Is Tree Stump Removal Necessary, Or is it Better to Grind a Stump?

Posted on April, 1st 2022

After the heavy lifting of removing a tree piece by piece is done, what’s left behind is the sturdy stump that once anchored the tree in place.

That stump comes with lots of questions about what to do next. Should you leave it in your yard untouched, or remove it in one fell swoop with the rest of your tree? Or, what about grinding the stump—how does that work?

Keep reading for answers to common questions about why and how to remove a tree stump.

Shortly after they’re separated from the tree that once stood in your yard, stumps begin a very slow decaying process. And yes, over time a rotting stump becomes a hub for home damaging pests like termites or carpenter ants. 

So, while you can opt to leave the stump and let it rot, the critters that come along in the process might spread out to other plants and trees in your yard or even invade your home. Removing the stump, or grinding it down, is the best way to avoid these pest problems.

IS IT BETTER TO GRIND A STUMP OR REMOVE IT?

Stump grinding and stump removal both come with their pros and cons. Choosing which route’s best for you mostly depends on the future plans you have for your landscape.

The stump removal process is the more intrusive of the two. It involves heaving up the bulky tree stump and then digging out all the tree’s widespread roots.

 As you can imagine, it takes a lot of time, elbow grease, and powerful tools to get the job done. The upside? After stump removal, you’re left with a clean slate open to any new ideas you have for your landscape. What’s not so great is that stump removal leaves behind a large hole that can be an eyesore until it’s filled in.

Stump grinding is much less intensive. In this case, arborists use a machine to completely shred the stump down into small woodchips. Grinding is much more efficient than stump removal, however, it does leave the tree’s roots behind. If the stump is large, the chip pile produced can also be quite large, but the chips can be used as mulch for other plants in your landscape.

Original Article: https://blog.davey.com/2019/03/is-tree-stump-removal-necessary-or-is-it-better-to-grind-a-stump/