Once a tree is removed from your property, whether it was deliberately cut down by a tree service or taken by Mother Nature, you’re left with a choice. You can either leave the stump in your yard or have it removed. The answer depends on several key factors.

How to Decide Whether to Keep or Remove a Stump

Keeping a tree stump may seem like the easier option—you don't have to do anything once the tree is felled. However, leaving the stump after a tree service removes a tree is rarely the best option. Not only are stumps unsightly, but they can also become a liability if children or visitors trip over them.

Because the tree roots remain under the earth, there’s always the possibility that new tree shoots could form from them, meaning you’ll need to be vigilant in removing them as well.

Perhaps the biggest concern about leaving a stump behind is the potential for pests and health concerns to develop from the stump. Stumps are attractive habitats for wood-boring pests, including termites and carpenter ants, and can be the source of an infestation that does significant damage to your home. Rotting tree stumps also harbor fungi, bacteria, and mold that can be detrimental to your lawn and other landscape plants if they spread. 

Can I Remove a Tree Stump Myself?

There are two ways to remove a tree stump: stump grinding, which involves using a machine to grind the stump down below the soil line, leaving the roots behind, and removal, which physically removes the stump and roots from the ground, typically using a combination of chemicals and machinery.

Tree grinding is best left to a professional tree service. They have the equipment and knowledge required to safely and effectively grind the stump, without doing additional damage to the surrounding area. 

Contact a tree service company if you’re interested in full tree removal. Because root systems can spread far beyond the stump, you may not be able to remove everything yourself and may cause more damage. If chemicals are used to soften the soil, they should be handled by experienced pros to avoid accidents or danger to you and your family. 

If you need a stump removed from your property, call on Alton Tree Services. Since 2004, this tree service has served Hartford County, CT, providing professional tree cutting, stump grinding and removal, brush chipping, and firewood delivery services. Call (860) 236-8027 or visit their website to schedule service, and check out their Google reviews to see what others have said about their work.