If you have an old tree stump marring the appearance of your yard, you may wonder if there is anything you can do to decorate it so it doesn't stand out as much. If so, use one of the following ideas for camouflaging the tree stump while adding a decorative touch to your landscape.

Convert It Into A Small Table

If the stump is intact and has a flat top, you could convert it into a small table for your lawn chair. For this idea, you also need sandpaper, a paint brush, and a small can of shellac. If you want the outside of the stump to be a different color than natural bark, you will also need a can of spray paint in the color of your choice.

Use the sandpaper on the top of the stump to smooth down the surface. If you need a larger surface, you can also lay a cut-out piece of plywood on top. Then, apply two layers of shellac on top to protect the wood from moisture. After the shellac has dried, cover the top with plastic, then spray paint the sides with two coats.

Turn It Into A Planter

If the stump has started to break apart on the inside, you could turn it into a planter. For this project, you will need a wood chisel, hammer, enough topsoil to fill the stump, and flowers of your choosing.

Using the chisel and hammer, chip away the inside wood to create a cavity, leaving about an inch inside the bark to give the plantar some stability. Then, fill the cavity with topsoil until the dirt is two inches above the top. You want it to be higher than the top of the stump to allow for settling.

Once you filled the stump with dirt, plant the flowers. When choosing your flowers, you may want to pick annuals with shallow roots, such as petunias, marigolds, or pansies. If you want to cover the outside of the planter, plant shallow ground cover plants around the edges, such as sweet alyssum.

The ideas above can help you hide the tree stump in your yard and make it less noticeable. However, if the stump is too big or has started to deteriorate badly, you may want to contact a tree service that offers stump grinding services to either have them decrease its height or grind it down to ground level. For more information, contact local professionals like Chandlers Tree Service.