Shaping the perfect ornamental tree

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Shaping the perfect ornamental tree

Shaping the perfect ornamental tree takes a lot of work but creates a fantastic statement in any yard. The history of ornamental trees is amazing, I've spent much of my spare time and holidays researching and visiting sites with traditionally shaped tree, and researching the techniques that people used to trim those trees originally. Of course these days with electric trimmers and computer planning programs we can come up with easy ways to trim trees and even more exotic and intricate patterns. It's exciting to be on the forefront of an industry with so much history, and to be adding my little section to that history.

4 Ways To Remove A Tree Stump

A tree stump in the middle of your garden can really limit how you use your outdoor space and it doesn't make the most attractive feature. It typically takes a bit of hard work to remove a tree stump, but it can be done. Here's an overview of four stump removal techniques:

Dig It

If the stump is from a young tree with a relatively tame root system you can dig it out. You'll have to dig up the soil surrounding the stump until the roots are exposed. Next, you'll need to cut the roots with a root saw and pull them out of the ground piece by piece. The aim is to remove as much of the root system as possible. When the majority of the roots have been removed, you should be able to dig the stump out with a shovel.

Grind It

Using a stump grinding machine is less labour-intensive than digging the stump out, but you will need to protect yourself with goggles, earplugs and gloves. Once you position the machine over the stump it will grind down through the stump and into the earth. You will need to move the machine around the stump to ensure the roots are also broken down. The ground will recover quicker if you shovel out the ground up wood before filling the hole, and the wood can be added to your compost heap.

Burn It

Build a fire around the stump with dry wood and keep it burning by adding more wood to the fire as needed. It will take several hours to burn the stump down to the ground, and once finished you will have to shovel the ash out of the ground and fill the hole. This method doesn't get rid of the roots, so may not be your best option if you want to dig a garden or build something on the site of the stump.

Drill It

Drilling large holes around the circumference of the stump will enable you to pour a chemical remover deep into the stump. Chemical stump removers work by softening the wood, which promotes rot. After a few weeks, the stump should be soft enough for you to remove, but you'll have to keep kids and pets away from the stump in the meantime as stump removers are toxic.

If you're concerned about handling chemicals and machinery or if you don't have time to burn or dig out a stump, you could hire a tree surgeon such as Melbourne Tree Stump Removal Pty Ltd to take care of it for you. They'll assess the type and age of the stump and recommend the most suitable removal technique.


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