Stump GRindingWhen trees are removed many people do not realize stumps are left behind and not automatically removed by the Tree Service. That is to say, the process of removing the stump of a newly cut down tree or any old stump for that matter, is different than the process of removing trees. There are many ways to remove a tree stump. Before deciding what method is the best for your situation you should consider each method's pros and cons with regard to time to remove the stump, effort, expertise and equipment needed, cost size of the stump and the amount of stump material left in the ground. One thing to consider before deciding to do nothing though is that it can take many years for a stump to decompose naturally, somewhere between 10 and 20 years for a decent sized stump
The most efficient stump removal method is the one we provide to our customers, namely stump grinding. When a stump is ground a commercial machine that looks like a supped up lawnmower with a very powerful rotating blade is driven over the stump, slicing it tearing off wood chips as it passes. Stump grinders used by professional tree care companies are able to grind up to around 16 inches below grade and can handle stumps about 32 inches in height. The amount of time it takes to grind a stump depends on the diameter of the stump, and can take anywhere from a few minutes to over two hours. Stump grinders can remove the stump as well as surface roots that the poke out through the soil. Once the stump is ground beside the wood pieces left behind, there is a hole left where the stump once was. This hole can be used to plant another tree or can be filled completely with the wood chips depending on how large the ground stump was and how many wood chips it turned into. Stump grinding should be done by a professional because they have equipment that is designed for commercial use which a property owner would have trouble renting and operating themselves. If the proper care is not taking in operating the stump grinder it can cause a lot of damage to a lawn or landscape. This is also true of stumps too close to a structure like a sidewalk, steps, wall, foundation, or fence, if the stump grinder get's too close to a structure it can damage it; pros have experience in judging the proper depth to grind to without destroying structures. Another thing a professional company can do is maneuver stump grinders into tight spaces which is especially helpful in densely populated areas. If necessary a stump grinder can even be craned into to a spot. One thing stump grinders cannot do is remove the entire root ball, which contains all of the roots and the dirt held between the roots. If the property owner is planning on creating some structure on top of the space where the roots extended, the safest way to go is to remove those roots beforehand, and the best way to remove tree roots completely is when they are still attached to the stump, that is without grinding. |
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