Many people don’t realize how detrimental stumps are when they get their trees cut down. There are thousands of ideas online for how to make a tree stump “cute” or use it in decorating, but that doesn’t show just how dangerous things can be if you keep your tree stump. Not only is it unsightly, but it can also bring uninvited guests, impede tree growth, and just get in the way.
If you are considering keeping your stump, there are so many reasons why you shouldn’t. It is worth the extra effort to simply get it removed when you have your tree cut down. If you have old stumps in your yard, it is important to have them eliminated as soon as possible – and by a professional.
Here are some things to consider if you aren’t convinced:
Old Stumps Become A Home For Termites And Carpenter Ants
Photo Credit: Ion Posion
- More likely to become a home for invasive pests
- Can help to spread out pests
- You are less likely to notice the problem
One of the main reasons to eliminate stumps is because they can bring new guests to your property. Termites, carpenter ants, and bees are just a few of the pests who love to make homes in old stumps. They are able to get right to the bits of the trees that they need to make comfortable homes, they are less likely to be stopped, and they are quite easy to take over. Once a tree is cut down, the stump doesn’t really have a way to fight back.
Once those pests have a home in your yard, it probably won’t take a long time for them to start toward your home’s foundation and frame. Soon enough, you may have an even bigger problem on your hands. Termites, in particular, can spell doom for upwards of 90 percent of us, according to The University of Massachusettes.
While removing a stump doesn’t mean you are eliminating your chance of getting termites, it is decreasing your risk quite a bit.
Leftover Stumps Impede Growth of New Trees
Photo Credit: Matthew Paul Argall
- Can zap away nutrients
- May spread diseases that kill new trees
- Have already taken a good place to plant a tree
If your tree was removed and you are looking to replace it, you may be looking to plant something new. Maybe it is the same type of tree or maybe it is something completely different. Regardless, you have to look out for stumps. A stump left in the ground eliminates one place to put the tree – a place that you know what a good spot to grow a tree. If you have a small yard, this can prevent you from getting certain types of trees.
A stump can also bring diseases and pests (as mentioned above) into your yard, which can immediately kill young trees. You often can’t use chemicals on these trees, so they tend to just succumb to any disease or pest problem.
According to Home Guides, the biggest problem is that the stump can actually start regrowing again. This means that it will pull resources and nutrients from the ground – growing a tree you don’t want and potentially killing the tree you do want.
Old Stumps Reduce Property Values
Credit: Jon
- Unsightly and reduce curb appeal
- Dangerous for many reasons
- Can cause someone to choose not to buy a home
If you are looking to sell your home, one of the best things you can do is eliminate the stumps. Even if you only have one, potential homeowners who are looking for all flaws may see the stump and start to become more critical of your home. At the very least, they may feel like you didn’t put a lot of work into your yard or didn’t finish jobs – which could make them wary.
If you have a lot of stumps, that alone could make someone not even come into your home. They are really unsightly and can break up the lines of landscaping – which is one of the last things people want to work on when they buy a new home, according to Slatter Management.
Just getting your tree stumps removed can add a ton of value to your home and make more people want to look at it, which can increase the asking price or the offers that you get. It is really a win-win situation.
You’ll Forget About It – And It Will Become Really Dangerous
Credit: born1945
- Cause problems when mowing the lawn
- Can be trip hazards, especially for children
- You will forget when planning new projects
If you mow your lawn with a riding mower, you know that you do a lot of it on autopilot. If you forget about anything, from a stray toy to a tree stump, you are likely to run over it. This can destroy your mower. Even worse, you may forget about that tree stump when you are planning events (do people really want to sit in a circle around a stump?) or when making a purchase for your yard (you can’t put that shed right over the stump).
Removing the stump will just make your life much easier.
According to Angie’s List, “Stumps are dangerous to your children. When running and playing in your yard, they may not look for the stump and trip over it. And if a neighbor trips, it’s a liability that falls into your hands. In addition, tree stumps can damage your mower if you accidentally hit one when you’re mowing your lawn.”
If you are looking for a tree care professional in Southern Ontario, give Van Till Tree Care a call today at (705) 653-3777. We will help you to better understand your trees and advise you on particular issues such as green spots, pruning trouble, or soil problems. We can help you with many other issues that you might find among your trees – from the very top of the tree to the roots, no matter how old they are.
