You may have heard of a stump grinding service but aren’t quite sure what it is. This process allows a company to remove a tree stump from your property in a safe and efficient manner. Then you will be left with the landscape which you can use to meet your needs. Let’s look more at the stump grinding process overall, the purpose of stump grinders, and professionals like us here at Evergreen Tree Services.
An Overview of the Stump Grinding Service
We use a professional-grade stump grinder to mechanically remove the stump from your premises. The machine is operated by our trained and experienced professionals to remove the tree remnant. The machine features an arm that is hydraulically controlled with a steel cutting wheel. The cutting wheel is found at the end of the arm and it is this wheel that allows us to cut through and thoroughly grind your tree stump.
Why Would You Need Stump Grinding?
Stump grinding is one of the most effective forms of stump removal. This process will remove the entire tree stump. This not only frees up space but also reduces the potential hazards and safety risks of having an exposed stump on the premises.
Getting rid of the stump will also keep pests such as ants, bees, termites, and snakes, or other creatures that may want to use it as a nest. One of the biggest benefits of stump grinding is that it does not have a big impact on your landscaping as stump removal would.
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Stump Grinding
Q: What is Meant by Stump Grinding?
A: Stump grinding is a very intricate process that removes a tree stump without removing its root. The stump grinder is the machine that mechanically grinds away the stump and leaves fine sawdust behind. With this process, you can get your stump down to your desired height.
Q: What is Better, Stump Grinding or Stump Removal?
A: Stump grinding is a less intensive process of removing a stump. The downside is that stump grinding does not remove the root. There is also the chip pile that will be left behind after the stump is ground up. This will be different depending on the size of your stump.
Q: What is the Average Cost for Tree Stump Grinding Service?
A: Please contact us, so we can provide a quote specifically for the type and size of tree stump you want to remove.
Q: How Does Stump Grinding Work?
A: A stump grinder uses a rotating blade to rip through the wooden stump as the blade turns. The blade is serrated and its teeth cut into the stump creating smaller pieces of wood or fine dust. Our arborist runs the blade over the entire stump, reducing it to wood chips until it gets to your desired level. The stump can be ground well below ground level if you would like.
Q: What If I Choose Not to Grind the Tree Stump?
A: If you have a diseased tree, leaving the stump could allow the disease to spread to the roots. This could cause the disease to spread to other pans in your yard and over time will ruin the health of your landscape as a whole.
Q: Will the Refuse from the Stump Attract Termites?
A: You may have heard that termites like wood chips, but this is a myth. However, your stump may have termites as they will come around if there is wood for them to decompose.
Q: How Deep Should I Go when Grinding My Stump?
A: We recommend stump grinding down to 6 inches below ground level. All our jobs tend to be between 4 and 6 inches below the ground. If you think you may need deeper grinding you can request it, but this may affect the price of the service. There may be limitations as to how deep your stump can be ground as well. These we would only be able to identify once we have arrived at the site.
Q: How Long Does Stump Grinding Take?
A: The time it takes to grind a stump can vary depending on the size of the stump. It can be anywhere between 15 minutes to 2 hours.
Q: What Can I Do with the Chips or Dust After my Stump is Ground Up?
A: You can use the byproduct to excavate and fertilize your landscape. Follow the below steps:
- Remove as much debris as possible.
- Replace the sawdust with topsoil.
- Check soil nutrients and pH levels.
- Amend for nutrient and pH deficiencies
Q: Is a Stump Grinder Different from a Stump Remover?
A: Yes, both pieces of equipment are different. A stump remover will remove a tree stump from above going down to eliminate all of the trunk and all the roots. A stump grinder on the other hand works on the surface and only goes a bit below ground level. The roots are also left intact in the ground when a stump grinder is used.
Stump Grinding Vs Stump Removal
Outside of stump grinding another service you can obtain is stump removal. Stump grinding gets rid of the part of the tree that is left above ground whereas stump removal takes the entire tree stump out of the ground leaving you with a hole on your premises. If you choose stump removal you will have to fill in the hole. Stump grinding on the other hand will not create a hole and you can use the grindings to mulch your landscape.
Whichever option you choose, check to see if you need any permits especially if you will be attempting a DIY.
What You Need To Know Regarding Removing Your Tree Stump
When you need to have a tree stump removed we may recommend grinding out the stump base as much as is possible. Our stump grinders are powerful and designed to grind your tree stump into small pieces or even dust. The grinder chews up the stump and takes the stump down bit by bit. The grinder has a powerful blade that rotates to rip the wood with its teeth, thereby cutting the wood into small pieces.
The stump grinding operator guides the blade over the stump and reduces it level by level. The wood chips or dust from the stump falls to the ground. You will end up with a lot of wood chips, maybe even more than you imagined. But you can use these as mulch or you can dispose of them in your green waste if your city allows it. Since we will grind the stump below ground level, you may want to fill in the space with the wood chips, they will stay there and decay while making your ground level with the surrounding landscape.
Types of Stump Grinders
There are a number of lightweight grinder models on the market that are suitable for small DIY projects. Here are just some of the types you may come across from small grinders for a DIY project to large grinders used by commercial land clearing entities.
- Hand Guided/ Walk-Behind / Handlebar Grinders
These are small and very lightweight, so they are easy to move around and will fit in the back of your pickup easily. - Rear-Hitch Wheeled Grinders
These stump grinders are the ones you attach to a trailer or truck to travel with. When you get to the job site you uncouple it from your truck and steer it to the stump. - Riding Grinders
A riding grinder is designed like a small tractor or bobcat. The operator sits and controls the grinder from his seat. - Skid Stump Grinders
These have threads like a tank and are designed to be driven from behind or with an operator riding on top. The track treads are great for gripping large areas of soft dirt whereas traditional wheels would churn up turf and soil. - Stump Grinder Attachment
You can add this attachment to a skid steer. In this arrangement, it is operated by the arms that guide the bucket or trenching attachments.
Renting a Stump Grinder
You can find stump grinders for rent, but these are the less powerful options on the market. If you have a large enough tree stump you will need professionals like us to help you get the job done.
If you still want to go ahead and rent a stump grinder, you want to ensure that you are operating it in a safe manner. Stump grinders should really only be used by trained tree care specialists. Be sure of your skills before you pick up one of these for rent.
You will not only need to rent the machine itself, but you will also need protective equipment. You will require ear protection for the noise and you will have to wear protective clothing from all the flying debris. Debris is not limited to only wood, but also to nails, glass, bricks, old piping, lost tools, or anything else that could be hiding out in your tree stump area.
One last thing to consider is if your insurance company will cover any damage to your property caused by your stump grinding escapade.
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