A tree falls on the lawn. What can you do with the tree stump? Review these eight ideas to find one that's right for your situation. (At end of the article, see how to start a new lawn where a stump once stood.)

1. Decay, on nature’s schedule. With no human effort at all, microorganisms will reduce most short trunks in three to seven years. (Taller trunks, also called ‘snags’, can take a lot longer.) If the trunk is roughed up with axe strokes or a drill, there will be more surface area exposed for bacteria and fungi to attack.


This timeline stretches the patience of some, however, and they may consider nitrogen applications. See point 2.

2. Decay, accelerated with nitrogen. Tree trunks are carbon-rich. The application of nitrogen-rich material invites healthy decay similar to what takes place in a compost pile. There are commercial products that contain potassium nitrate, but you can also use fresh manure, blood meal or other high-nitrogen agricultural byproducts. (Some packaged products contain sodium metabisulfite.)

Nitrogen acts as a double-mocha energy drink for the microorganisms surrounding the stump. To get the fastest action, drill or axe the stump so the nitrogen penetrates internal surfaces. It also helps to keep the stump moist and covered with plastic, wet leaves, straw, compost, soil, or a combination of the above. In any case, in six months to one year, most short stumps will flake and crumble.

A note of caution: If you are working within 20’ of a water body, remember that nitrogen and other chemical ingredients can pollute and should not be used.

3. Stump burning is a low-cost method that works faster than decay but more slowly than stump-grinding. Burning requires quite a bit more planning and vigilance, however. Do your homework before you light a stump and handle with care. Permits may be required. This technique may not help your popularity among neighbors as trunk burning can go on for weeks.  

4. Stump grinding reduces the trunk to fresh mulch immediately but it is one of the more expensive methods. Unless someone double-grinds the stump, the material will be very coarse. Most grinders work up to 6” below the surrounding soil surface. (The roots may remain active, however. See "sprouts" below.)

Once ground, stump shreds can be mixed into a compost pile, where they will decompose in about six months if you add green materials or fresh manure in the right proportions.

Alternatively, use the material as coarse mulch on pathways or borders. If you want to use it around plants, particularly young plants, wait about a month before spreading the ground trunk material. 

5. Excavate: Stumps can be excavated but be prepared to pay not only for the heavy equipment but possibly for disposal at a transfer facility as well. Be prepared to do a lot of lawn repair or new lawn establishment in the excavated area. 

As for snags and sprouts, here are some more ideas:

6. New items from old trunks: Repurposing may not be your first choice for tree stumps or snags, but there are examples that range from beautiful to utilitarian. For an example, see the expert carving of a fallen Norway maple by Clinton, CT, sculptor Kris Connors at the Ivoryton Theatre in Essex, CT. I have also seen old tree stumps gutted for flower planters, turned into seats, become structural supports for decks, function as tree houses, or hold up clotheslines. I’ve even seen one become a spout hole for a fountain. 

7. For the birds: Tall trunks and standing dead trees are called ‘snags’. They have unique ecological value if allowed to stay because they are actually necessary for some wildlife.

Woodpeckers make cavities in snags to find food and to nest. Chickadees, tufted titmice and owls use them. Squirrels and raccoons nest in snags.

8. Sprouts: As for those hopeful stump sprouts, they are a symptom of vigorous root system putting out potential new trunks. Some species are especially prone to sprouting, including ash, oak, tulip poplar, apple, sugar maple, hickory, birch, and willow. If you want a new tree to grow in the spot, you can let sprouts grow for a few years and then select a strong one and remove the rest. Or, if you want them all gone, cut them back repeatedly. The roots will run out of energy since there is no photosynthesis to replenish them. 

New lawn where a tree once grew

I recommend mixing the ground or well-decayed stump into the surrounding soil and leveling the area. To establish new lawn grasses, cover the area with about 1" of topsoil and 1/4" of finished compost*. Spread new grass seed, press it into the soil, and cover with a thin layer of straw. Keep it moist (not wet) for about four weeks. If you are planting in the spring, you may want to consider an annual grass or nitrogen-fixing clover. Then turn it under in late August or September, wait a few weeks, and plant the permanent lawn grass in the fall. 

Finally, don't be surprised if old roots feed mushrooms in the lawn. It's actually a sign that healthy fungi are at work. 

In summary, don’t be stumped by stumps—there are lots of options once the tree has fallen.

 

* "Finished" compost is at least six months old in most home-based systems, though faster composting is possible. Here's a compost test  you can do at home.