What can you do with tree roots? Grind them down, dig them up and dump them, chop them up for firewood? Sustainable, ecologically friendly stumperies are proving increasingly popular among all types of gardens. By recycling and upcycling unwanted tree roots, stumperies create a beautiful, relaxing environment that welcomes wildlife.
VICTORIAN ORIGINS
The idea of stumperies began in Victorian times. Gardeners wanted somewhere to display their fern collections. James Bateman, owner of Biddulph Grange, Staffordshire devised a solution. Visiting the garden in 1856, a correspondent from the Gardeners Chronicle reported:
“The Stumpery consists of a very picturesque assemblage of old roots or rugged stems and stumps of trees…..piled to a height of 8 or 10 feet on either side of a winding and rapidly descending walk. They are so irregularly arranged as to jut forward…and even to be united into a rustic arch in some parts; while in others they recede far enough to allow room at their base for little gatherings of choice herbaceous plants, bulbs or miniature shrubs.”
Other gardeners quickly followed suit developing stumperies ideal for creating scaffolds upon which vigorous plants like ivy, honeysuckle, Virginia Creeper and cotoneaster could climb into neighbouring trees creating a luxuriant woodland environment.
STUMPERIES REBORN
Tree roots naturally decay over time, and most stumperies fell into disuse during much of the twentieth century. The great storm of 1987 brought down countless ancient trees and led to a revival of interest as landscapers recognised the potential of the tree roots.
At Highgrove House, 180 sweet chestnut roots were used to form the basis of a new stumpery. Initially they did not look very attractive. Prince Philip is said to have asked his son, “When are you going to set fire to this lot?” Their appearance soon changed when gardeners planted up the area with masses of hellebores, hostas, euphorbias and ferns. Over time, this area has become intensely atmospheric, verdant, relaxing areas of the Highgrove Gardens complete with eyecatching features like a Gunnera manicata on top of a two metre high stone tower or glimpses of a Goddess of the Woods sculpture within the vegetation. It is an area that is now rich in wildlife.
Numerous other stumperies have appeared at sites like Sizergh Castle Cumbria, Holkham Hall, Norfolk and Burnby Hall Gardens Yorkshire. In Sussex, stumps of sweet chestnut, oak and yew trees destroyed in the 1987 storm have been used to redevelop part of the Arundel Castle gardens. Extra colour has been provided by a group of liquidambar trees. Elsewhere original Victorian stumperies have matured or been given a facelift. At Biddulph Grange, many of the stumps and vegetation now merge overhead, forming tunnels along the winding paths. In Suffolk, gardeners at Ickworth House have extended the original stumpery. Among the new features are a massive fan like root placed on its side where two paths meet, and a 10 ft high wall of stumps placed on top of each other with plants descending out of crevices.
HOW TO CREATE A STUMPERY
Stumperies are very easy to create and can easily fit into small shady corners of a garden. They look very effective beside ponds and provide homes for a wide range of wildlife including insects and frogs.
When removing trees or large bushes during landscaping, these stumps can be reused. In addition, tree surgeons, building sites and managed woodlands frequently have unwanted tree stumps available.
You will also need shade loving plants, mulch and possibly a few interlocking logs. All types of roots can be used but oak, yew and beech are particularly effective. Begin by forking over the area and removing perennial weeds. The stumps can be linked together or kept separate but make sure that the roots face upwards. Each stump needs to be placed in a hole that is at least three feet deep, and take care to make sure that they are very securely fixed into the ground. Mulch around the stumps and add shade loving plants such as hellebores, woodruff, wood spurge, primroses, bluebells, ferns, lily of the valley, dicentra and trailing ivy. Moss and lichens will grow naturally on the stumps adding to the lush appearance.
A shady area can be quickly transformed into a mini stumpery within just a few hours as shown by the experience of Rajul Shah, a Norwich based landscaper. Discovering a stump being taken to the dump, she turned it into an attractive garden feature by digging over an area under a cherry tree. After installing the root, she surrounded it with a variety of bulbs and small plants.
TALL STUMPERIES
Stumperies have been taken to new heights in Alaska, USA. Glacier Gardens is located in a temperate rainforest region and owners Steve & Cindy Bowhay have created spectacular a spectacular high-rise stumpery incorporating both trunks and roots.
“I use trees that have blown over with intact root systems. I trim and clean out the roots before standing them up. I dig a hole about 10 feet deep using an excavator, then lift the stump with chains so that the trunk is facing down and insert it into the hole. Once secure fashion fish net over the roots. I place live moss on the net hanging down and cover the roots of the moss with potting soil. Then I plant the flowers,” explains Steve Bowhay.
Not surprisingly, this version of a stumpery attracts thousands of visitors every year.
ENCHANTING WILDLIFE ENVIRONMENT
Stumperies are proving to have a universal appeal. Martin Duncan, head gardener at Arundel Castle comments, “The garden changes with the seasons and there is always a great deal of colour and life, not only in the plants, but it’s a haven to wildlife such as bees and beetles, not to mention the garden cats, Tilly and Pippin, who often sharpen their claws on the ancient stumps. It seems to be enjoyed by children and adults alike, some even call it the ‘Hobbit Garden’ or ‘Harry Potter Garden’ as it allows them to use their imaginations and disappear into another world.”
Angela Youngman