buried in the soil, on which moss, lichen and fungi will grow. You can plant ferns in and around the logs for extra interest.
What are the best plants for a stumpery?
Ferns are an obvious choice, but even smaller hostas and other woodland plants can be used. Add a few snowdrops and scilla for an early spring bloom. Stumperies look best in a shade or part shade location where moss can eventually cover the whole thing.
How do you make a stumpery UK?
Add bark chips around plants and to cover any exposed ground to discourage any weeds and enhance the forest floor effect. Daub logs and stumps with natural yoghurt to encourage the growth of mosses, lichens and fungi. You can also buy edible fungi spores to add to your stumpery, giving you a harvest of mushrooms too.
What does a stumpery look like?
A stumpery traditionally consists of tree stumps arranged upside-down or on their sides to show the root structure but logs, driftwood or large pieces of bark can also be used. The stumps can be used individually or attached together to form a structure such as a wall or arch.
What is a stump garden?
A stumpery is an arrangement of woody material like trunks and root wads (root balls) to create a habitat for ferns and companion plants. The stumpery was placed in the garden such that in the spring the azaleas native to the property provided a lovely backdrop, as seen in this 2020 spring photo.
How do you grow stumpery?
How to Build a Stumpery in Your Garden
- Step 1: Clear the way. First, find a shady area on your property and clear it of grass and weeds.
- Step 2: Arrange the wood.
- Step 3: Add dirt and plants.
- Step 4: Apply mulch and water.
What grows on tree stumps?
Petunias, nasturtiums, pansies or whatever you like. If you don’t want to make a hole, you can stand pots on a tree stump. Ferns, a variety of wildflowers, cornflower, marigolds, phlox, there are so many options. You can grow other plants around it.
What can I do with a tree stump in my garden?
Tree stump ideas: 9 creative ways to give them a new lease of…
- Hollow out to use as a planter.
- Turn into hopscotch stepping stones.
- Transform into beautiful furniture.
- Enchant the little ones with a fairy house.
- Turn a stump into a sculpture.
- Repurpose a tree stump for a table.
- Top with a treehouse.
What can I plant around tree stumps?
Who built the first stumpery in England?
The first stumpery to be built, at Biddulph Grange, Staffordshire, in 1856, was designed by the artist and gardener Edward William Cooke for the estate’s owner James Bateman. The stumpery at Biddulph Grange consists of stumps placed into a 10 feet (3.0 m) wall either side of a garden path and used as a scaffold for the growth of ferns.
What is a stumpery and why are they important?
The pieces are arranged artistically and plants, typically ferns, mosses and lichens are encouraged to grow around or on them. They provide a feature for the garden and a habitat for several types of wildlife. The first stumpery was built in 1856 at Biddulph Grange and they remained popular in Victorian Britain .
Are there any stumpery Gardens in the UK?
Another stumpery was built in the 1890s at Dewstow House, near Caldicot in Wales, which is an amazing ‘lost’ but now ‘rediscovered’ garden. See our database and their website for more information on these ‘very rare and unusual underground gardens’.
What is the oldest stumpery in the country?
The oldest stumpery in the country and the inspiration for many more around the country, including the one in the woods of Highgrove, Prince Charles’ home in Gloucestershire. Biddulph Grange’s stumpery consists of a sunken path bordered by upside-down oak tree roots amongst which grow a great variety of ferns, delicate plants and mosses.
