When To Consider Stump Grinding And How To Remove Them Efficiently
Stump grinding is the process of removing a tree stump from the ground. It is a common practice after cutting or removing a tree, as the stump can be a hazard or an eyesore. You can remove a stump by hand using an axe or chainsaw, but a stump grinding machine is often faster and more efficient.
Manual Stump Grinding
Manual stump grinding is the most labor-intensive way to remove a stump but is also the most affordable. To remove a stump by hand, you need a shovel, a pick, and a sharp axe. First, you need to dig around the stump to expose the roots. Once the roots are revealed, you can chop them away with the axe. After cutting the roots, use the shovel to pull the roots out of the ground and use the chainsaw to grind the stump to the ground.
Machine Stump Grinding
Machine stump grinding is much faster and easier than hand stump removal. There are a variety of machines you can use for stump grinding, but a dedicated stump grinder is often the most effective. These machines have a large rotating blade that grinds the stump into small chips that can be recycled and used to fill the hole where the stump was.
When To Grind Your Stumps
Stumps can be a hazard if they are cut low but left sticking up from the soil and are difficult to see. Tripping over the stump could be an issue, and if the stump is along the edge of a driveway, you could hit it with a car.
Stumps can also be an eyesore, especially large ones. Grinding them down can make your yard look neater and more attractive and stop things from growing out of the stump after it has sat a few years.
Hiring A Grinding Service
Often the best way to remove a stump is to hire a stump grinding service to remove it. The service will bring the equipment necessary to do the job and grind the stump level with the soil or below the surface if you prefer.
Large stumps often require grinders that are larger than you can rent, and the operator needs to know how to run the machine so nothing is damaged and no one gets hurt during stump removal.
Debris Removal
Once the stump is ground, you will need to remove any debris that is left behind. Many people choose to fill the hole with the wood chips from the grinder or save them for use in other areas of the yard.
You may want the stump grinder to pile the chips to one side of the hole, but discuss the options with the operator when they arrive. To learn more about stump grinding, talk to a tree service in your area.