Tree removal may be a necessity because of illness or damage, or it may be something that you choose. In either case, it fundamentally changes the aesthetics of your lawn. The remaining stump can be an eyesore and an obstacle. You can have the stump ground down, but the hole left behind is a tripping hazard. To improve the appearance of your lawn, as well as for safety’s sake, you probably want to level the ground after having a tree removed. Here are some tips for accomplishing this successfully.
1. Decide What You Want To Do With the Lawn
Once the tree has been completely removed, you may want to plant grass or flowers over the spot where it once was. It is a good idea to decide what you want to do with your lawn before you start the process of levelling, perhaps even before tree removal. Trees require huge amounts of minerals to sustain themselves. After a tree that has grown for many years is removed, the soil around it is often depleted. Take a soil sample to determine its condition.
If you want to plant a new tree in your yard, don’t try to plant it in exactly the same place. The root system from the remaining tree is still under the ground and will remain for some time. This can interfere with the growth of the new tree. You can improve its chances of survival by shifting it to a slightly different location.
2. Clean up the Area
After a tree is removed and the stump is ground down, there may be root pieces, dirt clods, rocks, or wood chips remaining in the area. These need to be cleared away before the ground can be levelled. You can use a pickax to break up any roots that are remaining. You can then use a bow rake to pick up any large pieces and then pick up any smaller debris by going over the area again with a broom rake.
3. Prepare the Ground
Depending on the testing results of the soil sample you took, you may have to replenish the nutrients and neutralize acidity. When added to the hole, ground limestone returns nutrients such as zinc, phosphates, magnesium, and calcium to the soil and also helps to raise the pH levels. After applying ground limestone, you may need to test the soil again to make sure it has not become too alkaline.
4. Apply New Topsoil
Once you have added ground limestone and tested the soil again to make sure it is ready for whatever you plan to do, the next step is to use high-quality topsoil to fill in the hole left behind by the stump. You can help restore nutrients by mixing in grass clippings, leaves, or compost. Add soil until the hole is filled, packing down each layer to make sure it is stable and solidly in place. Once the hole is filled, spread the top layer so that it is level. Help the new soil settle by watering it with a fine mist.
5. Do What You Were Planning To Do
Once the ground has been levelled, the site of an old tree can be repurposed as an outdoor patio, gazebo, arbour, or water feature to add visual interest and increased livability to your property. You can plant a new flower bed or just plant grass seed so that it blends in with your existing lawn. If you decide on this course, make sure that matches the existing grass and pay attention to the requirements for growing. The seeds should be covered by new soil about half an inch deep, and you can also protect the seeds by spreading straw over top of them in a thin layer.
Call Martin’s for tree service in Waterloo, including tree removal and stump grinding.
Steve Martin
