You notice the ground around that old stump in your backyard is not level anymore. There is a low spot that was not there a year ago. Maybe it is subtle right now, just enough that you feel it when you walk over it or notice it when water pools there after rain. Or maybe it has gotten pronounced enough that it is becoming a tripping hazard or making the yard look uneven in a way that bothers you every time you look at it. Either way it is not going to level out on its own and it is going to keep getting worse.
What is happening underground is the stump and root system that were left in the ground after tree removal are slowly breaking down. As the wood decays it loses volume. The soil that was packed around it and supported by it starts to settle into the space the wood is leaving behind. The ground above follows. That is why the sinking tends to happen gradually over months and years rather than all at once. The root system of a large tree extends well beyond the base of the trunk so the settling can show up not just directly around the stump but in spots throughout the yard wherever large roots were running underground.
Why It Gets Worse Over Time
The decay process does not stop once it starts. As long as the stump and root system are in the ground they are continuing to break down and the ground above them is continuing to settle. A low spot that is minor right now will be more pronounced next year and more pronounced still the year after that. In Spring Hill where heat and humidity accelerate the decay process this can happen faster than homeowners expect. What felt like a slight unevenness one season becomes a genuine depression in the yard a few seasons later.
Water makes it worse. When rain fills the low spot around the stump it saturates the soil which speeds up the decay of the wood underneath. Faster decay means faster settling which means the low spot gets deeper. In a yard that gets regular Florida summer rain that cycle repeats itself constantly throughout storm season and the problem compounds faster than it would in a drier climate.
What Else the Settling Causes
An uneven yard is more than a cosmetic problem. A depression in the yard that holds water after rain creates a standing water problem that encourages mosquitoes, can kill the grass in that area and can cause water to move toward the house foundation if the low spot is close enough to the structure. Mowing an uneven yard is harder and more dangerous. A low spot that is significant enough can catch a mower blade or cause someone to turn an ankle if they do not see it before they step into it.
If you have a fence, a patio, a pool cage or any structure in the vicinity of the settling the movement in the soil can also affect those over time. Fence posts that were set in soil that is now shifting can start to lean. Pavers or concrete slabs near the area can develop unevenness as the ground beneath them moves.
Why Filling It With Dirt Does Not Fix It
A lot of homeowners try topping off the low area with fresh soil or fill dirt. It works temporarily. Then the settling continues underground and the filled area sinks again. Until the source of the settling is removed the ground above it will keep moving. Grinding the stump below grade eliminates the decaying wood that is causing the soil to settle and gives you a stable base to properly fill, level and resod the area so it stays level.
If your backyard is sinking around an old stump in Spring Hill Spring Hill Tree Specialists handles stump grinding throughout Hernando County. We grind stumps below grade and clean up the grindings so you can finally get that section of yard leveled and looking right. You can read more in why is grass not growing around my tree stump and why are mushrooms growing around my old tree stump. Find out more about our tree service in Spring Hill. Free estimates on all work.