# What to do with a tree-stump? landscaping ideas needed. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 10, 2008, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-tree-stump-landscaping-ideas-needed/456035 "2008-07-10T20:21:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tastes_of_chocolate/32/3232_2.png) [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-tree-stump-landscaping-ideas-needed/456035/1 "2008-07-10T20:21:25Z")
I’m looking for ideas of what to do with a 25 foot tall tree trunk, 30" in diameter. Due to a short but fierce storm that whipped through this morning, I now have a shattered oak tree in my backyard. It broke off about 25’ in the air. The trunk upto that point has no branchs, is about 30" in diameter and is very straight. There is about 8’ between it and any other trees. I’m desperately trying to come up with things to do with this felled giant, while avoiding thinking of the great big gap it will leave in my backyard. So, ideas? No, I’m having a 25’ tall bear carved out of it. But it could make a cool carving of some kind. Or maybe make a fountain out of it some how? ---
**Author:** ![Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/278dde/32.png) [@Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Runs_With_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-tree-stump-landscaping-ideas-needed/456035/2 "2008-07-10T20:28:33Z")
Why don’t you want it removed and then plant a new tree in its place? ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-tree-stump-landscaping-ideas-needed/456035/3 "2008-07-10T20:35:34Z")
Sounds like a perfect opportunity for a totem pole, bearing the likenesses of family/loved ones! ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-tree-stump-landscaping-ideas-needed/456035/4 "2008-07-10T20:38:14Z")
My grandfather knew what to do - dynamite. Some of my more memorable childood memories involve blowing stumps. 😉 Though maybe not suitable for an urban environment … ---
**Author:** ![Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tastes_of_chocolate/32/3232_2.png) [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-tree-stump-landscaping-ideas-needed/456035/5 "2008-07-10T21:04:35Z")
[QUOTE=Malthus] My grandfather knew what to do - dynamite. [/QUOTE] While that sounds like a fine way to spend a Saturday, I’m guessing my neighbors would object. **Runs With Scissors** , most likely, we will plant a new tree near this one, but it wouldn’t work very well to plant in the exact same spot. Even if we cut down and ground out the stump, there are going to be way to many roots from the old oak tree to plant in the same hole. Totem pole, huh? ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-tree-stump-landscaping-ideas-needed/456035/6 "2008-07-10T21:16:13Z")
The only issue with the totem pole is that the roots will eventually rot and it will fall over. Potentially damaging something. Or worse, someone. This last weekend I helped my brother pull over the remains of a walnut that had suffered pretty much the same fate. I pointed out to him that the trunk was leaning noticably towards his house. We threw a tow strap around it about 10 feet off the ground and easily pulled it over with the tractor at idle speed. Found out later that he’d left the parking brake on the tractor as well… 😃 The trunk had been standing about 7 years. ---
**Author:** ![Pocito](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f04885/32.png) [@Pocito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pocito)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-tree-stump-landscaping-ideas-needed/456035/7 "2008-07-10T21:27:48Z")
[QUOTE=Projammer] The only issue with the totem pole is that the roots will eventually rot and it will fall over. Potentially damaging something. Or worse, someone. [/QUOTE] Our homeowners’ insurance assessor mightily encouraged us to remove a similarly large stump on our property. We were welcome to keep it, but he’d have to raise our rate. They don’t like covering large dead trees in populated areas. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![Santo\_Rugger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Santo\_Rugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santo_Rugger)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-tree-stump-landscaping-ideas-needed/456035/8 "2008-07-10T21:37:10Z")
[QUOTE=Malthus] My grandfather knew what to do - dynamite. Some of my more memorable childood memories involve blowing stumps. 😉 Though maybe not suitable for an urban environment … [/QUOTE] While dynamite might not be suitable, [detacord](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detcord) (aka detcord or Primacord) would be a more practical solution. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Carson\_O\_Genic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cdc98d/32.png) [@Carson\_O\_Genic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carson_O_Genic)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-tree-stump-landscaping-ideas-needed/456035/9 "2008-07-11T10:41:11Z")
You didn’t say what type of oak, but decay time is affected by species as well as ambient soil conditions. If there is room to maneuver a tractor or pulling force tied to the upper portion of the trunk the rootball will be pulled loose as Projammer said. Not an operation for the unthoughtful in an urban area. Could leave a large crater. Or, the stump could be bored and composted in situ for a year with a new tree planted which will easily follow the decaying roots. It sounds like a nice saw log apart from possible metal embedment. If you leave it standing to make a treehouse etc., peel off the bark which if if not now harbouring destructive insects,will shortly. That’s a good way to attract woodpeckers and the like, though. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-tree-stump-landscaping-ideas-needed/456035/10 "2008-07-11T12:33:15Z")
Look around for a small timber operation to sell the tree to. There is likely a lot of good oak in there. Good oak is expensive. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-tree-stump-landscaping-ideas-needed/456035/11 "2008-07-11T13:11:46Z")
[QUOTE=Harmonious Discord] Look around for a small timber operation to sell the tree to. There is likely a lot of good oak in there. Good oak is expensive. [/QUOTE] Yeah - didn’t a poster (xacres and a truck?) post about furniture he made from trees he harvested from his property? Would be a neat way to “remember” the tree. ---
**Author:** ![Canadiangirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Canadiangirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadiangirl)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-tree-stump-landscaping-ideas-needed/456035/12 "2008-07-11T13:29:31Z")
Grow a vine type plant up it…clematis, honeysuckle… ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-tree-stump-landscaping-ideas-needed/456035/13 "2008-07-11T17:14:24Z")
Turn it into the centerpiece of a patio/porch area. Use it as a light post/ bird feeder support type thing. One side of a pergola… ---
**Author:** ![MoodIndigo1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e8c25b/32.png) [@MoodIndigo1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoodIndigo1)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-tree-stump-landscaping-ideas-needed/456035/14 "2008-07-11T17:48:21Z")
The lumber idea is a good one, imo. If you don’t want to sell the wood, you can have it made/make it into some item of furniture. One of my friends had his kitchen cabinets built from a tree that was cut from his property. This tree is dead. so in a few years down the road, the roots will have weakened and it’ll be dangerous. Don’t wait for the wood to rot. Face it, the tree is gone. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-tree-stump-landscaping-ideas-needed/456035/15 "2008-07-11T18:23:08Z")
The guy across the street did this [scary rabbit | Karlen Sanberg | Flickr](http://www.flickr.com/photos/karlen/2443932211/) with a piece of a tree he took down. I don’t recommend it. We call it Scary Coyote (but I’m told it’s supposed to be a white tiger). It stares at me all day. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-tree-stump-landscaping-ideas-needed/456035/16 "2008-07-11T18:36:01Z")
Wait - is this a perfectly live tree sans a top? The trunk is still there up to 8’ off the ground? If so, why not trim it up but leave some parts rough and let it regrow…it’s a tree. It’s not dead so don’t kill it, if you really don’t want to harm it just trim it and let it go. It’ll take years…but it will soon look like an oak with a crew cut… p.s If you must cut it down make a boat out of it. A Kayak from green wood would last a lifetime. The best ones are made from green wood. Heck! I’d make a kayak out of it for you, just for the pure experience of it. [QUOTE=Kalhoun] The guy across the street did this [scary rabbit | Karlen Sanberg | Flickr](http://www.flickr.com/photos/karlen/2443932211/) with a piece of a tree he took down. I don’t recommend it. We call it Scary Coyote (but I’m told it’s supposed to be a white tiger). It stares at me all day. [/QUOTE] Oh jeez - I’d turn that around on him immediately. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-tree-stump-landscaping-ideas-needed/456035/17 "2008-07-11T19:04:20Z")
I’d carve it into a chair and then plant another tree near it. In 10 years, you’ll have a perfect shady spot to sit and read! Actually, if you take it down right, you could cut several lengths long enough to be stand alone chairs, and leave the bottom few feet in the ground for a gaming table. There’s a patio set for ya! (In the firespinning community, we call that “burniture”, and it has an unfortunate tendency to get tossed into the firepit at 3 AM.) If you do carve it into something, do seal it afterwards. We had a statue chainsaw carved in a tree trunk and after about 15 years, it was in rather sad shape. We cut it off at the roots (which were still plenty strong) and had it sent to a furniture restorer for patching, filling, sanding and painting. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-tree-stump-landscaping-ideas-needed/456035/18 "2008-07-11T19:13:31Z")
“Burniture” nice. That would be a great screen name.