CNBNews

A tree stump in the yard looks like a minor eyesore, and you might be thinking of ways to get rid of it.

However, not removing a tree stump can have several negative consequences. 

Whether you have cut down a tree near your house or it has fallen during a storm, you should hire a professional to get it removed from its roots.

Why Tree Stump Removal Is Important?

1. The Threat of a Tree Disease

Some tree stumps can spread diseases. You need to get the stump removed in order to prevent other trees from getting infected.

For instance, the Dutch elm disease commonly spreads from one stump to another. Although the disease is spread by a beetle, a fungus is the actual cause of the disease that attracts the beetle. 

Another disease that spreads through tree stumps is the Ganoderma butt rot. To prevent the spread of the disease, tree stump removal is important. 

2. Draw Wood Eating Insects

Another reason you should consider removing tree stumps is that they attract termites. Although the wood-eating insects are beneficial for the environment, they also cause wide-scale destruction. 

Termites can detect decayed wood around the tree stump. When they have finished eating the stumps, they will migrate to the next source of wood, which could be a healthy tree that provides shade to your house. 

Apart from termites, carpenter ants are also drawn to a dead tree stump. After making a meal of a tree stump, they can infest healthy trees. Due to the infestations, the trees weaken and are likely to fall down unexpectedly.  

3. Lowers the Resale Value

A tree stump decreases the curb appeal of a house. You will have trouble selling your house at the best price if there is tree stump in the front or backyard. 

You should talk to a realtor about the impact of tree stump on your home’s resale value. In most cases, you will be more than able to recover the cost of removing the tree stump due to the increased resale value. 

4. Reduces the Risk of Root Damage

Most people think that a tree stump is a dead tree. In reality, the root of a tree stump continues to grow below ground even when the tree is cut down. 

The root can be a hazard for the sewage lines and pipes. You need to remove the tree stump by contacting a professional tree stump removal company. Removing the tree stump will prevent the risk to the house pipes due to root growth. 

5. Risk of a Lawsuit

Tree stumps are also dangerous for young children. Kids can easily trip and injure themselves when playing in the yard. In the event your neighbor’s kid gets injured due to the tree stump in your backyard, your neighbor could file a lawsuit. 

In addition, the roots of a tree continue to grow underneath causing damage to the sidewalk. A root that has lifted the sidewalk can pose a threat to the bikers. So, it’s important that you get the stump removed to avoid the risk of a lawsuit. 

6. Takes Up Space 

A tree stump takes extra space in the yard. You can use this extra area to place new plants. While tree stump does grow back, it could take years. Until then space will remain an eyesore. 

Now that you know the importance of removing a tree stump, an important question is whether you should go for a grinding or complete removal of the stump.

What Is the Best Option to Remove a Tree Stump?

A tree stump can be removed in different ways. The three common methods of tree stump removal include grinding the stump, digging out the stump, and using a chemical stump remover. Consider talking to the local tree expert for advice. 

Stump grinding involves using a stump grinder to grind the tree stump. The stump is shredded into small pieces. The process is quicker as compared to stump removal. 

The chip pile produced due to grinding can be large. Cleaning up the mess after grinding a stump can be cumbersome. 

A tree stump removal by digging out the stump can be a time-intensive task. The process involves lifting the stump and then removing the roots. This is a labor-intensive task that involves specialized tools. But a tree stump removal is better as compared to grinding the same. 

The roots of the old tree also remain underground for some time after grinding. The roots remain about 4 to 12 feet from the ground. The process of root decay can take as much as 10 years. 

The third common method used to remove the tree stump is to use a chemical stump remover. A hole is drilled on the top of the stump. The stump will absorb chemicals that consist of powdered potassium nitrate through space. The stump will rot and soften over time that can be leveled using a shovel or ax. The remaining stump and roots are burned to get rid of the stump. 

You should talk to an arborist to find out what is better for getting rid of a tree stump for your yard. The arborist will help in making the right decision to get rid of the stump.         

Final Words of Advice                      

A tree stump may not seem to be a major problem at first. However, if you let the stump stick around, it could lead to costly damage. This increases the risk of damage to the house’s foundation and gets in the way of mowing your laws. Removing the tree stump will prevent the associated risks and improve the curb appeal of the house.          

Keep note that removing the stump will result in a small hole in the ground. This can become an eyesore, and also increase the risk of injuries. There is also a risk that the ground that surrounds the hole will collapse due to which you will have a large dent in the year. 

So, you need to fill the hole with sawdust or loam. Continue adding the sawdust or loam as the area sinks after a few months. 

published gloucestercitynews.net | May 10, 2019

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