AusBonsai

I was driving home today and noticed someone with a skip bin out front of their house and digging up the garden. Sitting out ona pile of ricks and dirt was an awesome large stump dug up. I stopped and asked the owner how long ago it was dug up and he suggested about 3 days or so. We have had 2 days of warm/hot weather here in sydney so my question is: "How long can a stump last outside the ground after been dug out by a bit of a hack?" I was tempted to take it at first but the size of th thing and having to dispose of it again if 3 days was too long was playing on my mind. Hence ask some experts in here.... I cna always go back tonight if feedback is positive.

A lot depends on the type of stump. Some species will tolerate it pretty well, I know bougainvillea can be treated that way even here in the hot desert and usually survive. Some species just refuse to back bud or hate having roots messed with, so might already be dead. Any idea what kind of tree it was?

Unfortunately he had the leaves and branches already at the bottom of the skip so I could not get a good look and he did not know. from some leaves lying around which I only assumed to be from this tree, the leaf size is similar to a privet or Murray's, trunk is made up of fertile ridges similar to murraya or box but seemed a little darker.

If I was to go back and grab it tomorrow, what is the best process to try and get survival? Soak in a tub of season for some time? Or pot in free draining mix and just water with season etc?

Never let an opportunity go by. Grab it, soak it and in a few days pot it. Then sit back, cross your fingers and hope. Give it at least until the end of next spring.

Hi k2bonsai,
I agree with Watto. Soak it in Seasol for for several days before potting. Make shaw the stump can't move in the container. Give it a drink of Seasol each week. Don't put any fertilizer on it. If all goes well and you get new growth latter in the year, you could then start to introduce liquid fertilizer. The stump will need at least 12 months to get good substantial roots.

Hope it will work for you.

Regards Ray

I have resurrected a Lilac after it has been on the ground for over a week. The advice you have been given is good and i say "what have you got to lose"

Just drove past the house today when taking my daughter to day care..... The skip bin and all the contents is gone

When you spot something good, grab it and ask questions later.

k2bonsai wrote:Just drove past the house today when taking my daughter to day care..... The skip bin and all the contents is gone

When you spot something good, grab it and ask questions later.

That's the way I see it. I won't lie, I've had a few trees that have only ended up in my trash bin instead of someone else's, but no big loss - especially when I don't have to dig it. There's always next time though.