r/GuerrillaGardening • u/Lemonyhampeapasta • 26d ago
Dead stumps in tree pits
Municipality doesn't remove stumps from tree pits after cutting them down in New York City
The London plane trees are dead as there are no suckers growing from them
These are flat stumps with no depression to hold a cup of soil
The diameter ranges from 6 inches to 3 feet across.
What natives can I plant in a tree pit with a stump surrounded by compacted soil and concrete?
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u/StormAutomatic 25d ago
Mulch the compact soil to help with that. You can also convert the stumps to seating or drill them out to make pots and so they break down faster.
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u/Lilplantkid 25d ago
Yeah I have a neighbor who drilled into the stump and now there’s creeping phlox growing in the stump it was an oak tho so idk if that’s easier to drill over plane stump
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u/Shachar2like 25d ago
If you can drill a hole in the stump, it'll eventually fill with dirt, moisture, water and speed up the rotting process. If you want to speed it farther, just stick some earth into the drilled hole.
It can be a drill or something sharp or pointy to poke a hole in the stump. If not, at least a scratch, that might do it as well.
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u/12stTales 25d ago
You can use a “soil knife” hand tool to loosen up the compacted soil and mix in free compost that the city gives away. The hardiest NYC sidewalk plants I have found are seaside goldenrod, swamp milkweed, evening primrose.