Making Trees More Beautiful

Posted on: 26 February 2021

It can be tempting to leave a stump in place, simply because it is the easy choice and it may even provide a sort of rustic charm. Removal is actually the better option, though.

Stump Concerns

Unfortunately, old stumps can attract unwanted pests and problems into your yard. Termites and other wood-devouring insects are often drawn to old stumps. They can then spread to your home. Animal pests may also be drawn to stumps. Skunks, for example, may burrow beneath the stump and set up house in your yard. This can pose a hazard to not just you, but to any pets you own that may accidentally surprise the animal.

Stumps are also hazardous to lawn equipment, as they can make it more difficult to mow the lawn. Old roots are especially hard on lawnmowers and their cutting blades. Weeds tend to grow up around old stumps, which increases the amount of lawn work you must do. Further, a stump can pose a tripping hazard for anyone walking across the lawn.

Removal Options

There are a few options for removal. Small stumps, for example, can sometimes be dug out or pulled out with a winch. This may require cutting through larger roots first. Stumps are also sometimes burned out, though this poses a danger so it not usually utilized in home yards. Chemicals are also available to cause stumps to degrade quickly, but this is still a time-consuming process.

The industry standard for removing stumps in the landscape is grinding. Your removal service will use heavy equipment to grind the stump down to well below the soil level. Very little of the stump will remain in the ground, so it isn't likely to resprout or attract pests.

Site Recovery Considerations

After grinding comes recovering the site. It's best not to plant another tree right away as the soil won't be in the best state for healthy rooting of such a large plant. It is going to sink slightly in the area over the next few years as the remaining roots and sawdust in the site decompose.

Flower beds are a good choice, simply because it is easy to add fresh soil before planting each year to make up for any sinking due to root decomposition. If you bring in additional topsoil, you can also plant sod over the site. Just keep in mind you will need to add a thin layer of fresh topsoil over the grass each year for a few years to make up for any soil sinkage.

Contact a stump grinding service in your area to learn more about the options available.