Wildlife

• The decaying wood of tree stumps offers wildlife habitat for a variety of animals and birds. The wood also acts as a resource for tiny organisms that contribute to a healthy ecosystem in your yard by creating nutrients and helpful fungi used to make your soil healthier.
  
  

Mushrooms

• Stumps make excellent mushroom-growing operations. After drilling holes into your stump, you can add plugs of mushroom spores to the holes. The spores grow into full-fledged mushrooms you can eat or cook. Not only do you create tasty foods; the mushrooms also help speed up natural decay of the stump.
  
  

Outdoor Furniture

• Some resourceful gardeners turn their tree stumps into appealing rustic furniture. The stump may make a great base for an outdoor table if left in place -- just attach a round wooden top to form the table. Or you can cut a slab off the stump, attach it to a base, then use your new furniture indoors or outside.