Transform An Ugly Tree Stump Into A Garden Showstopper (Without Expensive Removal)

An ugly tree stump sitting like a literal lump on a log in your yard can be frustrating if you don't have the money or time to spend on removing it. But with a little creativity, you can turn a blemish into a feature. Try turning it into an adorable natural planter.

Tree stumps can be cumbersome eyesores in the yard. Even worse, they're expensive to remove. The average cost to have a professional come to your home and dig it up can vary from $100 to $300 or more. You could just let it sit there and rot, but the biggest downside to removing a tree stump naturally is that it could take decades. That's a long time to have to stare at it. When you turn it into a planter, though, you'll get a prettier view, and it'll give the flowers more nutrients as the tree decays. 

Also, as you water flowers in the old remnants of the tree, it'll encourage the wood to decay a little faster. So, it's a win-win. Before you do something drastic like blast tree stumps with dynamite, why not turn it into an intentional part of your landscape and garden showstopper? All you'll need is a drill or a chainsaw, a hammer and chisel, some potting soil, and the pretty annual flower of your choice.

To get started turning your tree stump into a useful planter, first you'll need to hollow out the middle. If the wood has already decayed on its own, you might have a natural hole as a starting point. But if you don't have a natural starting point, then draw a circle a couple of inches from the edge of the bark, outlining the planter's edge.

Next, you'll need to dig out the center of the circle. You can accomplish this in a few ways. Adding an auger bit to your drill isn't the most efficient way to dig the center out, but it can work if you don't want to buy any other tools. Using a small chainsaw to cut your way in will be more efficient. Once you've gotten the rough outline of a hole, use a hammer and chisel to smooth the edges. How deep you make the hole really depends on your preference, but digging six to eight inches is a good place to start.

Once you've finished digging out the hole, line the bottom with compost. Then, fill the hole with potting soil and tuck in your favorite annual. Be sure to take note of how much shade your stump might get, as you won't be able to move it to a sunnier spot if flowers begin to wilt. And remember, making a planter is just one creative thing to do with a tree stump.