Tree stumps are a nuisance for countless homeowners. When a tree falls or is cut down, it leaves behind an unsightly stump. And the next time you mow your lawn, you’ll have to go around it.
However, there are probably some things you didn’t know about tree stumps, which we’re going to discuss in this blog post.
#1) Tree Stumps Can Grow More Than 20 Feet Deep
Some homeowners wrongfully assume they can dig up a tree stump. In some cases, it might be possible. However, tree stumps can grow more than 20 feet deep into the ground, making them next-to-impossible to dig up.
This usually only occurs in ideal conditions with the right soil and moisture. Nonetheless, tree stumps are often deeper than they look, which is why digging them up isn’t recommended.
#2) Tree Stumps Can Grow Back
You might also be surprised to learn that tree stumps can grow back. Deciduous trees specifically have a tendency to resprout after being chopped down. The exterior of the stump will essentially grow new trees, and these trees will emerge in the surrounding soil.
Therefore, it’s essential that you remove the entire stump if you want to prevent a tree from growing back.
#3) Tree Stumps are Heavy, Very Heavy
Tree stumps are often heavier than they look. It’s not uncommon for stumps to weigh several tons. Of course, not all of this weight is the actual tree matter.
A substantial portion is dirt and soil. The bottom line, though, is that tree stumps are heavier than what meets the eye.
#4) Tree Stumps Can Attract Termites
Need another reason to remove that pesky tree stump in your yard? Aside from being an eye sore, they can attract wood-boring insects like termites.
And assuming your home is nearby, a decaying tree stump could attract these insects to your home, where they can cause substantial and costly damage to your property.
#5) It Takes More Than a Decade for Tree Stumps to Fully Decay
If you’re planning to allow a tree stump to decay naturally, you may want to reconsider. Like all organic matter, tree stumps can and will decay. However, this process can take more than 10 years.
There are solutions to remove tree stumps that don’t take a full decade, though. Professional tree removal services, for instance, can either grind up and pulverize the stump, or they can use a chemical application to dissolve it.
The Woodsman Company offers tree planting, tree pruning and shrub trimming, tree removal and stump grinding as well as a tree wellness program.
If we can help with any of your tree care needs give us a call at 512-846-2535 or 512-940-0799 or
I need to have a tree stump removed. I didn’t realize that they could grow to be so deep! It makes sense that I would want to get a professional to handle the removal, since I don’t want to deal with 20 foot deep stumps.
Thanks for the interesting read about tree stumps. It was cool to learn that they can actually grow back, which is why you want to remove the entire stump. It sounds like it could be good to do this as soon as possible, so that it doesn’t have the chance to grow and damage something.
It is a hard feat to dig out a tree stump yourself. Call up your local tree service company to either grind it down or dig it up.
I sure didn’t know that a decaying tree stump can attract termites that can potentially damage your property. My dad recently had this dead tree cut down from his yard since its posing too much danger for the people at his household. I think it has left an unsightly stump, so I’ll be sure to share this article with him so he can consider hiring a professional tree service company to have it removed. He certainly wouldn’t want all those termites eating up his wooden chairs in the garden.
We just paid an excavator to move a lot of unslightly dirt up onto a hill
Which worked out awesome!!! He also used his huge bulldozer to knock some trees down. They just fell over with the root ball attached and popped up onto the ground. It was crazy. There were a few big Bull Pines and 1 large Cottonwood that he had to work harder by loosening all around first but it was impressive to watch.
Thanks for pointing out that tree stumps are heavier than they seem so it would not be wise to attempt to dig them up. I’m planning to hire a tree service soon in order to get some stumps removed in my property. This way, I will be able to more easily get fences installed in a uniform fashion.
I greatly appreciate you talking about termites and how tree stumps can eventually attract them when left alone. Termites have gotten the best of one of my friends’ houses recently, and the amount of trouble he went through to fix all the damage that they caused is something that I myself do not want to experience. With that in mind, I’ll look for a tree stump grinding service in the area and have them stop by to take care of the large stump next to my yard immediately.