Modern Rome

If you’ve ever had trees cut down, you know that getting the stump removed can be a costly task. But, have you ever considered putting that stump to good use?

A dead tree still plays many vital roles in its environment. Two major roles include serving as a shelter for a variety of wildlife, and decomposing to rebuild healthy soil and support new life. These characteristics can be taken advantage of by plugging in new native plants and watching them turn into a beautiful living sculpture!

As the photos display, the tree stump not only can support native perennials and wildflowers, it can help establish a new tree! This can be done by simply digging small holes in the top of the stump and filling them with soil and young plant saplings. As the stump decomposes, the new plants take root inside the dead wood, using its nutrients to establish a new plant community! Always remember to choose plants that are right for the site conditions.

A few more creative ideas include sculpting the stump into garden art or carving it into a bird bath!

Modern Rome recently had the chance to help restore the native ecosystem on the dunes of Lake Michigan’s shoreline. We cut out tons of invasive ‘Burning Bush’ with plans to burn it on the beach to give some nutients back to the dunes. The dune will soon be replanted with some of its original inhabitants.

Exotic plants have fooled homeowners for many decades with their good looks, but these plants have rapidly began to spread and disturb our natural ecosystems. Although we may not notice it, the plants we put in our yards can effect landscapes miles away.

Reach out to Modern Rome for help with choosing, identifying, and learning about native plants that can enhance your landscape!