22 Oct
Removing a tree from your yard or landscape is a time-consuming process but a worthwhile one if you value open space. Sometimes removing the tree can eliminate safety hazards, especially if the tree is growing toward utility lines or is suddenly leaning heavily. The tree removal process usually does not include the removal of the stump though. While some homeowners incorporate the stump into their garden, others prefer to have it removed. But even after a stump removal, there is a lot of work to be done. In this article brought to you by Southern Star Stump, we will assume you have had the tree and the stump removed. What next?
Clean Up
You would think that removing the stump would make the yard look more orderly, but the space where the stump used to be is initially going to be a mess. There will likely be a large hole in the ground and the area will be covered in woodchips and sawdust. So, step one is to clean up the mess and clear away the debris left by the stump. Depending on the removal method used, there will be woodchips, sawdust, roots, and branches to remove.
Fill the Hole
With the stump removed, you likely have a huge gap in the ground. You can fill this hole with just soil or fill a portion of it with the stump remains and top it off with soil. Make sure to fill the hole until the ground is slightly higher than the area around it. This will become level with the rest of the garden once you water it and the soil settles.
If you opt to use only soil, then you can use the stump remains for other things in the garden. The woodchips can be used as mulch for flower beds, but make sure that the pieces do not have any diseases. Diseased wood can spread disease to other plants, flowers, and shrubs. You can let questionable wood cook in a compost heap to produce compost for your soil in the yard.
If the area under the removed stump is not completely excavated, then future planting can be sabotaged. Decaying stumps and roots can rob nitrogen and other nutrients from the soil. New trees can also struggle to establish roots when old roots are tangled in the upper layers of the soil. Disease transmission is also likely if you plan to plant the same species of tree.
It might be best to seed the area with grass and plant your tree or shrubs a safe distance from the old spot. Sow the seeds by hand, dispersing them evenly. Rake the seeds into the soil and cover the area with another quarter inch of topsoil. Initially, you should be careful not to overwater the area, which can wash your seeds away. Instead, use a fine mist setting on your sprayer to keep the ground moist. Practice care until the grass has grown an inch or two and is well established.
