Getting Creative With a Large Tree Stump in a Front Yard

Planter

• Blend your stump into the scenery by using it as a planter. Use a hatchet to hollow out an opening in the top of the stump. Then fill the hollowed area with potting soil. Plant various types of flowers that are viable in your USDA plant hardiness zone. This project will transform a dull looking stump into a lively, growing display.

Birdbath

• If the top of your stump is level or slightly sunken, use the stump as the base for a birdbath. Purchase a heavy bowl for a birdbath and place it on top of the stump. If you want the top of the birdbath to blend with the stump base, paint the bowl to match the stump. Then simply add water and watch your feathered friends enjoy their new bathing area.

Bird Feeder

• Another stump transforming option for bird enthusiasts is to use the stump as a bird feeder. You will need a fairly smooth surface on the top of the stump for this. If the top is craggy, use a hatched to chip away any extending edges or saw away the top layer. Then sprinkle the top of the stump with bird seed and enjoy watching the birds fly in to feast in your yard.

Bottle Tree

• Bottle trees are a traditional Southern decoration that dates back to the days of slavery when bottles that were hung on a tree were thought to capture evil spirits. Turn your stump into a bottle tree by hammering long nails or stakes into the sides of the stump. Hammer the nails or stakes at an upward angle. Then place bottles of various colors onto the nails or stakes.