Got A Stump? Ways To Get Rid Of It Or To Use It
If you have a stump in your front yard, you have the option of getting rid of it. If you do not have the money to get it removed, there are some things you can do with it. Below is some information about this so you can determine what would be best.
Grinding Down or Removing the Stump
The best way to remove a stump is to hire a tree service company to remove it for you. They can do this in two ways: grinding or removing.
If you choose to have the stump ground down, the tree service company will first cut away as much of the stump as they can. They will likely use a chain saw to do this as well as manual tools, such as an ax. The contractor will then use a special machine to grind down the stump. There will be small chips left over that you can use for mulch, if you prefer. Mulch is beneficial for your flowers because it keeps weeds from growing and helps to preserve moisture for them. Once they are finished, you can put soil over the area and plant some grass. After a few weeks, you will not know the stump was even there.
Removing the stump is a much more difficult process. The tree service company will first have to dig in your yard and cut off the root system. When finished with this, they will dig as much of the stump out as they can and then lift the stump with a crane. If the tree is very large and has a very wide root system, it would be very difficult to do this so they will likely suggest the grinding method.
Decorating the Stump
If you cannot afford to remove the stump right now, you can decorate it until you have the money to do this. One thing you can do is to place a few containers of flowers on top of the stump. Choose flowers that will cascade over the stump so they will completely hide it. Some flowers that would work well include:
- Petunias
- Vinca
- Bacopa
- Verbena
- Ivy geraniums
You could also plant flowers around the stump to give it even more color. Choose only annual flowers for these since you are planning to remove the stump. Perennials come back year after year so they would not work well for you.
Talk with a tree service company if you have questions about removing the tree stump. They can explain the process to you in more detail.