Getting unsightly tree stumps from your yard can be challenging. Small stumps appear to be easy enough to dig up or cut up, but as tree roots go much deeper than you think, this is rarely the case. But there are several options when it comes to removing unwanted stumps: stump removal and stump grinding.
Lets look quickly at the difference between removal and grinding, and when each option may be best for you.
Stump Removal
Because tree roots spread far and wide beneath the ground, removing a stump often takes heavy machinery since the most efficient way is by using massive force to pull it out of the ground. And you’re left with a gaping hole where the stump used to be. Heavy machinery does tend to tear up your lawn in the process, and you also need to be careful as those roots may go beneath your foundations or other critical locations.
Stump removal is good for a few of situations. For instance, if you’re clearing a lot to build on, or if you want to replant in the same place where that old stump was. For most homeowners though, stump grinding is the best option.
Stump Grinding
Stump grinding also requires machinery, but not of the same kind as stump removal. Usually, a stump grinder is brought in, which is much more forgiving to your yard than the heavy-duty machines used for removal.
With the stump grinder, tree removal specialists grind the stump down to a few inches below the soil. The process does create a lot of sawdust, but you can use it to cover the remaining stump as mulch. Many companies offer to haul off the excess sawdust for additional cost if you don’t want it.
Stump grinding leaves the root system below the ground intact, which means you don’t end up with a big hole in your yard. The remaining trunk and roots will decay into the ground, but you won’t be able to plant another tree in that exact spot.
Grinding and Removal Costs
Stump removal will tend to be more expensive than grinding because it’s far more labor-intensive and requires the use of heavy machinery. Plus you need to somehow fill in the hole that’s left after the stump and roots have been removed.
Stump grinding tends to be more economical. There is a small chance that the decaying stump will sprout a new tree, but this rarely happens.
So in conclusion, unless you’re excavating or have the need to plant a new tree where the old one was, stump grinding is for you. Either way, working with a professional is the way to go as grinding and removing tree stumps require specialized equipment and experience. Quantum Tree Services have years of experience in this field, so call us for your stump removal needs.
About Quantum Tree Services
Quantum Tree Services are certified dangerous tree removal specialists, with full rigging, hardware, and equipment, and are fully insured and WCB-safety certified. Locally owned and operated, Quantum Tree Services are based in Salmon Arm, BC and serve the Shuswap and Okanagan.
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