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To stump or not to stump?

19 years ago

Hello

I have just recently become intrigued by roses after believing forever that they were too hard to grow (put that in the file of 'lies my mother told me'). I garden on a typical quarter acre block with my front garden overshadowed by two very large gum trees. There is a patch in the middle which receives probably the most consistent sunlight of all the garden, and in the middle of the patch stands a stump! It is, I think, a turpentine which was probably cut down in the late seventies when the house was built. It it about 5 and a half to 6 foot high and about 3 feet across. For the last eight years or so, it has been covered by ivy which some nong encouraged to grow there (it was me). Now that I can see the ivy growing three houses up the street, I have decided to dispose of the evidence and have been left with a bare but sunny stump. I have a Crepuscule in a pot which I would like to plant in this sunny spot. Would you knowledgeable gardeners remove the stump and grow the rose on a pillar/obelisk or would you let the rose grow on the stump? I have an idea of the Crepuscule on the sunniest side and a couple of clematis on the shadier sides. My garden is extremely informal as all my gardening skills have been learned at the School of Plonk. Do you think the rose would grow better on a pillar?

I would most appreciate anyone's thoughts or experiences.

Juliet

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Comments (3)

funnelweb
19 years ago
On roses being too difficult, I think in fact you'll find the rose will prove a lot less difficult than the clematis -good clematis growing is a whole subject on its own. As for the rose and the stump, yeah, unless the termites are slowing chewing the stump into sawdust, I'd leave it and plant the crepuscule to grow up and cover it. Should cover it nicely.
kevarose
19 years ago
I agree - the crepuscle would look lovely over the stump - as long as you can find enough good soil that it can grow in. I would start adding the manure and other things the books tell you and dig a good hole to spread it in to see if there is enough room for the rose's roots that are not just underground stump. There is a few weeks left of soil improvement time before you can buy it bare-rooted and plant and enjoy a wonderful display. I am learning that crepuscle is a very big lady and should look amazing if you leave her unpruned and (from the photos I have seen) let her develop as a big heap or mound.
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All of this is great info - thanks so far folks. I don't have a grinder, so I have to look into whether or not that would work in this application. A spade bit is a possiblity. i did use a 1" bit, cut holes and then used chisels to remove what's left. In some areas of the stump, the bit worked, in other areas it's completely useless, even with my new, more powerful drill.
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Granville44
19 years ago
I'd second Funnelweb's ideas - leave the stump if you think it's not riddled with termites, and bung in the Crepescule to one side. I'd probably give the clematis a miss too simply because I've never had much luck with them and I'm dead envious of anyone whose managed to get them to flourish.

Other suggestions - Mons. Tillier, Anna Olivier, Jean Ducher, Mrs. B.R. Cant, Souvenir de Mme L. Viennot, Sombreuil. These tea roses are vigorous and wide spreading and most of them have a much stronger perfume than Crepescule.

Cheers
Barb

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