Many homeowners know that grinding stumps makes their lawn more attractive and increases the curb appeal of their homes. This is important not only because it attracts prospective buyers, but a lawn full of stumps is also deeply unattractive, which will affect the equanimity of the household. Not only this, but stumps are trip-and-fall risks, especially at night when they are hard, if not impossible, to see in an unlit yard. Rotting stumps can also collapse and create dangerous holes in the lawn, which can lead to twisted ankles and other serious injuries. Removing a stump not only eliminates these hazards, but it also improves the health of the lawn itself. Here’s how.
Stumps Can Spread Diseases
Stumps aren’t ground out just because they’re dangerous and ugly. The stump might not die right away, especially if it belonged to an old hardwood such as an oak tree. A large hardwood stump can take as long as a decade to decay, but even a softwood such as a pine stump can take three years at the minimum. The process is faster if the stump is in a warm and humid climate.
When the stump does begin to die, bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms start to break it down. Some of these microorganisms also become harmful pathogens that can attack the grass and other plants nearby.
Stumps Can Invite Pests Into the Lawn
As the stump starts to break down due to the action of microorganisms, it attracts pests, which can also attack healthy trees on your property. These pests include termites and beetles that also like to chew on or lay eggs in wood. Some of these insects can even attack your house and damage its structural integrity.
A Decaying Stump Can Make It Hard to Care for Your Lawn
A decaying stump that crumbles apart and leaves a hole makes it difficult to take care of your lawn. Mowing, thatching and aerating become tricky, and putting in plants, including new sod or grass seed, becomes inadvisable. Lawn care is much easier when the stump is ground out and the ground becomes level.
A Ground Stump Brings Nutrients to the Soil
Grinding out the stump might not destroy the roots of the tree, which can be as wide as its crown. However, with the stump gone and the roots underground, there’s no more safe harbor for pests and pathogens. Eventually, the roots decay and add nutrients to the soil.
If you have stumps in your yard, remove them now. For stump grinding services that can help transform your yard, call our professional arborists at West Coast Tree Care Inc. of San Carlos, CA.
