Get matched with top leaf removal pros in Howes, SD

You must cut into the ground and around the full circumference of the bush stump to keep it from growing back. If you're concerned about the size of the underground roots or are unable to remove them manually, you can also treat the root ball with an herbicide. Speak with a local landscaper about whether the remaining roots will interfere with your garden plans or threaten to bring the plant back to life.

Once you confirm a tree is dead, you should remove it. Dead trees eventually fall, and larger trees in particular can cause damage to rooftops, fencing, flowers, and other objects. As we mentioned, letting decayed wood stay in your yard also invites risks to the surrounding landscaping and vegetation.

Some people prefer to leave or even carve a leftover stump, but we recommend removing it if possible. You can often dig out smaller trunks with a shovel once they have died and dried out. You can have stumps professionally removed, or request a service to grind them down to ground level so they can be replaced with other landscaping or objects.

It is possible to cut down a tree on your property yourself, but we don’t recommend it. If the tree is short enough to easily reach the top branches, and the tree is far from power lines or structures, consider renting a chainsaw and removing it yourself. Trees that are larger than that, close to electrical lines, or close to fences, homes, sheds, or other structures should only ever be removed by professionals. Not only is the work dangerous, but you could damage structures on your property in the process.