Creative Garden Ideas for Tree Stumps

Published July 23, 2018

Ancient Wise Man

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An old tree stump in the garden can be an eyesore and difficult to remove. A better solution is to transform that sad, ugly stump into a work of art or other purpose.

This stump was greatly transformed with the carving of a man's face. Try your hand at creating your own. Most stump wood carvers use a chainsaw and a few chisel tools.

Take a Seat

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Create a quiet niche in your garden by transforming an old stump into a chair. The back of this chair features a hand-carved tree. The natural moss on the trunk creates mystique.

Welcome Home, Fairies and Gnomes

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Transform a tree stump into the perfect home for fairies or gnomes. This home features a stone-lined walkway leading to the front door.

Village Mob Scene

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If you're cutting down a group of trees, this design is a clever way to solve tree stumps in a garden. Leave tall stumps to decorate using a favorite theme, such as a village mob scene. You can change the costumes for different occasions and holidays.

Bird Condo Treehouse

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A tall stump is an ideal support for a birdhouse condo. You can be as creative with color and style as you want with this design.

Smoke Rings

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Express your inner artist with a whimsical figure, such as a reggae dude with a cigar and braided steel necklace.

Redwood Forest Mysteries Fountain

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This amazing Redwood Forest Mysteries stump was transformed into two water fountains - one for people and one for pets. Several forest critters peep out from various stump roots. Notice the carved steps help little ones reach the fountain.

Quirky Wood Nymph

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This wood nymph clings to part of the stump with a mischievous expression on his bearded face. You can either paint him a bluish gray or allow him to blend naturally into the rest of the stump.

Kids' Art Stump Planter

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Get your kids involved in gardening by letting them decorate a tree stump, such as this whimsical kids' art and planter. Provide the paint and brushes and turn them loose to create their own stump art.

Meditating Sage

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What to do with the remains of a very old tree? Carve out the face of a sage deep in meditation, of course! The different bumps and imperfections of the stump can be incorporated into the sage's demeanor.

Paint and Plant

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Once a shade tree for the patio, this stump is now a large planter. You can paint a stump or you may prefer to use an outdoor sealer. You'll need to dig out the center of the tree and add potting soil. You can use a mix of greenery and flowers for a nice display.

One Too Many Tweets

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Get inspired by this clever depiction of mom and dad caring for their three babies. This is a good example for anyone who desires to recreate their own stump art.

Hedgehog Art Display

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One way to use an old stump is to give it new life with a dark stain. It is now ready to serve as a pedestal to display art pieces, such as this hedgehog enjoying a day skiing.

Stumpy Scarecrow

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It doesn't always require carving skills to transform a stump into a something amusing and different. This imaginative creation was made by nothing more than a baseball cap and a pair of work gloves.

Spring or Easter Centerpiece

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A small tree stump can be converted into a unique table centerpiece perfect for your outdoor space. This one uses dyed vines for a nest, a couple of quail eggs and feathers. The artist used a large white egg that's cracked at the top, hinting of the chick about to emerge and announce the arrival of spring. Alternately, you can decorate a taller tree stump with similar seasonal decorations.

Benched

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A tree can be repurposed to fashion a bench from the stump. Split the trunk in two. Carve out the two stumps to form a trough for the bark side of the trunk length. Secure the new bench in place without the need of nails.

Woodland Planter

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One side of this stump is hollowed out and used to grow vines and a fern. If you have a similar stump, add potting soil and create your own mix of plants for a garden highlight.

Niche for Madonna

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A tall stump can be carved into a niche for several purposes. This gardener decided to use it as a display for the Madonna and infant Jesus. A candle and miniature flower pot are used to decorate this niche.

Coffee Table

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This tree stump was cut into two equal pieces and a wood slab placed on top. This makes a great coffee table for any outdoor setting.

Owl Fun and No Work

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This carved owl rises from its vine-covered perch, where it sees everything and everyone coming into the garden. Add an uplight so visitors can enjoy this spooky element at night.

Elephant Decorative Box

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A smaller tree stump can be cut to create a one-of-a-kind decorative box. You can seal the wood and use it to store gardening gloves or other gardening essentials outside your home.

Simple Planter

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A partially hollowed out stump filled with potting soil can become an ideal natural planter for succulents. This can become the feature piece for a succulent-themed garden.

Birdhouses and Religion

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This large stump has religious icons and symbols carved throughout, yet serves as the resting place for several log-styled birdhouses.

Hide and Seek

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A large stump becomes the stage for two other wood carvings that give a new spin on Grimm's fairy tale, Little Red Riding Hood and the big bad wolf.

A little creativity goes a long way when it comes to transforming any outdoor or garden space with tree stumps. Get inspired to try one of these ideas for yourself!

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Creative Garden Ideas for Tree Stumps