When you have a dead tree felled, probably the easiest part is the actual cutting down of the tree and its removal. A good arborist can usually sort this out for you pretty painlessly. The question though is how to deal with the tree stump that remains.
There are various reasons why you should consider having the tree stump removed at the same time:
First of all, tree stumps aren’t particularly pretty and don’t serve any useful purpose. And if you’re thinking of selling your house in the foreseeable future, studies have shown that having healthy trees in your garden adds to its attraction, but having an ugly tree stump can detract from the look of your garden and therefore lower your home’s value.
It can be a potential safety hazard, especially if you have children running around who could trip over it and hurt themselves. Also, if a visitor in your garden trips, you could be liable if they get injured.
The tree roots can continue to grow, even after a tree has been cut down. These roots will be out searching for any food and water they can find, and may steal nutrients from your nearby plants and trees or even damage your property and water pipes. Also, you won’t be able to plant another tree to replace it with these far-reaching roots getting in your way. Tree stumps also can produce new sprouts resulting in lots of small trees growing around it.
While the tree stump is decaying (which in itself will be an unpleasant sight to have in your garden), it will attract various insects including wood-boring ones, and these little critters could spread out to other plants and trees in your garden and eventually even invade your home.
The tree stump can take up a lot of space, space that you could use for something else – say, extending the lawn, planting a flower bed, or adding a picnic table or even a pond.
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Removing tree stumps can be a tricky procedure because of its deep root system, so you need to have the right equipment. Your best bet is to get your arborist to remove it at the same time as they take the tree down, as when new roots have established themselves, stump removal will be more complicated and therefore more expensive.
Written by Leslie Chetland
21st April 2020