Although some people may use a tree stump for decorative purposes or as a place to sit objects in their garden, a leftover tree stump in a yard is unsightly for most homeowners. Those who don’t enjoy the tree stump in their yard may consider them too large to move and will leave them until they can figure out what to do with them. Sometimes, we move on and forget about the stump in the process. Did you know that tree stumps can be harmful to their surroundings? If you have a tree stump in the yard, removal is often something that needs to be done sooner rather than later. Here are some reasons to remove any tree stump in your yard as soon as you can.
1. Stumps steal nutrients from other plants (and could result in new tree growth)
Although the tree that once stood on top of the trunk may no longer be alive, these remnants of trees are still capable of feeding themselves and taking nutrients from plants that are elsewhere in the garden. The stump’s far-reaching and often well-established roots are able to absorb nearby nutrients from the soil or even from other trees. In some cases, new sprouts can come from the leftover stump and result in the growth of new trees sprouts around the stump, which would defeat the purpose of getting rid of the tree in the first place. If you don’t want your other plants to lose out on nutrients or want to prevent new trees from growing in the yard, it’s important to pursue stump removal as soon as possible.
2. Tree roots may be a hazard to surrounding areas
If you don’t spend a lot of time in your yard, the stump itself may not seem to be too much of a problem, but stumps can cause quite a few issues. On the surface, tree stumps could be a problem if you have small children running around in the yard, or they could cause damage to a lawn mower. Meanwhile, tree stumps may be damaging the underground and surrounding areas if the roots are strong and aggressive enough. Kept alive and allowed to grow, tree roots can penetrate older pipes, ruin sidewalks, and harm other areas in your yard. It’s best to take action long before tree roots have had an opportunity to accomplish this, because trying to dig out the roots would be an equally difficult process.
3. Tree stumps can attract undesirable insects
Although a tree stump no longer has any use for you, it can serve as a food source and home for a variety of potentially dangerous guests. From carpenter ants to termites, insects who love digging into wood may come to enjoy the decaying tree stump. While these pests may not pose a problem to you while they’re enjoying the wood outside, they could be a problem if the food source no longer sustains them and they find their way into your home. If you can see that insects are starting to come after your stump, it’s wise to remove it.
If you have a stump somewhere in your yard and have been looking for incentive to remove it, these above three reasons serve as reminders of what can happen when stumps are left in the yard. If you’re unable to remove a stump on your own, simply contact a professional tree service St Thomas to get some help with the removal process.