El Dorado Nursery & Garden

08/14/2026

Hot sale on Perennials - all 25% off 1 gallon and above! While supplies last...

08/11/2026

Turn an old tree stump into a beautiful bird bath centerpiece that brings birds and new life into the garden.

A leftover stump can make an otherwise useful part of the yard feel unfinished. Instead of grinding it away, use it as the natural centerpiece of a small wildlife garden filled with layered plants, stone, and fresh water.

Prepare the stump

Begin by cutting the top as level as possible. Remove loose bark, splintered wood, and any sharp edges that could make the bird bath unstable.

Place a shallow, removable basin on top of the stump rather than allowing water to sit directly on the wood. A dark metal tray, glazed plant saucer, or sturdy bird bath bowl can blend naturally into the setting. The basin should be easy to lift out for cleaning.

Keep the water shallow

Most birds prefer water that is only one or two inches deep. Add a few flat stones so smaller birds, bees, and butterflies have safe places to stand.

A small solar bubbler can keep the water moving and make it easier for birds to notice. Moving water also discourages mosquitoes, although the basin should still be emptied, scrubbed, and refilled regularly.

Build the garden around it

Remove weeds and grass around the stump, then create a gently curved planting bed. Leave enough open space to reach the basin without stepping on plants.

Arrange a few larger stones around the outside to make the bed look established and connect it visually to the weathered stump. Cover exposed soil with mulch to conserve moisture and reduce future weeding.

Choose plants for the conditions

Select plants based on how much sun the area receives. In a sunny location, coneflowers, black eyed Susans, salvia, ornamental grasses, coreopsis, and sedum can provide color and food for pollinators.

For partial shade, try hostas, heuchera, ferns, sedges, woodland phlox, and compact hydrangeas. Combine tall plants in the background, medium plants around the sides, and low groundcovers near the front.

Avoid planting everything in straight rows. Small clusters and overlapping foliage will create the relaxed, natural appearance shown in the finished garden.

Why keep the stump?

The stump gives the new planting bed height, history, and character that would be difficult to recreate with a store bought ornament. As the surrounding plants mature, it becomes part of the landscape instead of looking like something that needs to be removed.

The water supports birds and beneficial insects, while the flowers and foliage provide food, shelter, and seasonal interest. What began as an awkward reminder of a removed tree becomes the focal point of a beautiful, active garden.

08/10/2026

Maybe that’s why we love gardens so much… They give our tired hearts somewhere quiet to land, something beautiful to care for, and a reason to believe tomorrow will bloom again.

08/04/2026

Our little heat wave is hard on potted plants and freshly planted plants=please water in the am and be sure the soil is moist! A layer of mulch, bark, compost will help keep the roots cool!

08/04/2026

What quietly draws a Southern alligator lizard into one California yard and pushes it away from the next? These slender natives hunt the beetles, spiders, and centipedes you never see until a garden bed is already chewed up, and a few of your own choices decide whether they stay.

07/29/2026

One common mistake turns already difficult California clay soil into something far harder to manage in summer. Most gardeners make it without knowing there's a better way.

07/20/2026

Stop on by-we have local honey!

Send a message to learn more

07/16/2026

EDIT: here is the requested webpage for the FOHC! https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardeners-sacramento-county/fair-oaks-horticulture-center

It seems like a lot of our Facebook followers LOVE California Native Plants! Did you know that we, the UC Sacramento County Master Gardeners, have a CA Native plant garden that is open to the public sun up to sun down every day of the week?

We also have a list of all the native plants that we grow available for download. So download the list, come out for a nice quiet time in our garden, and see how many you can identify!

FOHC Address:
11549 Fair Oaks Boulevard
Fair Oaks, CA 95628

Link to the CA Native plants we have growing in our garden at the Fair Oaks Horticulture Center in Fair Oaks:

https://ucanr.edu/sites/default/files/2024-08/138184.pdf

Image description: an aerial picture of the Fair Oaks Horticulture Center, with the native garden portion outlined in white.