Trees are one of the best things in the world. They clean the air, keep the earth cool, provide shelter, and so much more. However, some trees need to be cut down, leaving you only with a stump. So, what do you do when you’re stumped by your, er, tree stump?
Before you just decide to get rid of it, here are some tree stump transformation ideas you should give a shot!
1. Raised Portable Dual Planter
Give your garden some flowers! Large tree stumps, especially whole ones, can be sawed and carved out to grow plants. A dual planter gives your garden some variety and raising the planter. bed on a stand helps protect it from any hungry wild animals and helps you choose the best soil for your flowers.
Designing it with iron handles help you move the planter easily when you’re rearranging your garden.
2. Hollow Planter
If you have a hollow tree trunk, use these hollows to your advantage and plant your favorite flowers in it. If the elevation isn’t a concern, just lay it on the ground and strategically attach some wood slabs to prevent it from rolling.
Not everyone gets additional tree slabs from their stumps. Luckily, there are thick wood rounds available online!
3. Gnome Guard Post
Need creative tree stump transformation ideas? How about making it a fairytale home? Give your gnomes and garden friends a home! Simply secure your gnome statue on the stump and add some flowers, string lights, or even a little house with it.
These little touches make it look a bit more magical.
This territorial gnome is sure to bring a smile to anyone’s face.
4. Light it up!
While we should always keep any fire away from forests, tree stumps look amazing in the warm light of a candle. After you’ve done the necessary precautions and made sure to treat your stump to be fire safe, add candles to have a fairytale set-up in your backyard.
Candle holders like this blend into the wood and add a shadow of mystery to the scene.
5. Elevated Herb Garden
Combine multiple tree pieces and make an elevated herb garden. Using average-sized stumps are best for caring for herbs, especially since herbs don’t require a deep soil bed. Elevating this also makes it easier to reach the herbs for your latest recipe or when it’s time to water them.
This starter kit is beginner-friendly and grows the herbs in a controlled space before replanting them in the stump.
6. Mini Succulent Planter
Shallow tree stumps can be another home for mini succulents. The lack of depth in the stump is alright since succulents thrive in dry places. You can make this space Instagram-worthy by adding some well-placed rocks and pebbles.
This toolset contains every specially designed tool for taking care of your succulents.
7. Wood Slab Centerpiece
Some are fortunate enough to be left with a slab of wood from your tree stump. This looks chic as a tabletop centerpiece, together with lanterns, flowers, and tree nuts. This low-cost table design takes less than 5 minutes to make but helps the entire set-up look more sophisticated.
Strategically set a few of these around the slab for added flare.
8. Country Rustic Charm
Tree stumps look amazing with roughed up metal. If you have old metal farm tools laying around, try styling them with the stump. Rust and age become charming with the rustic country style set-up, especially with some wild plants or lanterns added.
This perfectly matches the rustic country style and can be used as a planter or as a well-placed watering can.
9. Rustic Bench Planter
This acts great as alternative garden seating. Simply lay a sealed tree trunk on its side, making sure it won’t roll, and carve out a hole to plant flowers or some smooth seating areas. This multi-functional design gives the stump purpose whether or not someone’s sitting on it.
Keep your tree stump from deteriorating by treating it with a thin double coat of wood sealer.
10. Stony Pot Stand
If you want to transform your tree stump into a planter but can’t carve out hollow areas, use flower pots and camouflage it with stone! Place these on the stump and glue stones around the pot and the stump’s crown to hide it with unique garden details.
These are palm-width stones that can be used if there’s a lack of decent rock selection nearby.
11. Rock Garden
A beautiful rock garden can have tree-stumps taking center stage. Gather interesting rocks and strategically lay them out around the stump, which helps soften the harsh look of the rocks. For a pop of color, add a viny potted plant that’s cascading down the stump to look like a plant waterfall.
Adding viny and hanging plants helps soften the rock set-up even further.
12. Succulent Garden
Although some tree stumps are too tough to carve a deep planter hole into, they can still transform into a succulent garden. A large stump allows more succulent variety and helps the piece look like living art, especially if the succulents are staged well.
This kit equips beginners with everything you’ll need to take care of succulent babies.
13. Natural Porch Pot
If your tree stump planter is too small and is being overshadowed by larger pieces in your backyard, give them the spotlight by using it as a porch pot instead. The smaller size makes sure it won’t get in anyone’s way while simultaneously leveling up your porch game.
This kit contains a variety of flower seeds for beginner gardeners.
14. Hidden Stand
Looking for more tree stump transformation ideas? How about transforming a stump into a hidden stand? Tree stumps can also be used to highlight other plants. Make it a platform and camouflage it with tall greenery.
Using the tree stump instead of a modern pot stand gives the landscape a more organic look, especially when seen up close.
This terra-cotta pot is a great holder for your favorite plants that won’t distract from the natural look.
15. Bloom in a Dead Zone
It’s not unusual to find tree stumps surrounded by a lifeless soil area. Add some life to this by settling delicate and vibrant flowers on top. Even if the stump is dead, the contrast between the life of the flowers and the dryness of the stump makes a mark.
This would look best without any visible or distracting flower pots.
Artificial flowers help any dead areas bloom with life, and the lack of a visible pot helps it look like the flowers naturally sprouted from the lifeless stump.
16. Flower Bed
Trees always look good with flowers, whether it’s standing tall or as just a stump. Surrounding it with a bed of bright flowers helps the stump seamlessly become part of the natural landscape and lend it new life.
These fire-colored flowers are perfect for beginner gardeners. Butterflies also love this, giving even more life to your stump.
17. Natural Flower Crown
When you have a short stump firmly buried in the ground, give it a flower crown! This simple solution works amazing and won’t be such a huge project. Bright flowers would also help warn people not to trip over the small stump, in case they weren’t looking where they were going.
These tiny flowers grow straight up and naturally form a crown shape.
18. Outdoor Dining Set
Don’t waste your extra-large tree stumps! These are hard to come by meaning that, if you have one, you should consider converting it into outdoor furniture. Leave the largest stump piece rooted to the ground as a table and use smaller tree stumps as stools.
This dining set is low-maintenance, functional, and leaves a great impression.
Add natural carpeting to this with a colorful rock bed using smooth river stones.
19. Rustic Table
Need more tree stump transformation ideas for awkwardly shaped stumps? Some stump pieces come in awkward shapes and slabs that look great as a coffee table. All you’ll need is a base and a slab for the tabletop before you customize it to fit your space and preferences.
This resin kit is the modern twist your table needs to turn it into a trendy river table.
20. French Country Style
The rustic French country aesthetic is easiest to achieve by using tree stumps and white accents. This setup can be part of elegant decoration for a garden party or used as a fireplace accent, to help display logs neatly.
These fairy lights are designed to sit inside your bottle of choice. These match the French country look perfectly and would do well both indoors and outdoors.