Whenever you’re dealing with tree removal, there are a few decisions to make including what to do with the stump. Do you dig it out? Bring in a tree stump grinder? Or leave it? Most of the time, there’s no one right answer, just what’s right for you and your yard.
Depending on your situation, you may wish to leave your stumps and incorporate them into your landscaping. If so, here are a few tree stump repurposing ideas to get you started. But if you’re looking for a fresh start, then grinding that stump out may be your best path forward.
Using a tree stump grinder deals with the visible stump. The machine essentially chews the wood down to below ground level using a rotating blade, cutting the wood into small pieces. This prevents resprouting and allows the root system to decay underground naturally over time.
Stump grinding creates lots of wood chips, which you can use for mulch for your other trees or used to fill in the divet grinding out your stump creates—unless you’d rather just add it to your yard waste, which is always an option.
Types of Tree Stump Grinders
Just as everything in life, there is a variety of tree stump grinders for the different stump situations you may find yourself in.
Handlebar Stump Grinders
These are small, lightweight and easy to use. Their size makes the hand-guided machine on wheels easy to use in tight places or near structures and the handles fold, making it portable.
Rear-Hitch, Wheeled Stump Grinders
For rugged situations where you need more power, a larger “walk behind” stump grinder may be required. These machines are brought to a location on a trailer and then steered into position where they perform well on rough terrain.
Riding Stump Grinders
These machines look like a small tractor and are operated from a seat in the grinder itself, rather than walking behind and guiding it or using a remote control like the smaller models. These tree stump grinders have a track undercarriage, which makes it easy to maneuver and reposition.
Skid-Steer Grinders
Most often, these are an attachment that can be added to a skid-steer, transforming a loader into a grinder. There are a variety of skid-steer grinders available and are made specifically for tree stump grinding.
As we’re sure you’re aware, operating a tree stump grinder is serious business. While the operation itself is fairly straightforward, it’s important to know how to use the machinery properly before diving in, to wear protective gear and to know your landscape and how to navigate heavy machinery in it.
If you have any doubts about whether or not you should rent yourself a tree stump grinder this weekend, call us first. We’ll evaluate your situation and give you an honest assessment. In many cases, it works out better to bring in the professionals. We have the skills, training and equipment to take care of your tree stump in just a few hours. Hey, they don’t call us Supertreeroes for nothing.