For fun, please suggest creative ideas for tree stumps (houses, living)

[maestramommy]

Since we are getting rid of all these pines, we're wondering what we can do with the tree stumps. In a moment of impishness Dh was thinking just to leave about 10 feet of trunk behind and have it carved into rocket ships, or missiles hitting the ground Or totem poles, or deities like Easter Island.

What other things can we do if we cut them closer to the ground? Turn them into seats? little tables? Hollow them out and make planters? Some of the trees are up to 14" in diameter. One twin tree has two large trunks 16" in diameter. They are right next to the driveway.

[Mac_Muz]

I had one as a totem pole once and it worked good to keep out strangers. Where I am now I lever them up around 3 feet high and cut chairs where ever they are. If another is close by, I cap it with rough cut lumber making a table. Here there is, and scattered about in the back woods.

You can leave them as is for pot planters too. I sort of create a elfy look of them.

[sgthoskins]

Have you thought about just removing them? It's a bit of work but IMO better than having unsightly stumps in your yard.

[maestramommy]

Originally Posted by sgthoskins

Have you thought about just removing them? It's a bit of work but IMO better than having unsightly stumps in your yard.

Oh sure we have. But we thought it might be fun to do something with them, and are just casting about for ideas.

[GregW]

Sitting on a fresh cut pine stump can result in you getting stuck there by the pitch.

The stumps attract wood eating insects and you do not want them living near your house. I would pay the tree company to grind or pull the stumps and cart them away.

[Valerie C]

A totem pole would be SO COOL but multiple could get you some strange looks from the neighbors and visitors (not always a bad thing...) The ones that came down from the front yard were taken care of with a rented stump grinder. Since we had loggers come in to take down the majority of trees, I asked them to leave 1-3' stumps on a small grouping of trees (I think 4 or 5), which I use to put flowerpots, or garden 'junk' (my husband's term) on. My dream was to let the stumps die back completely (takes a couple of years) so that it would stop producing sap. then sand the top and put preservative on, making pretty and natural seats. That hasn't happened yet... maybe this year


Just remembered that when my mom had a 70+ year old maple taken down at the old homestead (sad day to watch that one come down, a prized family heirloom ) she had them leave approx. 3-4 feet of stump. The middle of the tree was rotted out, and the following spring, a raspberry bush had sprouted I'll post a pic if I can find one!

Originally Posted by maestramommy

Since we are getting rid of all these pines, we're wondering what we can do with the tree stumps. In a moment of impishness Dh was thinking just to leave about 10 feet of trunk behind and have it carved into rocket ships, or missiles hitting the ground Or totem poles, or deities like Easter Island.

What other things can we do if we cut them closer to the ground? Turn them into seats? little tables? Hollow them out and make planters? Some of the trees are up to 14" in diameter. One twin tree has two large trunks 16" in diameter. They are right next to the driveway.

[BF66389]

Depends where/what type of stump. I have raspberry bushes circling one of mine...

[yinduffy]

Bird houses might look good. They may be single holers or bigger multi-family type bird houses. It depends how they will blend with the surroundings.
I put a birdhouse on a stump. It looked nice but unfortunately no takers.

[GotBackHome]

or stick a bird feeder in one (if it's a short stump), the stump part becomes a 'table' for the seed that's dropped out and ground eaters can get it then. But then I think a totem pole or Easter Island figure would be really cool. At our Renaissance Festival, there's a guy call 'the Wood Butcher' -there's probably someone like him at every RenFair- who carves statues out of logs, using chainsaws and such. S stand of statues could be neat, too!

[MCNPA]

Yuo want a really creative idea, how about culturing mushrooms? They sell dowels that are impregnated with mushroom spores. Simply drill holes in the tree stumps, plug the dowels in and wait. I haven't done it but heard it is easy.