Sometimes They Come Back: Dealing With Regenerating Tree Stumps

Tree stumps often generate new growth. This depends largely on the type of tree and whether the stump is still viable or not. If you don't appreciate new growth creeping in after you just took the time out to have a tree removed, there are only two options available to you. Either remove the stump or kill it.

What Did the Tree Stump Ever Do To You?

In truth, when there's growth above, there's also the possibility of growth below. Tree roots and other plants have some savvy survival mechanisms. In some cases, the growth can sprout right out of the roots. Your tree stump can effectively turn into some new trees whether you like it or not.

The roots themselves can continue to grow as they support these new sprouts. And tree roots are vicious. Were you going to plant a garden in the space that was once under the shadow of the recently deceased? Those living roots can suck away all the nutrients from the things you actually want to grow.

Killing the Tree Stump

"Kill" sounds harsh, but that's precisely what you'll have to do. If you don't want to get rid of the tree stump for whatever reason, and you don't want the growth regeneration occurring, then you'll have to stop the stump from "living."

There are a few methods at your disposal for committing the deed.

Chemicals – There's a wide assortment of herbicides and other branded chemicals out there. You can find many that exist specifically for the killing of tree stumps and roots. They work in a variety of ways, so no matter what, you should always follow the instructions that come with them, to the letter.

Using chemicals usually, but not always, involves drilling holes into the stump and pouring in the chemical. No, the stump isn't going to die immediately. The process can take weeks or months, sometimes longer depending on the chemical and methods of administering it. It will control growth in the meantime though.

Minerals – Combinations of Epsom salt and water, or rock salt and water, can kill a tree stump. This method also involves drilling holes into the stump and then putting in the minerals. This method falls under the category of "home remedy," along with a few others. That's because it doesn't require liquid chemicals to do the job.

Accelerated decay – Actually, you may have noticed that all of these methods are just forms of accelerated decay. While chemicals do help stop growth while the decay occurs, they are all just different methods of helping the stump to rot. There are more ways to help a stump decay besides. However, all of these methods of slow arboricide are only leading up to the same thing…

Removing the Tree Stump

If you flat out don't want to deal with a zombie tree stump, your best bet is removal. Did you think herbicides and rock salt were going to make the physical stump go away? Whether you kill the stump or not, the result will still be that you have to remove it.

Physical removal is both the best and quickest option available to you. Decaying the stump helps make removal easier, but hiring a professional stump removal service eliminates the need for that anyway. 

For more information, contact Buskirk Tree Service or a similar company.

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