Stump Removal Basics For Homeowners

Cutting down a dead or dying tree is only one part of the equation. You must also address the stump that is left behind. Although stumps may seem harmless, there are good reasons for removing them and many benefits for doing so quickly.

Stump Concerns

Stumps left behind can pose many concerns. One alarming concern is that stumps can welcome a colony of feasting termites onto your property. As they deplete the stump, they will look for a new target and this could very well be your home. 

Old stumps can attract pests other than termites, as well. Animals like skunks may create burrows under old stumps. Moisture held on the surface of the stump can also act as a mosquito breeding ground. Add on to these concerns those about any fungal or bacterial disease organisms that are active in the stump, as well. You don't want a stump to be an insect and disease vector for healthy plants in the landscaping.

Removal Benefits

The benefits of removal are great. Not only will you eliminate the pest, animal, and disease concerns previously mentioned, you will also be free of the unsightly stumps. No more will the stump pose a tripping hazard or take up space in your yard. The most immediate benefit will be a better-looking yard with fewer hazards to walk and mow around. 

Another benefit of removal is that you can begin recovering the landscape right away. Once the stump is removed, you have the ability to put in a garden bed, plant new sod, or sow a young tree. If you leave the stump in place, you may have to wait decades before the stump rots out and you can fix the landscaping.

Basic Process

Although there are several options for removal, grinding is the quickest and one of the more thorough choices. The removal begins with siting a grinder, a large machine equipped with multi-toothed grinding wheels, over the top of the stump. Grinders come in a variety of sizes, so there is an option available to match the size of the stump.

The grinding wheels are lowered onto the stump, where they then proceed to grind the stump to sawdust as the wheels are lowered. Generally, a stump is ground down several inches below ground, which effectively kills it. Then, the grinding site is cleaned up and leveled so you can landscape over the location immediately.

Contact a stump grinding service, such as Justins Tree Service, if you would like to learn more.