Tree Cutting – Stumps

Q: I have two trees in my front yard that will be cut down. I am not sure whether to leave a stump or not. If I decide to leave stumps, how tall should the stumps be?

A: Folks usually have stumps ground professionally since it takes so long for them to rot naturally. You’ll simply be left with a pile of chips that can be used as mulch around your landscape. I have no confidence in products that claim to accelerate stump decomposition by pouring chemical crystals into drilled holes. If you decide to leave the stumps in place, a height of 36 inches seems about right for placing a birdbath on top. You can plant evergreen shrubs at the base to hide the stumps as they slowly disappear.