Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

WHY SHOULD I HAVE MY TREE STUMP GROUND?

When you have a tree cut down, there is always a stump that remains. People have the tree stump ground for many reasons, but mainly because they are unsightly, in the way of a project, or they are a safety concern.

DOES IT COST LESS TO HAVE US GRIND YOUR STUMPS THAN THE TREE COMPANY?

Remember that all we do is grind stumps. It’s our expertise, and we usually provide a better price. In addition, we have 3 different sized machines while most tree companies only have one so we use the appropriate machine for each job. Just like any professional home improvement project, you should always get at least 2 quotes for the stump grinding. It could save you more money than you think.

WHAT IS A STUMP GRINDER?

Professional stump grinding machines are powerful machines that have a large spinning wheel with teeth on them. (Check out our Photos and Videos Page) They’re designed to be driven or towed up to the stump and then grind it into wood chips.

HOW DOES STUMP GRINDING WORK?

A stump grinder cuts away at the stump that remains after a tree has been cut down. A rotating blade chews into the wood as it turns and you are left with a pile of wood chips. The stump is cut from 3″ to 5″ below the grade of the surface.

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE WOOD CHIPS AFTER THE STUMP IS GROUND?

Most stump grinding companies do not haul away the chips. There will be a large pile of wood chips when we’re done so you’ll need to remove them yourself or hire a landscaper. (Remember that the amount of chips created not only depends on the diameter of the stump, but also the height of the stump. So make sure the tree company cuts the tree as close to the ground as possible.)

IS STUMP GRINDING AND STUMP REMOVAL THE SAME THING?

No. Stump grinders grind the stump 3″-5″ below the surface. There is still a stump beneath the ground that is not visible. Stump removal is removing the entire stump with a back hoe or another piece of large excavation equipment.

CAN I DO it myself and RENT A STUMP GRINDER?

Yes. Stump grinders that are available for rent by homeowners are smaller and less powerful than those used by professionals. Below is an example of stump grinder that you can rent from your local Home Depot. It has a gas powered, 31hp engine while our medium sized machine is a 100hp diesel.

The above stump grinder from Home Depot costs $220 for a 4 hour rental. The rental price may be more than it costs to hire us to grind your stumps. These may be good to grind small stumps, under 12″, but if you have stumps that are 24″ or larger, it’s going to take you a very long time to grind them. For us, that 24″ stump will take a matter of minutes to grind.

As with most heavy, powerful equipment, there is always the chance for injury.

You need to wear protective goggles and ear protection. Also, there is usually more than just the stump that you will grind. Rocks, wires, forgotten pipes and other debris is common to be hidden near the stump and all of these can become flying projectiles that can endanger yourself, others around you, your house or your car.

Also, we are insured against accidental damage to property.

Before doing it yourself, please think about what could go wrong.

WHAT SHOULD I CONSIDER IF I PLAN TO RENT A STUMP GRINDER?

If you’re thinking of doing it yourself, you might first want to add up the time and cost of renting a stump grinder, including:

A vehicle to transport it to and from the rental yard
Gas to power it
Personal safety gear for you
Strength to load, unload and move the grinder
Strength to maneuver the grinder
Materials to protect the surrounding ground from damage
Material or screen to stop flying debris
Chance of damage to the rented grinder blade teeth from hidden debris
Debris cleanup and disposal
Homeowner’s liability insurance coverage

DOES A TREE STUMP NEED TO BE REMOVED?

No. You may want to learn more about what to expect if you don’t remove the stump after you remove your tree.

Many homeowners can’t anticipate how much a left-over tree stump will stand out after a tree is removed, especially if the rest of their garden is tidy and maintained. A stump that is left alone will start re-sprouting around it’s perimeter.

CAN ALL STUMPS BE GROUND OUT?

No.

Limited access – Our equipment may be too large or the stump is in a precarious location.
No access – If a gate is less than 60″ wide we may not be able to fit our equipment through.
Stump next to a fence, structure, or existing trees – We may be able to grind most of the stump, but if we hit the fence or tree it may be damaged or destroyed.
Stumps that are near a house’s gas meter. You would need to call DIG SAFE and if the gas lines run too close to the stump it will be impossible to grind.

WHAT ARE THE ALTERNATIVES TO STUMP GRINDING TO REMOVE A TREE STUMP?

You can leave it if it’s in an out of the way place or hidden under mulch.

You can remove it by hand if it is a very small stump. An axe, grubber, saw, and pick axe may do the trick.

You can use chemical stump remover available at your local nursery or hardware store. These products are often made of potassium nitrate, and work by speeding up wood decay. They require that you drill holes into your stump, fill them with stump killer, add water, cover your stump, and wait. (These chemicals are irritants so read the instructions and take the necessary precautions)

You can do the same as above. but use rock salt instead. Both these methods usually take years.

Please don’t be the person that lights it on fire thinking that it will make the stump brittle. This is dangerous and usually makes the stump even uglier than it was before.

CAN STUMPS BE GROUND DURING ALL SEASONS OF THE YEAR?

Yes. As long as we can see and get to the stump then we can grind it. Sometimes we have to wait until snow melts or the ground dries out a bit from too much rain.