Asked on Sep 06, 2016
Ideas for this 3 ft stump in my front yard
+100
My tree was knocked over by a storm and this is what we are left. I have no way of cutting it down any further and to me it's just an eyesore. My uncle set a couple of owls on top of it, just because. I'm sure there are some DIYers on here that could get me some suggestions and ideas of what to do. I've added a couple of pictures for you to see what I'm talking about. Any help is greatly appreciated.
I need to weed eat around it but you get the idea of what I'm talking about
Another view.
The concrete item you see leaning against it is a huge Texas with my address on it. It can be moved.
I am sure someone has told you this but... there are people out there who wil take care of the stump find them on line or phone book. Yes it will cost some money but it will be gone. Spending money to decorate it is stupid.
I purposely ask to leave a taller stump from a tree we had to take down because I wanted a Gnome house. I decorated it with windows and doors. Put up a twig and string ladder, a blue stone pool, and 3 gnomes. Flowers and little rustic tools also add to my Gnome estate. I love it.
Make a bird feeder out of it.
Add a bird bath to the top! Or as many have said plant annuals on Top! This site give a simple take on going about that and at the end has “stump removal“ if you fear termites. https://www.thisoldhouse.com/how-to/how-to-create-tree-stump-planter
keep ya updated and good luck!
That would make a great fairy garden!
See if you can level off the top... then use a large ceramic or concrete planting bowel.... and plant things that would drip over the edge... put something tall in the center.....
YES, perfect for a Fairy Garden!
Drill holes in the stump. It will decompose on it own!! The more holes the better.
A drill is all you need Any pawn shop usually has a few . Buy a drill bit the same size as a Shepard hook or seasonal flag ! A drill will also help you make a planting dip in the top and even angled holes in the sides . Petunias would be fantastic . Or strawberrys !
I called the tree surgeons to grind the stump out.
You have a beautiful little garden around the stump, so a simple beautifying solution might be the basin of a bird bath that you fill with water or birdseed or trailing flowers. Actually ANY interesting, shallow basin would do the trick (an old porcelain one, etc)
Another simple way to remove a tree stump is to line it with charcoal, let it burn and slowly, the stump disintegrates. Takes time but we've done this numerous times and always have marshmallows then too !
A birdbath top on top.
I love the fairy garden idea because I have a large fairy garden of my own. But for
the top of the stump I would drill it out, I have done the same in my front yard. If I was home I would add a picture, but stumps have nutrients and you wouldnt
believe the tomatoes I get each year! So if I were you cut or drill a hole find a tomatoe plant you love and enjoy some tomatoes! 😃
Drill a hole and add a birdhouse
Plenty of ideas that go 'round and 'round.... I'll add my first impression: create a spiral 'staircase' and develop a planter from that.
BTW: Nothing wrong with leaving it as is... over time it will be easier to remove (excepting stump grinding) by just letting it stay long and decaying in place. I'd cut the roots as close to the trunk as possible so it will start to rot... chemicals can be added to speed that along... but do NOT shorten it, the length is a great lever to pull it over once it's weak enough. It may take quite some time, but there's little muscle needed to finish the removal. Meanwhile, decorate!
I had 6 large trees cut down from the storm damage and some were too close to the house.
I did not have the stumps ground because I did not want sawdust around to be tracked in all summer so we are in the process of covering my stumps to decay over time.
Covered with dirt, then black landscape cloth so they will stay wet, then black mulch. I am in the process of decorating the stumps with rocks, pots, junk! A fun project.
This is going slow between chilly weather, rain and old aching bones only able to work a little at a time. All of this is happening while I am in the process of planting over 100 Caladium bulbs!
This is what I did with mine. its better looking than a dead stump!
Why can't you just dig it up?
Hi, I have checked around and have heard lots of ideas. If finances are an issue (to hire someone) then the two that I like are Epsom salts mixed strong with water pour over roots repeatedly, or find copper screws and drill them throughout the stump...these are said to kill trees... I hope this helps...
We burned ours out one night. Put grill liter on it & sat around lawn chairs. You will loose the plants around it. But digging a soil ring around the stump for safety reasons & water hose available by stump. My husband sat up & watched it burn up until it was even with the ground. Put fresh soil around & plant grass. More plants If your incline.
Drill holes into it and pour stump remover into the holes, found at hardware or garden centers, I've read Epsom salt works too. It will take several months, but much cheaper than a stump grinder. I had 5 big stumps ground down yesterday, $900. Not a cheap way to go!
My dear, you have the perfect opportunity for a stumpery. Add some of your logs from the fallen tree. Plants, rocks pots of plants. You can turn it into a delight. A stumpery is usually in the shade as those in England. But for mine I needed lots of sun for herbs and flowers....I share mine with the chickens and a pet pot belly.. .so sometimes I loose a bit! Dash I can't add a photo of mine.... Its gets better looking all the time! I have used painted cans from baked beans, jam etc all painted in cheerful colours! Have fun with it. Too much hard work to take stump out!
Some ideas on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=what+to+do+with+a+tree+stump
Do a mosaic!
I also have a huge stump and we roughed up the top and sides and put wild flower seeds all over the stump to create a wild flower garden.
or plant a vine that will flow down over the sides, Grape vines grow rapidly and they feed your family and the birds and are very pretty.
I put an old tractor seat on one of mine.
There is a product called stump removal, ask at the local garden shop. You drill a hole down the top of the stump and burns out the stump
I planted ivy on mine it has covered the whole stump .
drill a hole in the center and put a pretty solar light or a double shepherds hook and and put a couple nice full hanging baskets or you might get a solar light on a pole that has 2 arms and have both light and planter
Here in Florida we call that plant a "purple heart" and it spreads but its beautiful. 25.00 you can call a tree service or someone with a "Stump grinder" to get rid of it. Or you could make it into a table. I also like the fairy garden ideas.
If you want to remove the stump, find a friend or relative who has a chain saw. First: you dig a trench around the stump. The trench has to be lower than the ground/grass area. By digging a trench around the stump, then someone with a chainsaw can get the blade of the saw below ground level. Then when all is done, you have a nice flat area. (my dad taught me this trick and I've used it on 5 trees. I didn't know anyone with a chain saw, so I used an axe to chop the stump down)
Maybe put a bird bath on the stump n plant some taller decorative grass closer to stump!!?
Start digging a little each day. Soon you’ll have the eyesore out of your lawn. My husband dug several stumps of that size or larger each summer from our property, the biggest being a large Norway pine stump. You can do it.
I googled “how to decorate a tree stump” and it gave me lots of ideas.
I would make getting the stump out a priority! One of my trees was felled by a noreaster 2 years ago and this winter a swarm of termites got INTO MY HOUSE because they used the stump for home and to multiply. Now I have a VERY COSTLY project on my hands.
I would hollow out stump and turn it into a planter
add a birdbath to the top of it or a bird feeder
Hammering in Copper nails on the top. It will kill the rest of the tree
trickMeantime a pot with ivy and geraniums does the
Planting things around any item you wish to disguise only draws attention to it! For example, Vines up telephone poles and guy wires, stumps or huge rocks. A professional designer would plant another tree within 6-10 feet or group of flowering trees within a large bed of ground cover and mulch. Ideally have the stump ground down by a professional. The error was in not doing proper removal to begin with.
Depends if you want to remodel or remove this trunk. You're comments indicate you want to remove. Just about the easiest and quickest way to do this is by burning the trunk out.
Use a chainsaw to reduce the height, leave about 12" standing.
Make two saw cuts at right angles to each other to finish as low down as you can. Cut four wedges and hammer these in to each section of saw cut. They serve to keep the cuts wide open. Make sure you clean all loose branches and other detritus away.
Choose a dry still day and start reasonably early. Drop a firestarter down the centre of the cut. Pour some kerosene or other inflamatory liquid into the hole. Remove anything away to a very safe distance. Light the fire, it will initially flare up but will settle down to to an intense fire quite quickly.
As long as it is burning don't interfere with it. Before too long the stump itself will have disappeared. However, if there are large roots these may carry on smouldering underground for some time, probably turning to charcoal.
The only real effort in all of this is using the chainsaw, cutting and banging in the wedges. Then there's the clear up
Hi Shannon, hope this helps you out. I has some fabulous ideas!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smQjQoleN90
Get someone out to grind the stump until there is nothing left. We had a stump grinder come out to our place a few years ago. They aren't expensive and they save a lot of time and wear on your chain saw.
Put a large pot on top of it and fill with flowers and vines.