When a tree is taken out of your yard, it will leave behind a large and unsightly stump. This happens whether the tree fell from a storm or was intentionally cut down. When you’re left trying to figure out what to do with the stump you have two options to take care of the mess, stump removal or stump grinding. Most people don’t know much about either option, so it can feel like a toss-up trying to choose the right one. Let’s take a closer look at both stump removal and stump grinding to determine what’s right for your home!
Stump Removal
Stump removal is exactly what it sounds like, removing the stump entirely. The stump will be dug out of the ground and removed. The roots get dug up during this process too. The downside is that you’ll be left with a large, unsightly hole where the stump used to be. The stump removal process is difficult and labor intensive, especially if it’s a stump from a larger and more established tree. Stump removal is the right choice if you have specific plans for the space that require the roots to be gone too. Keep in mind that you’ll need to fill in the hole and regrow grass before your landscaping plans are able to begin.
Stump Grinding
Stump grinding, on the other hand, entails using a machine to mulch up the wood of the remaining stump. The stump will be shredded into wood chips, but the roots will remain intact underground. The leftover wood chips can be used as mulch around your flowerbed or around the base of other trees. The holes left behind from stump grinding are easier to fill in and work around than those left from stump removal since they’re only a fraction of the size. More of your yard is left in good condition and most landscaping plans you have can still be executed with the tree roots remaining underground! The roots will decay overtime and in about 10 years, you’ll have a yard with no roots at all. Stump grinding is also usually the more affordable option because there’s less labor involved, and it makes a smaller impact on your yard.
Which is Right for You
If you need assistance removing a tree from your property, and grinding down the stump this spring, our team at Walnut Tree Service is ready to assist! You can contact us today by giving us a call at (781) 640-0377 or by filling out our team’s online contact form! We look forward to hearing from you and assisting with your arbor care needs!