What's Involved In Tree Stump Grinding

When you have a tree service remove trees from your property, it's also important to get rid of the stumps. One of the most effective ways to do this is stump grinding because this method has the least impact on your landscaping. If you have one or more stumps on your property, here's why they need to be removed and what's entailed in this process.

Why You Need to Remove Tree Stumps

Although you could always wait for a stump to decompose, this can take a considerably long time. Having unsightly stumps on your property can detract from the value of your home. They can also infect nearby plants with diseases.

Tree stumps can interfere with landscaping, invading flower beds or growing underneath sidewalks and driveways, creating damage. Even worse, they can cause accidents as people can trip on them. As a result, you can be sued as a homeowner or business owner.

How Stump Grinders Work

Stump grinders are power tools or equipment designed to remove tree stumps. This is done by the grinder's rotating cutting disk. The high-speed disk breaks up the stump's wood and roots, grinding it into tiny chips.

Most stump grinders contain teeth that are joined to hydraulic levers that move either from side to side or vertically. These machines can be as small as a lawn mower or as big as a truck.

Cost Considerations

Most tree grinding services charge by the size of a tree stump's diameter. Although companies vary in their rates, the average fee ranges anywhere between $90 to $150 for a 24-inch diameter stump. When getting estimates from companies, ask questions such as these:

• Do you offer any discounts for customers who need more than just a single stump removed?
• Are there any additional fees involved? For example, some services will tack on an extra charge for hauling away wood chips, while others will do it for free.
• Do you charge more for customers living in remote areas? Often, tree grinding is more expensive when additional travel time is involved.
• Do you carry the right amount of insurance coverage for my job?
• Do you have a flat hourly fee for a large area? Consider that most companies charge a flat hourly rate if the job entails removing many stumps from an unusually large span of land.

Other Considerations and Warnings

• It's easier to remove small stumps than large ones.
• Older stumps can be removed easier than younger ones.
• Stumps on hills can be inaccessible for a stump grinder. Other hindrances may include fences, patios and stairs.
• Stumps that can be seen only above ground can look deceiving in size. This is because the largest portion of the stump is usually underneath the ground.

Digging out a tree stump on your own can be time consuming as well as dangerous. This can be especially true if the job is complex and you lack the proper equipment and experience. Therefore, don't hesitate to hire a professional stump grinding service.

Talk to experts like Tree Landers for more information.

Share