STUMP GRINDING

Do you need to remove a tree stump from your yard?

Stumps aren’t just an eyesore; they actually pose some serious risks. From property damage to safety concerns, there are many good reasons to be rid of the stump in your yard.

What happens when a tree is removed leaving the stump behind?

If left untouched, a tree stump roots will start to rot and, over time, become home to pests, fungi, and other organisms. Often the roots will keep growing. A sure sign of root regeneration is when new growth appears from or around the stump.

Once a tree is removed, you can have both the stump and roots removed, have the stump ground out while leaving the roots, or you can leave the stump alone.

What can happen is the stump is not removed?

The roots of the tree stump will often continue growing even after the tree has been cut down. If this happens, the roots can eventually reach other areas of your landscape and even your home, wrapping around and cracking pipes, lifting paving,  patios, sidewalks, driveways, and even cracking your home’s foundation. Old tree roots can do major damage to in-ground swimming pools.

So it’s best to remove the stump before the roots have a chance to cause any damage to the nearby property.

When left in place, a tree stump will decompose with the help of organisms. Ant species will move in and start building nests in the stump. These ants will eventually start appearing elsewhere, including in other trees, plants, and even in your home.

Pest insects, rodents and diseases can also live in a tree stump and eventually spread to other trees, shrubs, and homes, becoming costly and time-consuming to get rid of.

Tree stumps are unsightly and invasive, obstructing the space in a yard and landscape. And other invasive plants may also start to grow on tree stumps. Though small in size, these plants can become unsightly and difficult to remove, often requiring chemicals to destroy them.

Fungi, such as mushrooms, can also start to grow on tree stumps and from the stump roots, popping up throughout your yard. Depending on the type, these can be dangerous to animals who eat them, such as children and pets. And they can spread and infect other trees nearby.

Tree stumps are a safety hazard to anyone walking or playing in your yard, especially children. Along with being a tripping and toe-stubbing hazard, a tree stump can also injure someone who falls onto it.

You’ll soon get fed up with working around a leftover stuno when using a lawnmower. 

Tree stumps take up a lot of valuable yard space. And they are often considered eyesores that reduce the curb appeal and property value of your home. 

Tree stumps can lead to new tree growth around the stump. These are difficult and costly to remove as new shoots often keep coming back. And small trees can also leech moisture and nutrients from plants nearby, preventing your garden and landscape from thriving.

The tree can also grow back from the stump, producing a multi-trunked tree that is even harder to remove than the original tree stump.

How to get rid of the tree stump in your yard.

There are two options for removing a tree stump—stump grinding and stump removal. 

Stump Grinding

Stump grinding is the less intensive and more efficient method for removing a tree stump. With this method, arborists use a machine with a rotating cutting disk to chip away at the tree stump, shredding it down into small wood chips—which can be used as mulch in your garden if you want.

Though the tree roots are still left underground, they will die without the stump and naturally decay over time.

Stump Removal

Stumps can also be burned or dissolved with chemicals as a method for removal. However, the more common method for stump removal is to pull out the entire stump and root system from the ground.

This labour-intensive option removes the stump and roots from the ground using heavy machinery to dig out the stump and roots. Though it tends to leave a large hole in the ground, once the hole is filled, the space is a blank slate for any landscaping plans.

Call the stump busters, Mikes Contracting Ltd.

Though a tree stump may seem harmless, it can actually cause a lot of damage and headache if left in the ground.  Call Mike for a free quote or click here to send a message.