Removing the stumps in your yard is an essential aspect of landscape maintenance. It is essential for aesthetics, sanitation, and family safety. There can be several reasons to hurry the process of stump removal. It can be a tripping or falling hazard, especially for children and pets.

An unattended stump can be a growing sight for wild bushes, weeds, or other smaller trees. These unwanted plants may suck the nutrition from healthy plants. They may be costly to remove and would deteriorate the appearance of your lawn. Tree stumps are a good breeding ground for vermin and diseases. With roots deep in the ground stumps can damage a lawn mower, look unpleasant, and need frequent weeding.

If you want to get rid of that annoying stump in your yard, stump removal and stump grinding are two proven methods. Both the methods are different and have their advantages. It is crucial to understand both the techniques for an informed decision.

Stump Removal

When you want to eliminate the tree so that it won’t harm the lawn or property in the long run, you should choose complete stump removal. Only professionals should carry out the process because it involves heavy machinery and equipment that only trained and licensed experts can handle. The process typically involves pulling out the whole stump with roots using a winch, hydraulic jack, or a tractor.

Advantages of Stump Removal

Replanting is easy – Since no roots are remaining, you can fill up the space with clean soil and plant a new tree.

Enhance Safety – Complete removal means no safety hazards such as tripping over the roots, weed growth, or small trees around the stump. It also saves lawn equipment from any damage. 

Total Elimination – Stump removal leaves no roots in place to create trouble in planting other trees or landscaping as you want.

No Decay or Pest Infestation – As there’s nothing left, there are no chances of rot or decay that otherwise lead to mold and fungus growth posing health hazards. A decaying stump looks very unpleasant to sight. They also attract pests like termites, ants, and rodents. These pests can infest other healthy trees and even get into the home.

Improve Curb Appeal – Stumps are an eyesore. They make it tough to manage the landscape, keep the area clean, and ultimately affect the curb appeal. By removing them, you know you will have a beautiful lawn that improves your home value. 

Stump Grinding

If you are not interested in deeper extraction or want to take care of the tree roots, grinding is another process for stump removal. Here professionals use special ground saws to shred the stump into chips and sawdust. They use specific machines to grind the stump to the ground level or a little deeper. You can choose to fill up the hole with soil. However, the roots remain intact and would take a few to several years to decay.

Advantages of Grinding

Speed – It is a faster process that takes a few hours when done by professionals. Grinding machines work fast. The area is comparatively lesser than deep root extraction. 

Less Filling – Stump removal leaves a giant hole that requires a lot of material and time to level up. With grinding, the roots remain in place. Therefore, there is no need for filling except when grinding the stump a few inches more into the ground. 

Eco-friendly – No heavy machines mean no harm to your landscape or the surrounding environment. 

Conclusion

Though stump grinding is less time-consuming and more cost-effective, it has its limitations. It does not contribute much to the beauty of the landscape as the roots remain there and the stump may grow in the future. On the contrary, stump removal is a permanent solution that initially costs more but allows you to custom design and plans the landscape. Whatever process you choose, it is advisable to hire only professionals with years of experience and the right tools. Look for an experienced team that works locally.