Additionally, they are extracted where restoring plantation forest areas to peat bog for conservation reasons. Recently small scale commercial stump harvesting has started in parts of Scotland to provide fuel for biomass power stations. In Finland, stumps were at one time used to produce tar and charcoal.
Stumps are often lifted, or pushed over, in land clearing operations prior to new residential or commercial construction. The cost associated with pushing up stumps, piling stumps and debris, and burning is often regarded as normal pre-construction activity.
What Physically Happens To Tree Stumps After Tree Removal? Once a tree is removed or felled, the stump and roots begin a very slow decaying process. Over time, they will become home to various pests, organisms, and fungi.
Burning tree stumps is often against the law, as it can start wildfires or pollute the air. It isn't good for the environment. Burning tree stumps releases harmful chemicals into the air, damaging the ozone layer and contributing to climate change. It's a health hazard.
Don't burn the stump.
But, be warned, if your tree stump has too much moisture in it then burning is a no-no – you won't get far even with a chemical accelerant.
Over time, the soil above would fill the air pockets created by decomposing wood, creating a sinkhole that took his life. As a result, many city ordinances now prevent the burying of stumps and tree debris to prevent this type of problem.
When many areas are logged in Minnesota, the operators leave behind standing trees to offer places for animals to eat, hide, nest, and more.
When logs must be stored for long periods at temperatures above freezing, it is best to keep logs soaking wet. Storing logs under sprinklers or in a log pond helps prevent end checking and slows deterioration caused by insects, fungal stain, and decay. However, chemical staining can occur under wet conditions.
#1: Tree Stumps Left in the Ground Will Rot
One of the reasons to remove a tree stump is the fact that a left-behind stump is going to begin to rot. When this happens, it can become an invitation for a Carpenter Ant or Termite colony to form. Rotting wood is very attractive to these pests because it is easier to eat.
Within the logging industry, these tops are left where they fall, and that is our practice as well. However, if some of them are near your lawn, we may push them back into the woods a bit.
The answer is yes – trees can grow back if the stump is left in place. While stump grinding presents less of a risk of regrowth, the roots are still left in place and can produce sprouts that may eventually grow into a tree.
Stop the spread of disease and pests
Fungi thrives in tree stumps which can be hazardous to pets or young children. To avoid the spread of disease and pests, we recommend removing your stump.
Regrowing forests after harvest – whether by planting or natural regeneration – is a core tenet of sustainable forest management (SFM).
Oaks, maples, cherry, and ashes are also valuable trees. A high-quality veneer tree with a large diameter can be worth a lot but they are rare. A common rule is the bigger the log, the more it is worth. Large or small heart depending of the type of tree.
The economic value of waterlogged dead trees is immense, especially in the furniture making industry. The wood retrieved from these trees has a unique character, rich with patina and texture, making it ideal for high end furniture pieces.
It is generally best to mill a log as soon as possible after cutting it. Sealing the end grain is the right thing to do but just as important is where the log lies.
Wet wood produces more smoke and harmful by-products that pollute the air. The process of kiln drying wood burns off any sap and moisture or other harmful particles that cause smoke and pollutants resulting in a more environmentally-friendly fuel.
On weekends, I cut, limbed and skidded my own “hitches” or loads. I cut mostly pulpwood and some logs. A good lumberjack could cut 70 trees per day.
Over watering and overfertilizing can also kill roots and result in trunk splitting. Cold damage and trunk disease can cause splits and cracks.
If you are interested in providing wildlife habitat on your land, it's best to leave dead trees where they stand, but we understand that this is not always possible. Here are some tips: If a dead tree is causing a problem on your property, consider only removing part of it. Everything counts in nature.
Grinding is much more efficient than stump removal, however, it does leave the tree's roots behind. If the stump is large, the chip pile produced can also be quite large, but the chips can be used as mulch for other plants in your landscape.
Do not plant a new tree in the decomposing stump of an old one. While occasionally this will be observed in nature, planting a new tree in the decaying stump will not be successful because of the soil composition, space for rooting, and moisture availability.
Typically we grind the stumps 4 to 6 inches below grade. Roots and the heart of the stump below that will remain. Over time these will rot out and should not be a problem. You may be able to plant small shrubs or grasses directly in the area where we grind the stump.