While it may take 3-4-5 years before it will decompose, something should be done to mask this eyesore.
In most cases, where much smaller stumps were involved, I simply placed one or two large rocks on top of them and planted something around. Work as a charm.
I don't think it will work in this case because stump is so large that it will look just like a pile of rocks when/if I cover it completely. On another side, area past stump toward the driveway sloping significantly and if I add soil in front of the stump without building a retaining wall of some sort it will be washed out in a first rain.
I have several large Euonymus fortunei 'Emerald Gaiety' shrubs grown as a groundcover and wouldn't mind to relocate any of them there, but would like to hear your's ideas first, knowing how many creative people we have here :-)))
Oh, BTW, may I plant something in a rotten center of the stump? The same Euonymus perharps?

Be careful with the Eonymous fortunei. I have it on my property and after a few years it is starting to take over. I started ripping it out this year and it ended up a huge job because its roots got into surrounding shrubs and plants. It reminded me of my fight with Bishops Goutweed so it's got to go! Noticed recently that it was on the invasives list for at least one of the New England states (I think it was MA but maybe NH).

BTW I like the stone wall in the background!

Sue

Hi George,

More than 10 years ago, we had a white pine cut down in front of our house. The stump looked like yours.

It's still there! Falling apart, but still visible.

At the time, we planted a picea in a wooden half-barrel planter and placed it on top of the stump. The planter is now decomposing and we're trying to decide what to do. For all we know, the bottom of the planter has rotted and the picea roots have grown into the slowly decomposing stump. The picea looks great. We may just place/stack large rocks around the barrel. Or, we may try to re-plant the picea into a fake half-barrel (made of plastic? not sure...)

But, we are amazed at how long the stump has persevered in our Greater Boston, Zone 6 region.

Maybe something to consider in your region?

~ Hilda

When the tree was first cut down I put the largest whiskey barrel I could find on top of it. Filled it with miracle grow potting mix and have put plants in it every year.
I have hanging ones grow down the edge of the sides and put different kinds of annuals in it every year.
It has a rustic type look to the stump with the sides of it showing only.

In the fall, before snow hits the ground, I put evergreen branches in it and just leave it at that.

A neighbor did the same thing and put lots of vinca around the ground on it, like I did. The flowers bloom several times during the spring, summer and fall and it's in an area that has no problem with it spreading.

Heres a pic of last year's whiskey barrel with wintersown plants in it, trailing vinca, datura, and cosmos and marigolds.

Fran

Alternatively a sweet Autumn clematis in a groundcover mode would fill in nicely.

Claire

There are other ground covers that will work, too. (Disclaimer: I'm no fan of the genus Euonymous. Just not my aesthetic.)

I also think you ought to be able to plant something in the rotting core, particularly if you mixed some soil in.

Oh, if that spot is now going to be much sunnier than it was your Rhododendron will want looking after as well. The extra sun will come as a shock to the plant, so don't be surprised if the old leaves burn a bit and drop off early. Unless your rhody is particularly intolerant of sunlight, it will probably readjust within the year. Make sure to keep it watered if this turns out to be a dry year or it will probably suffer more than it should.

York_rose, thanks for the warning, but lighting/growing conditions had not been changed, tree was already limbed up. Rhodie is 'Nova Zembla' which would of be even happier if there will be more sun available to him :-(
It was and still part shade bed with 2 hours of early morning and 1 hour of late afternoon sun.

Part of my gardens are located in an area that the former owner had large mature trees. She cut them down 5 years ago and had the stumps grinded. Most of them were pines, but one was a large Oak. Even though the Oak stump was ground down 4 inches below the surface, it is so hard and dense, I can't grow a thing there. I decided to cover up the area with wood chips and put one of the bird baths on top of it.

A planter would look nice on your stump, or perhaps a bird bath?

I'd recommend just getting rid of the stump rather than trying to disquise it for years...

Tricia

flashy garden globe

Claire (mostly kidding, but maybe not)

Tricia,
If anything else wouldn't work, I might end up doing what you just said. I'll keep it as a my last resort.

These are from Abi:

:)
Dee

Here is my 'piece of art' (in progress) :-))

I'm thinking to 'throw' rocks there in a free pattern, but in the way they could serve purpose of retaining wall for the soil I'll fill in. Cover the top of the stump with garden fabric. Then I'm thinking to plant whatever appropriate size wise will be in a pockets of soil between rocks and then cover everything with a heavy layer of mulch.
Decorative pot with shade-loving annuals on top for a summer and....I think it should work year around.
What do you think?

March-early April

Now,

Nothing, except one fairly large 'Brandford Beauty' athurium fern (not shown) and clump of helebores of unknown origin (white bloom) was left in that bed.
What is there now: in a background Hinoki cypress with bright yellow tips on a new foliage (cultivar unknown), Inaba Shidare jap. maple in mushroom/umbrella shape, Picea pungens 'R.H.Montgomery', Abies koreana 'Prostrate Beauty', baby Abies koreana 'Silberlocke' (temporary placement, 99% will be not there the next year).
Stump itself is covered by E.fortunei 'Emerald Gaiety', as was planned, inside the big hole of the stump I placed 5G container with Lysimachia clethroides - Gooseneck Loosestrife, the only way I could afford to have it in my garden. Pockets of soil between rocks were filled with different ericas and perennials such as gentiana scabra and g.septemfida, geranium sanguineum 'Max Frei', tricyrtis hirta 'Miyazaki', sedums sieboldii (October Daphne) and 'Angelina', my beloved truly dwarf goatsbeard (Aruncus aethusifolius), non-invasive small white carex, Hakonechloa (Hakone grass) 'Aureola', some miniature hostas and at the very bottom spreading groundcover astilbe chinensis 'Pumila' (which will be thinned/controlled as needed).
Every single plant was relocated from the different parts of garden with a different lighting and watering conditions, but so far every one of them doing good.
Still this bed have plenty of space for small (12-15" tall x 12-15") wide clumpers. Technicaly it's a part shade (only three to three and a half hours of direct sun, but since the rest of the day it's in open bright shade it could accomodate a lot of different plants. Basicly I'm looking for contrasting shapes and colors of the leaves and less concerned about the blooms.
All suggestions are welcome.

My favorites for shady locations - hosta, astilbe, dicentra.

WG

Hopefully by next month I'll have a free moment, and can pop in for a visit!

But I do really think you need a few hostas in this stump bed! Or possibly brunnera... something with large leaves.