Old tree stumps in the yard aren't the kind of thing that make most homeowners worry. Yet believe it or not, such stumps can lead to problems if left in place for too long. If you have recently cut down a tree or inherited a home with pre-existing tree stumps in the yard, read on. This article will outline three compelling reasons to have those stumps removed.
Yard Hazard
At their most basic level, tree stumps pose an undeniable yard hazard. The closer the stump has been trimmed to the ground, the more true this statement become—especially if you have small children living in your home. So long as a tree stump remains visible, its potential for harm is fairly minimal. Yet stumps that have become grown over by grass and weeds present serious tripping hazards for playing children.
Not only that, but lurking stumps also present significant threats where lawn care is concerned. A lawn mower moving over such a stump can easily be jolted off course. Should you lose control, the mower may end up damaging either you or itself. Remove your stump to eliminate the likelihood of this happening.
New Growth
A common misconception among homeowners is that tree stumps are completely dead. Yet tree stumps actually possess the potential for new growth—even many years after the tree was cut down. The sprouts that an old stump sends up present a recurring nuisance. Not only that, but if you are too lax in attending to them, you may end up with a whole new tree on your hands.
To prevent new growth from continuing to plague you, it is necessary to either kill the stump or have it removed. There are a number of ways to kill a tree stump, and these ways often involving drilling the stumps out and then filling the holes with substances that may include Epsom salt, kerosene, or herbicides. Even when effective, this tactic takes a lot of work. Much simpler is to simply have the stump taken out.
Infestations
Many homeowners choose to leave stumps in place out of the belief that sooner or layer the natural process of rot will decimate them completely. Technically speaking, this may be true. Yet in practice it can take many years for decay to eradicate a stump. In the meantime, that rotting stump may provide an ideal home for a variety of different insect species from ants and beetles to termites.
Should such pests set up home in your yard, you may find yourself dealing with all sorts of unanticipated problems. To avoid this possibility, hire a tree-services professional to remove the stump.
Share1 December 2016
After we moved into our house, we knew that something had to be done about our trees. The branches looked off-kilter, and we could tell that someone had pruned them incorrectly at one time or another. Unfortunately, we weren't really sure how to repair the damage. A family friend talked with us about hiring a professional tree trimmer, and so we called them the next day. The difference that they made was astounding. They removed dead branches, trimmed up the shape, and let more sunlight through. My blog is all about improving the look of your trees by hiring a professional.