An Old Stump

Don't assume some dead plant can't be great for a live one. This is an old stump we reclaimed from a pile of wood that had been weathering on an old farm for years.

The keys to turning an old log/stump into an attractive, functional planter is to first choose one that has a great aesthetic to it (coloring, shape, etc) and secondly, will adequately support the space needed for planting. This one turned out great - it was a very nice find!

We cut the roots flat so it would lay on the ground nicely, dug out the center of the stump for planting, and drilled some holes through the bottom to provide some drainage.

The plant is Lamium and although it does better in shadier places, this stump provides the nutrient rich environment it likes. This plant, as you can see, is doing just fine in the hot, full, afternoon sun. Just make sure you water it often. Lamium doesn't like dry soil.