Gardeners who have tree stumps rotting in their garden have been urged not to touch it this spring. After months of winter, most of our gardens are now full of all sorts of detritus. Piles of rotting leaves, twigs and branches, bits of plants, hedges and anything that’s been damaged or destroyed by the harsh winter snow and rain. It’s tempting as the spring weather finally starts to return, then, to rush out into the garden to try to tidy everything up.
But gardeners are being warned that anyone who has a tree stump in their garden should not touch it and not get rid of it – because removing it will do more harm than good to your garden and its ecoysystem. Isabel Losada, writing in The Joyful Environmentalist, said: “Don’t tidy up your garden. If something dies – anything – leave it alone.
“Insects are there to help decompose whatever they find and that process nourishes both them and the earth.
“If you are pruning your trees, leave the tree logs on the ground. We have so little rotting tree debris in our garden, I’m seriously considering scavenging some next time I’m in the woods. This would probably be illegal and might well kill whatever was living on the rotting tree stump, though.
“Better to have decomposing wood in a garden. If you have a dying tree, let it die. Don’t tidy it up.
“If you have fruit trees, leave the fallen apples, pears or plums on the ground and in late summer butterflies such as red admiral and painted lady will feed on the juice.
“Basically, anything rotting is good news.”
And the Royal Horticultural Society adds that there are ways to make a tree stump look more attractive if you do decide to keep it.
They said: “In most cases, it is not necessary to remove a dead tree, and standing dead wood is incredibly valuable to wildlife.
“Before deciding to leave a dead tree in situ, it is advisable to have it assessed for stability and safety by a tree consultant. It may be necessary to thin or lower the canopy or remove splayed or leaning branches to reduce the risk of them falling during high winds.
“When shortening or removing limbs, aim to leave a jagged cut as this better allows water and organic matter to collect, hastening decomposition and attracting wildlife. Periodically re-assess the tree to ensure it remains safe.
“If you dislike the look of dead trees but would still like to encourage wildlife, consider hiring a ‘chainsaw artist’ to turn the stump into a sculpture. Alternatively, plant a vigorous climber, like a rose or clematis, to climb up the tree and smother it in flowers.”