It’s a sad day when a tree has to come down, but when a tree is removed, the stump should be removed as well. Not only can it become an eyesore as it begins to rot, but it can also pose safety hazards. Here are the 5 dangers of neglecting the need for stump removal on your Bedford, NH, property.
Some landscape companies take the easy way out when removing a tree. If the homeowner isn’t planning on using that particular space for a hardscape project or garden, for example, it may be tempting to leave the stump in place. However, this can cause long-term problems.
Related: HOW THE PROS HANDLE STUMP REMOVAL IN AMHERST, NH
1. Insects
If you’ve ever had termite or carpenter ant infestations around your home, you know how much destruction they can cause, and how quickly they can spread from a tree stump to the home. Termites and carpenter ants love decaying wood. This is where they create nests, and since both termites and carpenter ants breed very quickly, there’s a good chance they will outgrow the stump and start looking for fresh nesting sites… like your home or any nearby structures.
2. Landscaping Challenges
Tree stumps get in the way of mowing, trimming, and edging. The presence of a stump also means that nothing else can grow in its place. If you want to plant a new tree in this exact spot, you’ll need to remove the stump; but even if you wanted to plant a new tree just feet away, the old tree’s extensive root system will necessitate the use of heavy machinery to remove the roots. Roots will naturally die and decompose fairly quickly once the stump is removed.
In some cases, a stump can sprout new growth. If a tree was felled for aesthetic reasons such as to open up a view, and the tree was not actually dead, dying, or diseased when removed, new growth will likely occur. Since nature is persistent, this will be an ongoing problem.
3. Outdoor Living Challenges
If you want to expand your outdoor living space by building a larger patio, installing a pool, building a pergola or gazebo, installing a vegetable garden, or you simply want a nice flat backyard for football or volleyball games, you don’t want a stump in the way.
Where it feels natural to curve a new walkway around a beautiful tree that is a treasured element in your landscape, it looks sad to curve a walkway around a stump. Better to remove the stump rather than let it dictate your landscape design!
4. Tripping Hazard
Many tree stumps are cut low to the ground, which can present a tripping hazard, and in a culture where people sue each other for everything, it’s a liability you don’t want to deal with.
5. Diminished Curb Appeal
Unless you love hearing your friends and neighbors sarcastically compliment you on your stump, get rid of it. A stump may look “okay” for a few years (as a home for a planter, for example) but it will become a serious eyesore as it starts to decay.
Getting rid of stumps is not a DIY affair. Trust our tree- and stump-removal experts to restore your landscape to a beautiful state by removing dead, dying, or diseased trees, stumps, and all!
Basically, tree stumps are not adding anything to the curb appeal of your home. Even if they look better after having tree removal performed, they’ll turn into a rotten mess in just a couple years.
Related: HOW TO TACKLE YOUR NEXT STUMP REMOVAL IN PETERBOROUGH, NH
