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Il

Plant on a mound?
How Big a Mound?
Leave stump out to air?
Where and when to start to cover vines?

2/28/2005 10:12:23 PM

Hilpoltstein, Bavaria, Germany

Whether you need to plant on a mound or not depends on your soil type. If your soil has good drainage and warms up nicely in the spring you won't need to plant on a mound.
If you have clay soil that doesn't drain well and stays cool for a long time a slight mound can be of advantage. But I wouldn't make the mound any higher than 10 inches to one foot over the surrounding soil level. If you do use a mound I'd make it at least 8 to 10ft. in diameter.
And yes, definitely leave the crown exposed to air and don't cover it with soil. It rots very easily.
You may start covering the vines as soon as the vine has lowered down on the soil. I usually start covering the vine after the fourth leaf on the main vine.

Martin

3/1/2005 4:38:30 AM

Joliet, IL

something else i did last year was to make a small
1.5'x1.5' canopy to cover my stumps and keep them dry.
the stumps stayed rot free. i will do it again this
year too for all stumps.

3/2/2005 9:21:23 AM

Utah

excellent idea shazzy !

3/2/2005 9:46:40 AM

Montoursville, PA

Well I'll be! Flea markets are full of cheap umbrellas. I bought two and cut off the handles, jammed them, in the soil. They covered my stumps all summer. I pointed the one edge, to the soil and covered it with soil or dug it into the soil as the anchor puzzle was solved.

My buddy and friend used four crossed sticks, a ridge stick and a piece of clear plastic to create a tent right over the stump. He had an occasional blow off but it was easy to re-set the tent.

3/2/2005 11:21:32 AM

ipswich, ma usa

I keep my stump fully exposed, no vines or leaves anywhere near it. I also don't get it wet unless it rains. I like to have it bake in the sun, this keeps it nice and hard with no chance of rot, air flow over it is a must.

John (5150)

3/2/2005 12:58:04 PM

Puyallup, WA

Neat idea, Dwaine! I'll do it this year!

3/2/2005 5:54:39 PM

C N Y

keep yer stumps happy!

3/3/2005 1:42:48 AM