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Lazy composting involves putting leaves, grass clippings, and plant trimmings in a corner of your yard and letting nature take its course. There is no turning, watering, or balancing green and brown materials. It’s a low-effort, long-term approach that can take up to one or two years to create finished compost. It is perfect for gardeners who don’t mind waiting and want a no-fuss way to repurpose organic waste.

The most common alternative is burning the stump first, then dealing with the cinders and ashes. As you can imagine, this option creates fire hazards, especially since roots can burn underground, hidden, for long afterward. That’s why many states and cities have outlawed the use of stump burning entirely. We do not recommend this option as a viable alternative unless you get a permit from the local fire department and practice all safe burning procedures.

Others prefer a more long-term DIY approach of degrading the stump with home mixtures like Epsom salt and vinegar injected directly into it. This may help the stump decay faster, allowing homeowners to dig it out themselves, but it’s still a lengthy process. It usually takes months for a stump to start falling apart with such treatments, and in the meantime, it can be vulnerable to rot, insects, and other problems.

Reducing household waste is the best way to save money on junk removal costs in the long run. Reusable kitchen, pantry, and cleaning supplies will make a large dent, as will creating an easy compost and recycling system in your home. Additionally, create an ongoing practice of recycling, donating, or repurposing items that are ready to go.

If you have a lot of trees around your home, mulching all those leaves can smother the lawn. Air and light won't reach the grass and soil if too many leaves have been mulched. Turf grass and other lawn problems can arise if the weather is too wet and excessive leaves have been mulched.