The Best Way to Decompose Old Stumps

Tree stumps in your garden can be unsightly and are difficult to dispose of. You can grind them down, but this takes a stump grinder and a lot of elbow grease. You can burn them, but this will not be possible in most residential areas as you will need to leave the stump to smolder for several days. The best way to remove a stump is to help the natural process of decomposition. Stump removers contain potassium nitrate, which aids in stump decomposition and are available at garden or home centers.

Decompose Fallen Trees

Move a small fallen tree into a shaded area where the wood can stay wet and fungi are likely to thrive. Think about how mushroom fungi grow best in wet, shaded areas. Drill the holes to about 12 inches deep in large logs or as deep as possible without drilling through the opposite side of the log or branches. Add water to fill the holes to the top. This step is not necessary for the rest of the tree if you moved it into shade where it will not dry out quickly. Spray the tree and stump with a fine mist of water as needed to keep them moist. Add more stump remover to the holes as the first application soaks into the wood. Apply stump remover to the wood in the pile and keep it moist, just as you did when the tree was whole.