What a Tree’s Fate Is After Removal: Some Fun Facts
You may have seen a tree come down and put yourself in the position of wondering where all that wood is headed. Is it your supposition that it is being taken to a landfill to be done with? Or what of the sizeable stump in its wake, one wonders what becomes of it below ground?
At Family Tree Care we are used to such inquiries; we have been fielding them since 1996 in our service area of inland and shoreline Connecticut. Before we get to some of the more intriguing facts on how a tree is disposed of once it is no longer in your yard, feel free to give us a ring at (203) 902-3639 for any matter pertaining to your trees.
There Is Little Waste in a Tree
People will tell you a tree put out of commission is nothing but trash. That is a misconception. The truth is a mature tree has an abundance of material to offer and is put to many second uses.
After we are done with a tree removal, the wood can be found in a number of forms:
- As firewood to heat the home, having been split and seasoned
- In the form of chipped mulch for the garden beds and the like
- Milled for a woodworking project or to make flooring and furniture
- As biochar or compost to put some nutrients back in the soil
- With local woodturners and artists who fashion carvings, bowls and cutting boards from it
- Ground up for the surface of a trail or playground
A healthy tree does not have much to be thrown away, not even the small branches.
In a Way, Mulch Is the Tree’s Afterlife
Run the smaller pieces and branches through a chipper and you have mulch, which is good for the rest of your landscape. It will suppress weeds and retain moisture while breaking down to nourish the soil. You could say the tree is giving something back to the earth in the way of new life and helping the ones left standing to do better.
The Stump Has Its Own Process
Leave a stump in the ground and it is not going to just go away. A host of organisms set about their work. Over time you will see this take place around and in the stump:
- Fungi at work on the wood fibers from within
- Beetles and other insects hastening decomposition
- Roots rotting away beneath the surface, a process of years in some cases
- Softened wood put to use by small animals as a kind of shelter
- Wood giving up its nutrients to the surrounding soil
It is a natural enough thing but it can be a long wait, so a lot of homeowners opt to have the stump ground into chips to expedite matters.
A Record in the Rings
Cut into a tree and the cross section shows you its growth rings, each one a year in its life. A wide ring is indicative of ample water and a fine season; a narrow one might mean drought. One can read the seasons the tree has been through in a fresh stump. Scientists will examine these very same rings to piece together the climate of centuries past.
Historic Trees Deserve Attention
Then there are the trees with historic value. We put in the time to look after those at places like the Meadow Stone House and Dudley Farm in Guilford. An old tree at such a property has decades of history in its roots and rings. Proper care will see it stand for longer than if it were left to itself. Should a historic tree have to come down eventually, we find its wood makes for something of meaning in the community.
Put Your Questions to a Certified Arborist
If you need a tree taken care of in a safe manner or have questions about what is in your yard, it is well to speak with someone familiar with Connecticut trees. We have three on our staff at Family Tree Care who are state certified, having put in the work to pass the exam. We are licensed and insured for commercial as well as residential.
Our hours are 8:00am to 4:00pm Monday to Friday, though for an emergency we are available around the clock. To plan a project or to know what is best for your trees’ health, call (203) 902-3639.