After harvest outdoor - stump, roots, soil

[Coolhandluke_auto]

What do I do with the leftover stump and roots in the ground to help prepare the soil for next year?

Do I cut down the stump and leave the roots alone in the ground? If so, should I till the soil or am I right in thinking there’s probably a good ecosystem down there of microorganisms. Or do I just pull everything out, roots and all?

Thanks!

 

[armanidog]

If you are not going to use that patch until next spring, just leave it and cut the stem near the surface. Later in the fall if you have some leaves cover up that patch. By next spring you may find the main stump partially intact.
Meanwhile the soil will have an intact system in which all the little soil builders can continue to break down organic material and release nutrients into the soil.