If you’ve recently had a tree cut down in your yard, you were probably left with the stump of that tree. Although perfectly harmless, stumps can be an eyesore, or they might be causing a disruption in your smooth lawn. Left alone, the stump will eventually rot on its own and compost into the dirt, but it can take years for nature to break everything down. These tips will help you speed up the process and have that stump gone in no time.
1. Water:
As most people probably know, moisture is what causes rotting in the first place. The safest and cleanest option to rot your stump is to soak it in plenty of water. Cut the stump as low to the ground as possible, then drill large holes into it. This will allow more water to penetrate inside. Next, fill the holes and flood the surrounding area with plenty of water. Place a tarp or large piece of plastic over the stump and ground around it. To trap the moisture inside the tarp, place rocks or wet mulch over the top. Wet mulch is the best option because it will help trap even more water underneath your cover. While this method isn’t the fastest, it will still speed up the natural process of decay.
2. Epsom Salt:
This method is a little faster than water but still relatively safe and non-toxic for plants. Repeat the same steps as above, but before flooding the stump with water, pour Epsom salts into the holes you drilled in the wood. The salts will help draw water from the surrounding soil into the stump, allowing it to rot even faster than with just plain water. Epsom salt can be purchased at most drug or grocery stores for relatively cheap, making this a cost-effective method.
3. Nitrogen Fertilizer:
if you are still looking for the fastest way to rot a stump, this is definitely your best bet. Fertilizers high in nitrogen aren’t the most environmentally friendly products, so use this only as your last resort. Just like with the Epsom salt process, fill the holes with a generous amount of fertilizer. The high levels of nitrogen nourish the growth of plants and fungi, which will quickly overtake the stump, and use its decay to flourish. Pretty soon, your stump will disappear, and you’ll be left with a wild little patch of new growth. This will be much easier to remove (or you can leave it if you like the self-cultivated garden), and then your lawn will be back to lush, green smoothness. Give our Tree Service Experts a call for a free consultation
This post first appeared on https://rhtreeservice.com