Overgrown Yard with Saplings

[Eric Julien]

Does anyone have any experience with removing saplings from an overgrown yard?  I've seen a few houses in my area that look abandoned and have saplings growing in yard.  My concern is that once they're cut down that there would be a small stump that would wreak havoc on a lawn mower in the future.

This is an example of what I'm talking, although most of the houses I've seen are in better shape than this.

I live in the Raleigh area if that makes a difference.

Thanks in advance.