Leaving a stump after a tree has been cut down and removed will leave you with potential issues of safety and liability, unwanted tree and root growth, and insect infestation. In addition, tree stumps create an unsightly nuisance in your yard, which you don’t want yourself or your family to have to deal with. These are some of the most important reasons to remove the tree stumps from your yard.
The Problems:
1. Liability
One of the important concerns when tree stumps remain after tree removal is liability. Children playing in the yard where a stump has been left run a risk of serious injury due to tripping over or falling into the remaining stump. Visitors to your home may also trip over roots growing out from the stump. Anyone moving about in the yard after dark is at risk of tripping over the uneven terrain. A backyard party could wind up with a guest being hurt by tripping over a tree stump they didn’t see. Soil around the stump can settle, leaving depressions in the ground that can cause trip-and-fall injuries. No one wants a guest to be injured, and the liability issues arising from an injury are always troublesome, particularly if you, as a homeowner, knew about the potential risk and did nothing to mitigate it.
2. Continued Growth
The death or removal of a tree also does not prevent the stump from generating new growth. This new growth will also cause the roots to continue growing, which can be destructive to the yard, cement patios or sidewalks, sewer lines, or even your home’s foundation. This new growth will also sap nutrients from the ground, which can cause your lawn or other surrounding plant life to suffer. Grass is the plant life most vulnerable to the problems caused by this continued root growth. The grass will often die from lack of water, and any attempt to water it will only provide more water to the new growth from the stump, sustaining this undesirable cycle. Thus, the grass will continue to disappear, while the stump’s spread will worsen.
3. Pests
Tree stumps attract mold, fungi, insects, and other vermin. Termites are a particularly destructive insect that can migrate from the affected stump to your home or surrounding trees when the termites have grown too large in number to be confined to the stump. Although live trees can also be susceptible to disease and infestations, tree stumps are especially vulnerable. When a tree stump harbors disease, it is likely that the disease will spread to live trees. In addition to mold, fungi, and insects, larger “pests”, such as foxes, snakes, and raccoons can move in to hollowed out tree stumps. These animals can also be disease vectors, as well as potentially posing a threat to children or pets.
Having a decapitated tree sitting in your yard is sort of like having an open, festering wound. Infections spread. Bacteria spread. Tending to this wound in your yard will benefit the health of all the greenery that surrounds it.
The Solution: Grinding the Stump
The smartest move to permanently remove any worry and danger about a stump is to grind the stump and remove the root system supporting it. Expert tree removal companies have stump grinders, and we own the specific heavy machinery required to take out the stump properly and thoroughly. Extracting a set of roots from a yard is not a simple task, but professional tree removal companies have the extensive experience that makes it look easy.
Because the stump grinder tears up the wood below the surface of the soil, the grinding process makes absolutely sure that the stump will not re-sprout with what is called “suckering growth.” Sucker pruning, which is tending to any latent growth from the left-behind stump, is an endless, pointless task that you do not want to add to your list of yard-maintenance chores. Get it out, and be done with it.
Cincinnati Tree Stump Removal
Removing tree stumps will increase the safety of your property and help to ensure your protection against liability problems. You will also improve the appearance of your property, and you can enjoy your yard without worrying about problems with tree stumps. The benefits of removing tree stumps far exceed the cost. Call your local stump grinding experts today (here in Cincinnati, call us here at Tree Images) to learn how we can safely, efficiently, and cost-effectively help you with your stump problems!
FAQs
It attracts pests
Termites, carpenter ants and other wood boring insects will seek out the tree and set up shop in it. These bugs will quickly multiply, which means that other trees or even your house could be in danger of being infested. Additionally, animals may seek out the tree and nest in it.
Who is responsible for a dead tree? ›
When homeowners know they have dying, diseased or unstable trees, it is their responsibility to take steps to prevent them from causing severe damage. In the event a homeowner is liable for the damages, his or her personal insurance company will have to pay the damages.
Are dead trees and fallen trees most important because of their role? ›
Dead trees (snags) and the subsequent downed log provide habitat for many living organisms, including fungi, mosses, lichens, invertebrates, birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. The decayed surface of a snag provides a growth substrate for fungus, moss, and lichen.
What happens if you leave a dead tree? ›
Leaving a dead tree standing can provide excellent habitat for birds and other wildlife. Depending on the species, a dead tree will generally begin to shed its bark and the wood will soften, especially the innermost portion of the tree's core, commonly known as the heartwood.
Is it OK to leave dead branches on a tree? ›
However, if a branch is still connected to the tree, the plant might still try to use resources to revive that branch. Dead branches are not helpful to the tree as they might prevent it from healing properly and, at the same time, allow pests and diseases to invade the tree.
Is it better to leave dead trees standing? ›
Some homeowners choose to keep dead branches on trees if they are not in danger of falling or causing damage. These dead branches provide many of the same benefits as snags, including naturally occurring hollow spaces for foraging, perching, nesting, and storing food.
Can I sue my neighbor if his dead tree falls on my house in Maine? ›
If your neighbor has a sickly or dead tree and chooses to not do something about it and it falls, then the neighbor will be liable for your damages. In short, the tree owner is responsible if they have been negligent.
Can I sue my neighbor if his dead tree falls on my house in Iowa? ›
Instead, a limb or the entire tree falls. The tree owner may be liable for personal injuries or property damage caused by such an incident, but that's not an easy claim to prove. At least under Iowa law, the tree owner isn't automatically liable in such circ*mstances. Negligence must be proved.
Who is responsible for fallen tree removal near me? ›
The neighboring property owner is responsible for their property, including the tree. If the neighbor's tree fell, they would be held liable for damages. In most jurisdictions, whoever the tree belongs is who needs to bear the cost of tree removal or tree trimming required to ensure safety.
Do dead trees have a purpose? ›
Making room for new growth
Within forested ecosystems, one dying tree can translate to new life and new opportunities for a host of living things. For a forest plant, for instance, a dying tree releases all sorts of resources and makes room for new and different plants to grow.
Tree deaths reduce the ability of forests to serve multiple functions, including providing habitat for wildlife; purifying water and air; producing wood and other raw materials; storing carbon; and supporting cultural and recreational uses. California's Tribes have been uniquely impacted by the loss of trees that are ...
What good is a dead tree? ›
A dead tree can be a perch used by hawks and owls while they search for prey. Smaller birds, such as bluebirds and flycatchers, also use snags to spot and catch insects. digest the wood. These invertebrates in turn will be eaten by skunks, salamanders, birds and lizards.
Is it good to remove dead trees? ›
Dead trees are not just an eyesore; they can be a hazard when they fall or act as a breeding ground for harmful fungi. Dead tree removal is dangerous because of the brittleness of the tree. You should not attempt dead tree removal by yourself, as the process is risky without the proper training and equipment.
How long do dead trees last? ›
In nature, a dead tree is a vital part of the ecosystem, so it can stand for as long as a day or two to one or more years before falling. Some trees in the wild continue to stand for decades, providing shade and shelter for wildlife and becoming a vital hub for insect activity.
Can a dead tree live again? ›
Whether or not the tree can be restored to good health will depend on what exactly is wrong and how sick it is. If your tree is half-dead, you'll also want to consider what's involved in saving it. If a lot of the tree has to be removed to restore its health, you might decide it's not worth it.
Should dead trees be felled? ›
Experts say it's rare that removal is necessary. Letting dead trees, like this bristlecone pine in the White Mountains of California, decay naturally provides necessary shelter and food to a diverse variety of fungi, plants, and animals.
Why should we not cut down old trees? ›
Removing trees deprives the forest of portions of its canopy, which blocks the sun's rays during the day and retains heat at night. That disruption leads to more extreme temperature swings that can be harmful to plants and animals.
