Should You Remove or Grind Your Tree Stump?

Once you have had the heavy lifting done of having a tree removed piece by piece you are left with a sturdy stump.  That stump comes with a lot of questions about what to do next.  Should you leave it in your yard untouched, or remove it with the rest of the tree?  Or, what about grinding the stump– how does that work?

We will go over the reasons you may choose to either grind your stump or have it fully removed.

Reasons to remove tree stumps or leave a tree stump in the ground

You can not decide whether to hold on to your stump or haul it out for good?  It will all depend on your yard and the placement of the stump. An old tree stump might not cause problems at first, but the longer you let it stick around the more it can become a nuisance.  Old stumps can get in the way of mowing your lawn or even become a trip[ping hazard for you and your family.  Plus, they make it hard to plant a new tree.  

Is It Ok To Leave a Tree Stump in The Ground?

Shortly after they are separated from the tree that once stood in your yard, stumps begin a slow process of decaying.  One reason you may look into removing a tree stump from your yard is to avoid your yard hosting pests like termites.  So, while you can opt to leave the stump and let it rot, the critters that come along in the process might spread out to other plants and trees in your yard.  Removing the stump, or grinding it down, is the best way to avoid these types of issues.  

Other Reasons to Remove or Grind a Tree Stump

Pests are not the only reason for removing or grinding down your tree stump. You should also consider removing your stump because:

• A decaying stump is not a pretty sight.  It can throw off the whole look of your yard and even affect your property value.  
• Depending on the spot of your stump it can be a burden when mowing your lawn, on top of the risk of damaging your mower if you run over any root.
• Planting a new tree nearby is a no go as long as the stump and far-reaching roots are in the way

Is it Better To Grind or Remove a Stump?

Stump grinding and stump removal both come with their own pros and cons.  Choosing which route is the best for you mostly depends on the future plans you have for your landscape.  

The stump removal process is the more intrusive of the two.  It involves heaving up the bulky tree stump and then digging out all the tree's roots.  As you can imagine, it takes some time, elbow grease, and powerful tools to get the job done.  The upside? After stump removal, you are left with a clean slate open to any new idea you have for your landscape.  What is not so great is that stump removal leaves behind a large hole that can be an eyesore until it is filled in.  

Stump grinding is much less intensive.  In this case, arborists use a machine to completely shred the stump down into small wood chips.  Grinding is much more efficient than stump removal; however, it does leave the tree’s roots behind.  If the stump is large, the chip pile produces can also be large, but the chips can be used as much for other plants in your yard.  

What Happens to Roots After Grinding?

While stump grinding takes care of the visible remains of the tree, the old tree’s roots are still spread out underground, sometimes 4,8 or 12 feet beyond the stump.  After the grinding process these roots will naturally decay over time.  It can be a lengthy process usually taking up to 10 years to fully break down.  

If you are not sure whether stump removal or grinding is best for you, contact a professional for help.  

Contact Elliott Tree for Your Stump Grinding Needs

If you have just recently removed a tree or are looking to completely get rid of a tree, there is no need to look any further.  Elliott Tree has a team of trained professionals and powerful equipment to get the job done quickly and efficiently.  Get in touch with us by calling us at 781-447-0045 or by filling out a contact form on our website.