Tree stumps, do you discover any in your yard? It can be a tough undertaking to remove them. Getting rid of the stumps entirely is a laborious and expensive process. If stumps can't be dug out, what should be done about them? It's possible to be crafty while decorating a tree stump. Here are ingenious ways to cover up that unsightly tree stump!
There are situations when having a stump removed is not a viable option due to the size of the stump or the cost of doing so. You can make use of that ugly old tree stump by covering it and blending it into the surroundings. It's easy to hide an eyesore like a tree stump, and you have a lot of options based on how you want it to look in your yard.
There is actually quite a lot that may be accomplished by employing a little ingenuity and hard work. Get ready to transform that run-down eyesore into a work of art, no matter your prefered design aesthetic or degree of expertise.
You have successfully chopped down the priceless tree in your yard, but the leftover stump and roots aren't doing it for you. Hiding a tree stump is often recommended because of the unsightly effect it can have on a yard.
When compared to the glossy photo spreads you'd find in a standard home and garden magazine, a story about removing tree stumps isn't exactly the stuff of romance. However, it is a serious and widespread issue that impacts many people who are responsible for maintaining the outdoor space. Getting rid of a stump is a lot more work than it looks like it would be. Because of the considerable effort and expertise involved, this service is typically quite expensive when provided by arborists and similar specialists. It is not typically part of the tree-trimming package.
It's a good idea to use the stumps as part of your landscape design, but doing so may be trickier than you expect. There won't be any discernible change in the appearance of your tree stumps no matter how much you hack at them. Don't know how to interpret the ugly scene? A tree stump can be concealed by employing one of these ingenious methods.
Tree Stump Ideas
Choose a size for the new planting mound you'll be creating around the stump. Get a load of topsoil that will give you a depth of between 4 and 6 inches above the stump. Get some pebbles or logs to use as a border around your planting area.
Make A Planter From A Tree Stump
According to Balcony Garden Web, a hollow stump can serve as a convenient planter. The centre of a non-hollow stump can be removed with the pointed end of a pick mattock and then covered with flowers. Then, after the hole is big enough, switch to the hatchet's wide, flat end to chip away at the remaining wood. You should dig a hole that's between 4 and 8 inches deep, with at least a 3-inch margin of safety around it.
The point of an axe can be used to chip away at the stump's centre, which will help:
- Dig a hole that is 4–8 inches deep and surround it with a 3-inch rim.
- You'll need to use a drill to make holes in the stump's side for water to drain out of. After spreading out the gravel, a 70:30 mixture of potting soil and compost is spread on top.
- There is plenty of room to grow annuals and perennials alike.
The stump's drainage can be improved by boring holes into its lower surface and filling the bottom with gravel. Plant some flowers or herbs in the empty space left by the stump.
Gnome Home
This tree stump stands at nearly 6 feet tall, and it now serves as a home for a family of gnomes, bringing whimsical charm to a forested backyard. Any gnome worth his or her salt would be lucky to call this stump home, as it is nestled in a bed of luscious hostas. Using 2x4s as rafters and wood shims as shingles, a skilled do-it-yourselfer created a beautiful, natural-looking roof. Plywood frames and sashes are finished with cedar trim and painted-on curtains to complete the aesthetic.
Build A Display Case
Making use of the tree stump as a garden showcase requires some creative thinking. Put on show your landscaping features by using a tree stump. To hide a tree stump, you may build a fountain around it, making the base of the tree the showpiece. Make your garden ornaments stand out by setting them atop the stump instead of on the ground, where they can easily be forgotten. Alternatively, you might set a planter atop the stump.
Make Use Of Climbing Vines
Some climbing vines may be high maintenance, but they can effectively cover a tree stump. Not only will a blooming vine cover the stump, but it will also give colour and texture to your garden. To keep your vines from smothering your other plants and your stump cover from becoming unmanageable, plant them far from any other vegetation and do annual pruning.
Do not plant hydrangea (Hydrangea spp.) or clematis (Clematis spp. ), both of which are toxic to humans and animals, in areas where children and pets frequently congregate. The evergreen vine known as creeping fig (Ficus pumila) creates a dense cover, but it may be sluggish to get started. Adding supports like a tiny trellis around the stump and training climbing roses (Rosa spp. ), which will develop over the stump and up the support, will transform the stump into a stunning and fragrant landscaping element.
The following are some suggestions:
- Cover it with vines that crawl up the walls. Climbing plants such as hydrangeas, Virginia creeper, sweet peas, Carolina jessamine, and clematis are all lovely choices.
- In order to conceal it, plant tall grasses or shrubs. You may try some big root geranium, Solomon's seal, red barrenwort, or lavender.
- A hedge should be planted all around it. Oakleaf hydrangeas and azaleas are two examples of hardy shrubs that can thrive in areas with exposed tree roots.
Avoid planting in or on a stump by enclosing it with vines. The next step is to remove the lower portion of the stump and construct a tipi trellis to which climbing vines can attach. Making a tipi trellis is as simple as encircling a stump with wooden poles of uniform height, hammering them into the ground, and wiring the poles together at the top. At about the midpoint of the tipi's height, rewrap the wire around the poles for extra support.
When constructing a tipi out of a softwood like sycamore, which will only last for a year or two at most, using vines that only live for one year is ideal.
- The sweet pea plant (Lathyrus odorous) blooms with a rainbow of colours and scents. We Like a lot of water and soil that's rich in organic material and full sun. Height ranges from 2 to 7 feet.
- The thunbergia alata, or black-eyed Susan, vine thrives in shady conditions with consistently moist soil. Flowers can be any colour you want them to be. Height potential of 7 feet.
- Phasaeolus cockiness, or the red runner bean, thrives on damp soil and full sun to moderate shade. After the red flowers fade, the beans are ready to be picked. A height of 10 - 15 feet is considered average.
Create Stump Art
The DIY guru Bob Vila claims any unsightly tree stump can be transformed into a beautiful piece of furniture or sculpture with a little bit of paint and some carving tools. Make a garden statue with the help of chisels and other carving tools. Your front yard tree stump, for instance, can serve as a unique and inviting "welcome" sign. Take off the bark on the exposed side of the stump and smooth it down with some sandpaper. Carve your initials or a warm welcome into the wood or use a wood burning kit to do it.
Put some stain on your sign and plant some flowers around the base of the stump. Kids can also have fun with pretend play by painting a stump in the middle of the playground. Put a face on the stump or make it into a garden scene complete with gnomes and fairies.
You can pretend to be a painter by creating simple artwork on the tree stump. It's not necessary to make a masterpiece, but it should be something that captures who you are and looks well. The tree stump can be made lovely and fashionable by the application of patterns or mosaics.
Plant Herbs
Rather than just letting the tree stump sit there looking unsightly, you could turn it into a garden of sorts.
In order to plant the seedlings' roots, you must first dig a hole in the trunk using a trowel. Fill in with the soil you removed from the base, but don't pack it in too tightly. The plant can be let to flourish by watering it at regular intervals.
Create a Lovely Fairy Garden
Create a magical fairy garden out of a tree stump using your imagination. The best way to figure out what to do with it is to consult your kids, if you have any. That is going to blow their minds. Build in a ladder and some windows/doors/a roof. Fill it with gnome figures, butterflies, lizards, birds, and other assorted cartoon characters; build a miniature island or a fantastical home; do whatever will make your children happy.
This magical fairy garden skilfully blends organic materials with whimsical playthings from our childhoods, and it will keep kids (and adults) entertained for hours on end. With this DIY, you can see why fairy gardens are one of the hottest trends in using tree stumps nowadays. This stump has been outfitted for any avian visitors with a mossy roof, colourful mushrooms (fairies adore mushrooms), a miniature ladder, and a "Welcome" sign.
Flowers On The Top
Instead of removing the stump, you may construct a planter to sit over it. Prior to beginning, set the dimensions of the planter's height and width. A reasonable rule of thumb is to dig a hole that is 12 to 18 inches deep and around the same diameter as the stump. The next step is to snip a section of fencing that is 2 inches longer and 1 inch taller than the desired height and diameter.
To achieve this, first fold the wire into a circle, and then bend the bottom two inches of the fence inward at a ninety degree angle. If you want the 2-inch fold to overlap within the circle, you'll need to cut it down to size. After that, place the circular wire basket on the stump with the folded side facing down, and secure it there using wire tacks.
Wrap the framework in wet sphagnum moss that has been soaked for one minute. The potting soil should be added after the moss has been spread over the entire frame. The potting soil needs to be soaked before the plants can be planted. Annual flowers will do well in this pot.
TIP
Decomposition of a stump can be sped up by planting in or on top of it. If you want to get rid of the stump, this is a fantastic option, but if you want to leave it as garden decor, you should treat it with a nontoxic wood preserver first.
Subtle Spa
A birdbath can be placed on top of a solid stump. Make a watering hole for birds by repurposing the basin of an old birdbath or any other large, heavy bowl. A bird population explosion can be expected after the addition of stones or a modest solar fountain. If the stump isn't located in a shaded area, surround it with tall plants to provide shade for the birdbath.
Tic-Tac-Toe
Turning a tree stump into a game board sounds like a lot of fun. Invite the youngsters to help make the game's pieces, which are smooth rocks painted to look like ladybugs and bumblebees. To protect your game board over the long term, simply apply an outdoor sealant to the surface. Take out some lawn chairs and get the games going.
Garden Furniture
Making outdoor furniture out of tree stumps is a great idea. Both stools and chairs are acceptable. You can give them any look you choose by carving their form. Place garden containers or food and drink on little side tables or stools. You can also fasten a customised little stump countertop. The garden table is now complete; you can decorate it as you like or leave it plain. Absolutely no cost to you, and it's created from eco-friendly materials to boot!
It is possible to make a chair out of a tree stump. A tree stump can be transformed into a seat with the use of a hand saw, grinding wheel, stain brushes, and hammer.
Need an original use for that tree stump you cut down? Present your imaginative self now. It's time to get out the chisel and transform that unsightly tree stump into a dining set.
It's important to note that this method can be implemented if you have more than one tree stump in your yard. Then all you have to do is use your ingenuity to carve the chairs so that they all face the table.
Make A Table Game
When you can have your own gambling den without breaking the bank, why go elsewhere? Now it's time to use the exposed tree stump to fashion and decorate a tabletop game.
You may make a chess board or chequers board on top of the trunk.
Sculpture And Garden Decor
If you enjoy taking on projects on your own, you will enjoy this. If you enjoy carving or are just looking for a new challenge, a tree stump could be the perfect material for you. Excellent handmade gifts can be created, such as animal sculptures, fairy tale figurines, and yard scarecrows. Lots of tree stumps are all that's required. You should use your imagination and come up with something new.
Fill With Plants
Things You Will Need
- Mattock
- Gravel
- Potting soil
- 3/8- to 1/2-inch auger bit
- Safety glasses
- Power drill or bit brace
Hollow out tree stumps and use them as planters to conceal them. Start by chipping a hole in the middle of the stump with the sharp end of a hatchet. As the hole gets bigger, you can swap to the mattock's wider end. The cavity in the stump can be as wide as you like and as deep as 6 inches if you continue chipping outward from the centre of the hole.
Use a power drill fitted with an auger bit or a bit brace to drill two to four drainage holes into the sides of the planting cavity, slanting them downward towards the stump's outside border. Close the drainage holes using gravel, then fill the plant holes in the stumps with potting soil and water thoroughly before planting.
Conclusion
Stump removal takes time and money. What if stumps can't be dug? Tree stumps can inspire creativity. Hide an unattractive tree stump in your yard with inventive solutions. A 3-inch gravel and soil ring should surround a 4- to the 8-inch hole.
Flowers or herbs can cover the stump. To draw attention, place garden ornaments on the stump. Climbing plants add colour and fragrance to your garden. Hydrangeas, Virginia creeper, sweet peas, Carolina jessamine, and clematis are our favourites. DIY guru Bob Vila believes you can turn any unattractive tree stump into a beautiful piece of furniture or sculpture with a little paint and carving.
Use a tree stump to welcome guests in your front yard. Tree stumps are common in miniature gardening. Planting atop a stump accelerates its decomposition. Make a bird bath with an old birdbath or other large, heavy basin. Tree stumps make strong, appealing patio furniture.
Stools work. You can carve them into any shape with the correct tools. For example, a hand saw or grinding wheel can turn a tree stump into a comfortable chair. Wood stumps make unique gifts. They make yard scarecrows, gnomes, and other sculptures. Flip them over to play chess or chequers.
Content Summary
- It can be a tough undertaking to remove them.
- Getting rid of the stumps entirely is a laborious and expensive process.
- It's possible to be crafty while decorating a tree stump.
- Here are ingenious ways to cover up that unsightly tree stump!
- It's easy to hide an eyesore like a tree stump, and you have many options based on how you want it to look in your yard.
- Getting rid of a stump is a lot more work than it looks like it would be.
- It is not typically part of the tree-trimming package. Using the stumps as part of your landscape design is a good idea, but doing so may be trickier than you expect.
- Get pebbles or logs to use as a border around your planting area.
- According to Balcony Garden Web, a hollow stump can serve as a convenient planter.
- The point of an axe can be used to chip away at the stump's centre, which will help: Dig a hole 4–8 inches deep and surrounds it with a 3-inch rim.
- You'll need to use a drill to make holes in the stump's side for water to drain.
- Plant some flowers or herbs in the space left by the stump.
- This tree stump stands nearly 6 feet tall and now serves as a home for a family of gnomes, bringing whimsical charm to a forested backyard.
- Using the tree stump as a garden showcase requires creative thinking.
- Put on show your landscaping features by using a tree stump.
- To hide a tree stump, you may build a fountain around it, making the tree's base the showpiece.
- Not only will a blooming vine cover the stump, but it will also give colour and texture to your garden.
- To keep your vines from smothering your other plants and your stump cover from becoming unmanageable, plant them far from any other vegetation and do annual pruning.
- Adding supports like a tiny trellis around the stump and training climbing roses (Rosa spp.),
- Avoid planting in or on a stump by enclosing it with vines.
- The next step is to remove the lower portion of the stump and construct a tipi trellis to which climbing vines can attach.
- Make a garden statue with the help of chisels and other carving tools.
- For instance, your front yard tree stump can serve as a unique and inviting "welcome" sign.
- Put some stains on your sign and plant some flowers around the stump's base.
- You can pretend to be a painter by creating simple artwork on the tree stump.
- Rather than just letting the tree stump sit there looking unsightly, you could turn it into a garden.
- Create a magical fairy garden out of a tree stump using your imagination.
- Build in a ladder and some windows/doors/a roof.
- Fill it with gnome figures, butterflies, lizards, birds, and other cartoon characters; build a miniature island or a fantastical home; do whatever will make your children happy.
- With this DIY, you can see why fairy gardens are one of the hottest trends in using tree stumps.
- Instead of removing the stump, you may construct a planter to sit over it.
- The decomposition of a stump can be sped up by planting in or on top of it.
- A birdbath can be placed on top of a solid stump.
- Make a watering hole for birds by repurposing the basin of an old birdbath or any other large, heavy bowl.
- Apply an outdoor sealant to the surface to protect your game board over the long term.
- Take out some lawn chairs and get the games going.
- Making outdoor furniture out of tree stumps is a great idea.
- The garden table is complete; you can decorate it as you like or leave it plain.
- It's time to get out the chisel and transform that unsightly tree stump into a dining set.
- It's important to note that this method can be implemented if you have more than one tree stump in your yard.
- Now it's time to use the exposed tree stump to fashion and decorate a tabletop game.
- You may make a chess board or chequers board on top of the trunk.
- If you enjoy taking on projects independently, you will enjoy this.
- A tree stump could be the perfect material if you enjoy carving or are just looking for a new challenge.
- Hollow out tree stumps and use them as planters to conceal them.
- Start by chipping a hole in the middle of the stump with the sharp end of a hatchet.
- Close the drainage holes using gravel, then fill the plant holes in the stumps with potting soil and water thoroughly before planting.
FAQs About Tree Stump
Make sure to leave a border of at least 3 inches around the hole, then dig it out to a depth of between 4 and 8 inches. It is recommended that drainage holes be drilled into the sides of the stump so that they slope downward and that a layer of gravel is added at the bottom of the stump. Plant some flowers or herbs in the dirt you've filled around the stump.
So, while you have the option of leaving the stump where it is and allowing it to rot, you should be aware that the animals that come along with this process may spread to other plants and trees in your yard or even into your home. The easiest method to avoid these insect problems is to have the stump removed or ground down using a grinding device.
After you have severed all of the roots surrounding the stump, you can raise it up and take it out of the ground. It is recommended that you fill the hole with earth and then cover it with either mulch or topsoil.
It can take anywhere from three to seven years for a stump to completely disappear if it decomposes and rot away without any therapy. The lower the stump is cut, the quicker it will decay because of the increased exposure to air. However, there are several preventative measures that you can take to speed up the decaying process.
A tree stump and its roots will begin to rot and, over time, become home to various organisms such as insects, fungi, and other organisms if they are not removed. And eventually, the roots will continue to spread out.