Before a tree removal expert cuts down that dead tree in your yard, you’ll have to decide whether the worker should eliminate the tree stump as well. If you’re having a difficult time making this decision, consider these factors when deciding what to do with the stump.

Aesthetically speaking, the sight of a stump isn’t appealing. If you’re precise about your yard and landscaping, removing the stump will be well worth it.

Stumps are dangerous. Stumps are not safe for your children. When they are running and playing around in the yard, they may not see the stump and stumble over it. Also, if a neighbor trips and injures themselves, it’s a liability that falls into your hands, and that won’t be fun to deal with. Also, tree stumps can damage your mower if you accidentally hit one when you’re mowing your lawn.

Stumps can cause new trees to grow. At times, leaving the stump behind gives to the new sprouts, which can occur in many small trees spreading around the stump. This is deformed to your landscaping and can be quite costly to try and remove because the new shoots may keep appearing, and you may need chemicals to kill them off entirely. These small trees also suck up nutrients from other plants that are located near them, so your begonias may not obtain all the nutrients they need.

Stumps are a pain to move around. Surviving tree stumps become an annoyance, an obstacle you have to maneuver around when weeding or mowing the lawn.

Stumps attract insects. When you neglect the fact that there are stumps in your yard, the dying tree takes a long time to rot completely. While it’s decaying, the stump lures in beetles, ants and other wood-boring pests. You may not care for them in your yard, but they can eventually spread to your home if you’re not careful.

Stumps take up valuable garden space. Especially if you don’t have a large section, the space you waste from the stump and roots may absorb a lot of space. Essentially, you can use that space for a veggie garden or outdoor furniture.

Typically, you’ll spend extra money to grind down the stumps, but it just might be well worth it. That is if you enjoy having a beautiful landscape.