After felling a tree, you're left with what many consider to be an eyesore and a nuisance: a stump.
Believe it or not, a tree stump will attempt to regrow into a tree by sprouting shoots. So how do you get rid of it completely?
There are several methods available, but using a stump grinder is the most efficient and thorough way.
Stump grinders quickly grind the stump into mulch that can be buried, burned, or used in a garden. So what do you need to know before you buy one?
Click on any of the links below to get the answers you need to the questions you have:
By gradually chipping away at a stump with a multi-toothed cutting wheel that spins at high speeds, stump grinders are able to rapidly tear and strip away small pieces of wood, progressing deeper with each pass.
The operator makes repeated passes over the stump until all of it has been chipped away into mulch and sawdust.
Cutting into the stump and covering it in compost or soil will help speed up the process, but problems can still remain. Honey fungus, which tends to spread and infest other live plants, can begin to grow on dead rotting wood.
Grinding the stump until you've ground four inches or more into the ground, then covering the hole and anything remaining inside it with compost and topsoil, will be your best option. This will help to ensure no shoots spout up and no sunlight can reach the remaining stump to grow fungus.
For forestry work, felling trees is a regular part of the job, so stump removal likely becomes a reoccurring task.
Whether you're a homeowner or a professional, owning your own stump grinder means you always have one available whenever you need it, and you won't have to worry about recurring rental fees adding up to more than the cost of owning your own.
Simply choosing the largest wheel doesn't necessarily guarantee the deepest cut below the slope and level of the ground, or its grade. Many factors affect how far below grade you can cut:
Pay close attention to the cutting depths for each grinder to determine if it will provide the cutting depth you need. Below-grade cutting depths can range anywhere from 9" to 18" depending on the model you choose. Most models cut 16" to 17" below grade, with 9" and 18" being the exceptions at either end of the spectrum.
Above-grade cutting depth is important as well. The above-grade cutting depth determines how tall of a stump you can grind above ground level. Above-grade cutting depths can range anywhere from 10" to 24", though the majority of grinders have an above-grade depth of 20". If your stump is too high to grind, you're going to need to cut it down to size with a chainsaw first.
Be sure to wear proper personal protective equipment, or PPE:
Be sure that anyone present in the area to observe or assist with the stump removal is also wearing safety gear or is standing at least 50 feet away to avoid injury from flying debris.
Keep all feet and hands away from the blade at all times, and be aware of flying debris.
Whether it's a power line, gas line, or sewage line, you want to steer clear of it to avoid causing harm to yourself, your machine, or your utility lines themselves.
States have different names for their surveyors, but look up the contact information for your local underground utility surveyors and make an appointment to have them marked. This service is generally state-funded, so there's no charge to you.
In many states, it's required by law to have an underground utility surveyor mark where the underground lines are before you perform any kind of digging or ground work.
It's an extra step, but it's an important one to take to make sure that you're able to enjoy all the convenience and efficiency your stump grinder provides.