Don't Waste Time Removing A Tree Stump: Turn It Into A Stunning Landscape Feature

You have choices when it comes to tree stumps, and some of them are more time-consuming than others. Many people find them unattractive, they can make it difficult to mow, and they're also a tripping hazard. 

You can pay to have them removed, which can be expensive, or try to remove them yourself, which can be labor-intensive. Then there's the option of leaving them to rot on their own; the non-invasive method that makes removing a tree stump easier. You'll also find lots of online hacks on repurposing and disguising stumps. One amazing stump transformation that caught our attention as a way to turn an unsightly and potentially dangerous stump into a beautiful garden oasis is depicted in a video from TikTok user @garretbael.

This project results in a stump that serves as a pedestal for container plants, surrounded by a garden of annuals planted in attractive, dark soil, and mulched. This tree-stump solution is similar to one that hides an old tree stump with a raised garden bed, and offers a similar benefit to the plants around it: nutrients for surrounding plants from the decomposing stump.

To create this garden with a stump centerpiece, first you'll need to kill the grass around it. For that, get a weed-suppressing material like cardboard. Spring or summer is a good time for this project so you're killing grass while it's alive, not dormant. Otherwise, you're just helping to keep the grass cozy until it's ready to grow.

You'll also need topsoil, mulch, annual plants, and a container filled with flowers or other plants; TikTokker @garretbael used a half whiskey barrel planted with marigolds, but the possibilities are nearly endless.

First, rip out any prominent weeds close to the stump. Lay down enough cardboard or other weed-suppressing material surrounding the stump to cover several feet beyond the stump. Wet down the cardboard with a hose to help it begin decomposing. Cover the cardboard with 8 to 10 inches of topsoil. Annuals like topsoil, but it's a good idea to mix in one part compost to three parts topsoil to improve soil structure and add nutrients.

Plant your annual flowers around the stump and add a layer of mulch around them. Top off the project by placing your planted container on top of the stump. If your stump is cut close to the ground, it can be easy to disguise in this landscape feature. But there's nothing wrong with a taller stump. You can even hollow out the middle of a taller stump, fill it with dirt, and plant flowers directly into it, making for a more natural-looking arrangement.

If you choose to put a planter on top of the stump, consider applying a preservative, such as varnish or polyurethane, on its surface so the stump can continue to function as a pedestal for the container as long as possible. Be sure the container has drainage holes. If you'd like, you can add paver stones leading up to the stump or around the perimeter of this landscape feature for an extra visual touch. 

The beauty of this project is that you can swap out your annuals yearly to keep things interesting or even seasonally to showcase blooms for much of the year. For example, you could plant pansy, snapdragon, and lobelia in the spring, and then replace them in the summer with heat-lovers like geranium and zinnia. Consider more flowering annuals that will last all summer for your stump masterpiece.