Benefits and Differences of tree stump grinding vs tree stump removal
Several property owners have cut down a tree or had one fall in their yard. If you are one of them, chances are you were left wondering which is the best way to get rid of the stump. You may not want to deal with a tree stump regrow continually, occupy a significant space that you would use to plant another tree or heaven of insects. Therefore, you have to look for a suitable way of getting rid of the tree stump.
Stump grinding and stump removal are the best techniques that professionals use to remove tree stumps. In this article, you will learn the differences between these two techniques, which will help make informed decisions depending on your situation.
Stump grinding
Stump grinding is ideal for those who are looking for an economical approach to getting rid of a stump in their yard. Tree professionals have state-of-the-art equipment like the stump grinder with hydraulic cylinders that help them to cut down the stump into small pieces. The pieces are great for mulching, while others use them as a ground cover. The tree stump is left a few inches below the ground, which technicians cover with dirt that enhances the decay of the left stump and allows grass to grow over.
Stump removal
Compared to stump grinding, stump removal is a different and effective way of getting rid of an annoying stump in your yard. It involves tree experts removing the entire stump and roots from the ground. The technique is more involving and challenging to undertake, especially if it was an old or large tree. Once experts remove a stump, it leaves a big hole behind since the size of a root ball is almost ten times larger than the tree.
Stump removal involves digging around the stump to expose its roots. Experts wash the dirt away from the roots using a hose and cut down the roots using an ax or saw depending on their size. Once the stump is free from its roots, technicians can attach a chain to the stump and pull it out using a crane.
Benefits of tree stump removal
- Safe
Tree stumps are hazardous when left in a yard. If you have kids who love playing and running around in your yard, they can trip over them and get injured. The stumps can also damage appliances such as a mower.
- Tree growth
It is essential to note that even after cutting down a tree, there are chances of smaller trees sprouting. If left unattended for an extended period, they can prove costly to remove. In addition, the sprouting trees can strip other plants their nutrients causing them to wither.
- Pest and diseases
As the stump rots, it can attract insects such as beetles, termites, and carpenter ants, which can pose a threat to other trees or plants in your yard. The insects can also find their way to your house in large numbers and become a nuisance. In addition, the untreated stump can attract and host fungi and other diseases, putting other plants and trees at risk.
- Aesthetic
A tree is an essential element that adds value to a property. However, a stump with weeds and mold growing around it creates a negative effect. Removing it improves the visual property appeal.
Benefits of tree stump grinding
- Fast and efficient
Stump grinding process takes only a few hours and does not involve a lot of effort, unlike in stump removal, where technicians require a few days and effort to complete the process. The equipment and techniques that experts use are efficient and only leave sawdust or woodchips that the property owner can use.
- Environmentally friendly
Professionals use advanced equipment to handle any size of a tree stump. The machine reduces the stump into small chips without causing any disturbance to your landscape, unlike in stump removal, where the process leaves a hole in your yard.
- Regain space
If you have a small yard with a tree stump in the middle, grinding it down is the ideal technique to create more space. The process provides space above and below the ground, unlike the complete removal process, where the hole will occupy more space.
- Cost-effective
Stump removal involves time, a lot of tools and equipment, and effort making the process costly. However, in stump grinding, technicians only use single equipment and require a few hours to complete the process making it inexpensive.