Is Tree Stump Removal Necessary Or Is It Better To Grind a Stump?

After the heavy lifting of getting rid of a tree piece by piece is done, what's left is the stump that once anchored the tree in place.

That stump brings lots of questions about what to do next. Should you leave it in your backyard as is, 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 concerns about why and how to get rid of a tree stump.

Can't choose whether to hold on to your stump or remove it for good? Jazzy Tree advises removing a stump if you can.

An old tree stump may not cause problems initially, however the longer you let it remain, the more it can become a nuisance. Old stumps can get in the way of trimming your lawn or be a tripping risk for you and your household. Plus, they make it tough to plant a new tree when you're ready.

Soon after they're separated from the tree that was once stood on your property, stumps begin a very sluggish rotting process. So yes, gradually a decomposing stump becomes a hub for damaging pests like termites, wood roaches and carpenter ants.

So, while you can opt to leave the stump and let it rot, the pests that come along may spread out to other plants and trees in your backyard and even attack your home. Getting rid of the stump, or grinding it down, is the best method to avoid these insect issues.

Unwanted critters aren't the only argument for getting rid of a tree stump. You should also consider letting go of your stump due to the follow facts:

Stump grinding and stump removal both include their advantages and disadvantages. Picking which route's best for you mainly depends upon the future strategies you have for your landscape.

The stump removal process is the more intrusive of the two. It includes heaving up the large tree stump and then digging out all the tree's prevalent roots. As you can imagine, it takes a lot of time, elbow grease, and effective tools to get the job done. The upside? After stump removal, you're entrusted to a clean slate available to any new ideas you have for your landscape. What's not so fantastic is that stump removal leaves behind a big hole that can be an eyesore until it's filled in.

Stump grinding is much less extensive. In this case, arborists utilize a machine to completely shred the stump down into small woodchips. Grinding is a lot more effective than stump removal, however, it does leave the tree's roots behind. If the stump is big, the chip stack produced can likewise be quite large, however the chips can be utilized as mulch for other plants in your landscape.

While stump grinding eliminates the visible remains of the tree, the old tree's roots are still spread out underground, in some cases up to 12 feet beyond where the stump stood. After grinding, these roots will naturally decay, but it's a lengthy procedure. It can take 10 or more years for the roots to completely break down.

If you're uncertain whether stump removal or grinding is best for you, one of our expert arborist can help.