Should You Leave an Old Tree Stump Where It Is or Are There Good Reasons to Get Rid of It?
If you have a number of mature trees in your garden, then you may love to admire their beauty, especially during the change of season. Yet you may have noticed a problem with one of them and, after further investigation, came to the sad conclusion that it would have to go. It may have had a disease that could spread to others and without action, the problem would simply get worse. Now, you're left with a tree stump and have another question. Should you simply leave it there or take further action to get rid of it?
Pros and Cons
If you simply want Mother Nature to take her course, then you may not need to do anything with that leftover stump. After all, it will gradually decay and will eventually wither away to nothing, although the process will take many years to take its course.
In the meantime, do you really want a decaying stump in your garden, especially if it is relatively close to your house? You may not be aware, but this stump might be very attractive to subterranean termites who may decamp from another location and set up home there instead. Once they are settled, they are even closer to your property, and you will need to keep a very close eye on your termite baiting stations if you want to avoid a disaster.
If you're not too worried about termites invading your home, as the tree is a long way away from it, then you should still consider its aesthetic. Does it detract from the rest of your lovely space and is it generally an eyesore? Furthermore, does it present a hazard when your kids are playing in the garden?
Making the Decision
Indeed, you may be better off getting rid of this stump by using one of two different methods. You can get a contractor to remove the stump altogether and complete with the underground root system, or you can grind down the visible part instead.
Best Approach
With the first approach, you can expect a great deal of disruption and it will take a lot longer. You will also need to bring in a lot of new soil to fill in the hole that will be left in its aftermath. Stump grinding is a lot easier, however, and will provide you with a lot of nutritious mulch for you to use elsewhere on your garden.
Taking Action
Even though the tree is no longer there, it did have a disease of some kind, and to be perfectly safe, you should probably get rid of the stump as well. Call an expert and talk with them about grinding the stump as soon as possible.