Tree removal is an expensive process, and it usually doesn’t include stump removal, which can cost hundreds of extra dollars.

But no one wants an unsightly stump in their yard. So rather than paying someone to grind out the stump, what else can you do to incorporate it into the garden?

How to Hide Tree Stumps

The easiest way to camoflauge a stump in the garden is to place a container on it that is overflowing with flowers or foliage. The stump’s surface must be close to level so the container doesn’t appear crooked. Be sure to ask your arborist to make the final cut as even as possible. You also should decide how tall to leave the stump, and convey this before the cutting starts.

When left a few feet tall or more, a stump can be a great way to add height to a garden. Especially when plants are added. Large containers with a wide base are more stable than smaller ones with tapered bases. This is especially important when planted with taller plants that can blow over in the wind.

Plant Flowers Inside Tree Stumps

The other way to make use of a stump is to plant directly into the stump itself. This is easy if the stump already has a large cavity in the middle. It will take a little more work if it doesn’t.

You can simply whack away at the center of the stump with a mattock or similar tool until a sufficient cavity is formed. I like a slightly more refined method. Using a large drill bit (both wide and long), drill holes as deep as the drill bit will go. About an inch apart throughout the space you would like to carve out. Then use a chisel and hammer to remove chunks of wood until a sufficient cavity is formed. To increase drainage, drill a few holes into the bottom and sides of the cavity and add a little gravel to the bottom.

You also can conceal a plastic container inside the cavity of a tree stump by tracing the top of the container onto the stump, drilling holes, and chiseling away until the container fits inside the hole. This method will help conserve moisture and the integrity of the stump. The potting soil isn’t in direct contact with the wood. Again, determine the desired height of the stump and convey this to the arborist before the tree is removed.

Floral Combinations for Stump Plantings

A stump planting can be simple, with one kind of plant used for visual impact, or more complex, with plants of various heights in a mixed planting.

If the goal is to conceal the stump, plant vigorous trailing plants like Sweet Potato Vine, Ivy, or Wave Petunias. Any of the shorter, tidier ornamental grasses—like Japanese Forest Grass or fountain grasses—add height and look great alone or in mixed plantings.

Plant annual flowers alone or in mixed plantings to provide nonstop color all summer long. Or, for a more permanent planting, use tidy perennials with interesting foliage and/or a long bloom time. For shallow stumps, try a mixed planting of small succulents, which creates a fun, miniature garden feel.

The stump pictured is planted with Zinnia, Nasturtium, and Sweet Potato Vines. A potted Geranium is tucked into a crevice, with perennials planted around the base including Columbine, Artemesia, and Corydalis.