What is Stump Grinding?

In this article, we’ll explain what stump grinding is, how it’s different from stump removal and why you do it.

You may have heard of the term stump grinding in reference to tree pruning and removal, but do you really know what it is, and how it works?

In this article, we’ll explain what stump grinding is, how it’s different from stump removal and why you do it.

Why Do You Need to Remove or Grind a Tree’s Stump Once it’s Cut Down?

After cutting down a tree, you’re left with the stump. Some home owners believe the best way to deal with this is to leave it to rot. But this is not always the best option, as the roots are still attached to the stump and could take years to die off.

This means you’re left with an unsightly root stump which could damage other plants and trees in your garden – particularly if the tree you removed was unhealthy – or simply prevent you from planting something else and renewing your backyard.

Is Stump Grinding and Stump Removal the Same?

Stump grinding and stump removal are not the same thing. Stump removal is essentially where you remove the stump of a tree (and its roots) from the ground after you’ve cut down the rest of the tree.

Stump grinding, on the other hand, is a process where you grind the stump down to its roots using machinery specially designed for the task.

What are the Benefits of Stump Grinding?

There are numerous benefits of stump grinding over stump removal. Some of the most common reasons we recommend stump grinding to our clients include:

Time

One of the reasons clients such as ours have chosen stump grinding over removal (or simply leaving the stump in the ground to rot) is time.

Removing a stump takes a long time, even for professionals like we have on our team at Affordable Tree Service. But when you remove a tree, you usually want it done as quickly and efficiently as possible, which is why stump grinding is the preferred option for many residents.

Labour & Mess

While stump removal is a fairly labour intensive process, prone to creating a lot of mess in your garden, stump grinding is much less intrusive.

This is because there’s not as much manual labour involved, with much of the work completed with the help of a special machine specifically developed to make the process easier for both our arborists and homeowners or tenants.

Access

Part of the stump removal process revolves around access, and where the roots of your tree run. If the roots of your tree – still attached to the stump – intrude on a nearby property, you may have access issues.

This, in turn, may lead to lengthy delays and even problems in performing the stump removal, if you and our professional team are unable to identify where the root system is, or get to them to ensure successful removal.

Environmentally Friendly

Stump grinding also has a lot less waste than stump removal, as the wood chips produced during the stump grinding process can be reused as mulch and in other areas of your backyard.

Pests & Fungi

Some residents and business owners prefer to allow the stump of a tree to rot away after removal. This is fine, but one of the things you need to be aware of is that a rotting stump attracts pests and fungi, which may infiltrate your garden and damage other flora in the process.

This is not a problem you will have when choosing to have your stump ground, as there will be little left to appeal to the fungi or pests.

Aesthetics

One of the main reasons we’ve found past clients have opted for stump grinding over removal is aesthetic. Everyone wants their garden to look good but this is not always achievable if you have a big, old stump taking up space and ruining your vista.

Stump grinding means there will be almost nothing left of your tree, allowing you to replant without big, gaping holes in your backyard, like you would get if you chose stump removal.

Can You Grind a Stump Yourself?

There are usually certain licences or training you will need to go through to be able to operate the machinery used for stump grinding, and most people don’t really want to worry about undertaking this to deal with a problem tree.

And it’s certainly not something we would recommend you attempt without professional guidance, especially as there are specific protocols you need to follow to ensure the job is done correctly.

What to Do if You Need Stump Grinding

As always, if you need stump grinding or efficient professional tree removal on your property, the best thing to do is contact the experts for their help and advice.

Our team at Affordable Tree Service are highly experienced in all things tree removal and stump grinding, ensuring that your job will be completed as professionally and efficiently as possible, with little to no intrusion on your day-to- day activities.

If you’re in need of expert stump grinding services, contact our team of local professionals at Affordable Tree Service today.