7 Tree Stump Creative DIY Ideas

Trees are a wonderful source of natural beauty to the neighborhood where they grow. They filter the air, provide places for children to play, and even have mood-boosting benefits for the denizens of the neighborhood. However, sometimes trees become old, sick, or even dangerous due to the threat of falling branches and have to be cut down.

When you’re forced to cut down a tree you’re left with an unsightly stump and that’s when it’s time to perform a tree stump removal. You can perform the process yourself, thus undertaking a laborious task that could cost hundreds of dollars, or you could contact a tree stump removal expert.

Of course, there’s always a chance that you want to explore neither path… and that’s why we’ve found seven creative ways you can put those stumps to good use, even without the rest of the tree. Here they are in no particular order:

1.Tables!

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If your tree stump is located in the back yard, why not turn it into a dining table? This will take a little bit of work on your end but is well worth it.

First you’ll need to take a chainsaw and cut the tree so that it is perfectly level on the top. If you want to make a table that you can bring into your home, you will need to level it on both sides, top and bottom. Then you’ll need to allow your tree stump to dry for a few weeks. Make sure you keep the wood raised up above the floor so that air can flow on both sides! Otherwise you run the risk of developing mold on the bottom of your stump-table.

After the stump has had time to thoroughly dry out, you’ll need to go through the process of removing all of the bark. Use a chisel to do this and take your time! Remove small sections of bark at a time. Once you’ve removed the smaller sections you should be able to peel off the larger ones using your chisel and a crowbar.

You’ll want to sand down the top of your tree table and smooth it out with an orbital palm sander. Then you can attach table legs. Here is another opportunity to up-cycle (upgrade + recycle)! Find some old pieces of wood or metal you can re-purpose towards the job and attach those to your tree table.

Finally, you’ll need to apply a few coats of sealer, lightly sanding the stump in between each application and (ta-da!) you have made your own table out of an old tree stump removal!

2.Make a bird bath!

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This one is easy! All you have to do is sand the top of the stump down and add a shallow saucer full of water to the top of it. This will give neighborhood birds a place to bathe and bring the beauty of nature back into your yard!

3.Make your own planter!

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This one will take a bit of work as well but you can turn a stump into a planter to give it new life. You can leave the remaining portion of the tree exactly where it is and skip the whole tree stump removal process.

Take a sharpened mattock and start a planting hole, scraping out a large 4- to 8-inch-deep hole with the wide end of the tool. Then you’ll drill some drainage holes into the side of the stump, sloping them towards the ground. Then add a little gravel, some compost and potting soil and you can start planting some beautiful flowers in your old dead tree stump!

4. Make items for your home!

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You can cut the tree stump into thin discs, which can be up-cycled into any number of items that you can use at home. For example, wooden charger plates or platters can add an element of nature to your home.

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A smaller stump can easily be converted into coasters for drinks, while a bigger one can be turned into a writing board.

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A thicker piece can have a large hole drilled through it and have a vase inserted.

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You can decorate these as well, whether you paint them or apply a tile mosaic to them using grout. Glow in the dark paint can also make for something beautiful! Paint the tops of your stumps and leave them outside for a dazzling yard decoration .

5.Make a pathway in your yard out of wood!

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Just like in the last example, you’ll need to cut the stump(s) into thinner discs of wood. Then you’ll want to treat them with a based water proofer to prevent the wood from rotting and organize the discs into whatever pattern you would like for your pathway.

6.Make a bench or some stools!

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A bench is fairly easy to make with two tree stumps; as with the table option you will need to cut and sand the tops until they are very flat. After doing this you can attach a simple thick piece of reclaimed wood to provide the sitting area for you bench.

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To create stools, just flatten the top of the stump as before and attach a cushion to it. You can make the cushion in a variety of ways, for example using faux leather and latex foam.

7.Make a bookshelf!

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If you’ve got a tall stump, you can actually hollow out part of the inside and add shelving to create a bookshelf! This will require possibly even more work and patience than creating a table; you will need to very carefully cut out the area that will become the shelf and the sand it flat all over. You can carve slots for the shelves at whatever height you would like and then add your books. It’s a great, natural looking way to display your home library!

You can turn an unsightly stump into a work of functional art. You don’t always need to perform a tree stump removal , but if you do, plenty of tree service professionals are available to you. Otherwise, just head down to your local arts & crafts store and let your imagination take hold!

Author Bio : Aaron Sanders has worked in landscaping for 15 years and continues to be an asset to Mr. Tree Services . He firmly believes that your attitude determines your altitude in life.