What You Need to Know about Stump Grinding and Why It’s Necessary

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All of us who have a garden know it’s crucial to take good care of it. A beautifully maintained garden is the gem of your home. You want to keep it tidy and aesthetically appealing so it’s always in tip-top condition. While plants are pretty much easy to take care of, trees can be a bit trickier. If you’re lucky enough to have a couple of them in your yard, keep in mind that sometimes, due to various reasons, some trees will need to be removed from your yard. If that’s your case, you want to to have this done by experienced professionals who will successfully remove the tree and, if needed, perform stump grinding.

Why Is Stump Grinding Important?

After a tree has been cut down, there’s a stump left behind. To make sure the tree is entirely extracted, removing the stump is essential. Your safest bet is hiring a reliable company that offers stump grinders tree service to take care of the tree removal. But why is stump grinding so important?

tree stump planter
source: thisoldhouse.com

Makes Your Outdoor Space More Appealing

If you have a large outdoor area that’s nicely decorated, you’ll definitely want to remove any stumps there might be to keep your yard clean and aesthetically appealing. This will ensure your outdoor space looks more cohesive and well put together and that the tree stumps won’t be an eyesore.

No Insects Will Make the Stump Their Home

By getting rid of the stump, you’ll get rid of the insects that are attracted to it. When a stump is left behind, it becomes home to termites, beetles, and other pests. The problem is, they won’t stay solely in the stump. They can spread to other healthy trees, the entire yard, and even your home. Having the stump removed will save you a lot of energy and time dealing with uninvited guests. Also, if the tree was removed because of a disease, the disease can remain in the stump and affect nearby plants and trees, thus destroying the entire vegetation in your garden.

No New Trees Will Be Sprouting

If the stump isn’t removed, it can lead to new growth. When a tree is cut down, the stump can sprout after some time and grow again. A proper tree stump removal will ensure that the tree won’t grow back in the same place again.

beautiful small garden with tiles and flowers
source: pinterest.com

Keeps You and Your Loved Ones Safe

Leaving the stump can be a safety issue. It can be in the way when you’re walking in the yard or when your kids are playing. They or someone else, like friends and neighbors, could easily trip and injure themselves. Moreover, it will make it harder to maintain your garden since you’re going to have to get around it with the lawnmower. If you hit the stump, the equipment can get damaged. So, the best thing you can do for your garden’s appeal and your safety is to hire stump grinders tree service to take care of your sick trees.

What’s a Stump Grinder and How Does It Work?

A stump grinder is a machine that can be found in various sizes and models. They’re made to grind the stump into little pieces. They excavate the stump but not all the roots and grind down the stump to the desired height. They can go just below the soil level or underground. After the process is done, there’s residual sawdust that you can use as a mulch or you can fill in the hole with it.

You can also rent a stump grinder and do the job yourself. However, the problem is that some trees have large stumps that can’t be ground down with most small grinders that are available for rent. It’ll likely be less powerful than those used by professionals as well. Also, you can never be sure that the rented equipment is right for the job and won’t cause injuries.

two yellow stump grinders
source: stumpcutters.com

Since you probably don’t have the necessary training to operate with heavy machinery, the chances for injury are high. Besides skills, you’ll need to have protective equipment as well. There’ll be a lot of noise and flying pieces of wood, and no one knows what the ground might be hiding. Improper handling of the machinery can lead to accidental damage so it’s good to have insurance to cover any damage.

Professional tree services usually offer insurance in case of property damage. There are also additional costs of renting a grinder. You’ll need a vehicle for transport, safety equipment, and protection for the surrounding ground.

Stump Grinding vs. Stump Removal

Grinding stumps is different from tree stumps removal. Different machines are used for removal and they pull out all the roots from the ground. In some cases, this can mean removing roots from half the yard because they can be spread out and leave you with massive holes throughout your backyard. This process is also more expensive, time-consuming, and not environmentally friendly. For this reason, many people prefer grinding instead of tree roots removal. It’s easier to do and doesn’t leave your yard in disarray.

stump grinding
source: pinterest.com

How to Know It’s Time to Remove a Tree?

You should look for certain signs if you suspect your tree needs to be removed. You should call an arborist if:

  • You think that the tree isn’t growing as it’s supposed to;
  • You notice some root issues;
  • You see signs of infection, like cracks, fungi, crumbly wood, discolouration of leaves, etc.;
  • There are dead branches in the crown.

These and many other signs are a red flag that there’s something wrong. To know for sure, contact a tree surgeon that will inspect the trees and tell you what to do.