Stump Removal & Grinding Services
Why Do You Need Tree Stump Removal?
Once a tree has been cut down, or felled in a storm, the stump that is left behind can be an unattractive addition to an otherwise beautiful landscape. In addition to the obvious aesthetics, other reasons exist for having a tree stump removed.
Regrowth
If a tree stump is left unattended, sprouts could appear within a short time. After a time, removal of multiple additional tree sprouts can be inconvenient and costly.
Danger to Pedestrians
Children playing outside or even passersby are at risk of tripping and being injured. Obviously, you want to keep people safe, and with strangers, you may have financial liability if someone is injured on your property.
Encourages Fungal Growth and Insect Infestation
Rotting tree stumps can become home to fungi. Many insects are attracted to the dead or rotting wood, and some woodboring varieties, like carpenter ants, can spread out to other plants or even structures on your property. Removing the stump could save you a great deal of money.
Makes Mowing and Landscaping Difficult
Landscaping around an unsightly stump can be annoying, and weeds or tall grass can grow up around stumps, making them difficult to see. This visibility issue is one of the potential reasons for tripping, and, depending on how low to the ground the stump has been cut, could be a possible path to destroying your mower blades if you accidentally mow over them.
Tree Stump Removal Options
The longer you delay tree stump removal, the more likely injuries or problems to your grass, plants and even your home may occur. Once you decide to remove a tree stump, you should find a reputable professional tree service company and learn your options. You can choose stump grinding, or complete stump removal, and your choice could depend on several factors, including whether you have a large or small stump, if you plan to replant in the same spot, and what your budget constraints are. Contact us to learn about our services.
What is Stump Grinding?
Stump grinding is a process by which a tree grinder is used to mechanically grind the stump until the remainder is 6-10″ below ground level. The pieces of the stump are small and can be used to fill the hole afterward. If any parts of the root or the stump remain, they usually decompose with no further issues.
Stump Grinding vs. Other Methods of Tree Stump Removal
In the past, complete tree stump removal has proven to be a very involved process. If the tree was small, the stump and roots could be dug out and the hole filled in relatively easily. If the tree stump had a large diameter, a bigger process could be involved. A root ball can grow 4 to 10 times the size of the tree and some roots can actually spread out even farther. A common estimate is that the roots of a tree could spread out one foot for every inch in tree trunk diameter. Whatever estimate you use, the removal of such a large mass would leave a very large hole in the ground, which would need to be filled with something.
Benefits of Stump Grinding to Remove Tree Stumps
Stein Tree Service removes trees and utilizes a large stump grinder to remove the stump when requested by the homeowner. With this method, we are able to eliminate the entire stump in 95% of cases.
A factor about tree growth in our area that makes total removal of stumps possible is that we have very little topsoil. This thin layer of good soil means that trees in this area are fairly shallowly rooted due to the presence of rock and clay. Trees maintain their roots in soil that gives them the most nutrients and they get none from rock and clay. Thus, we can often grind out the stumps of most trees because they are relatively shallow: possibly 8-12 inches in most of our local areas.
Besides cost, stump grinding has a few advantages over other, older methods of tree removal:
No Heavy Equipment
For large stump removal, some methods could require heavier equipment to be used on your lawn, which can cause trauma to the surrounding trees and plant life. Stein Tree Service’s professionals use a large stump grinder that is self-propelled and has rubber “turf-friendly” tracks. We bring the grinder to the job site on a trailer, unload, and then steer to the stump. Even with its large size, the grinder can fit through a 36” wide gate, making the process relatively easy on most landscapes.
Less Environmental Impact
As mentioned, when such a large piece of material is removed from an environment, a void will be left. For safety reasons, you will want to fill the hole with something. We normally backfill the hole with the chips from grinding, however, if requested, we can provide additional services, such as hauling away the chips, or adding topsoil and seeding/regrading the area. Each of these options carry different costs.
The choice to have a tree service company remove a stump from your yard or to perform stump grinding is a personal one. If you plan to replace a large tree with a new one, stump removal will be necessary to accommodate that growth.
Call a Professional for Stump Grinding or Tree Stump Removal
Activities involving tree care can be dangerous. Depending on the size, tree stump removal may involve special equipment and special knowledge. Our certified arborists and other tree care specialists know the proper, safe procedures. We also own and are trained to use the necessary vehicles, machinery, and tools. We are fully licensed and insured, so in the unlikely event of injury, you will be protected from liability.
Why Choose Stein Tree Service?
Our staff is the best in the business and has hundreds of years of combined experience. We have Certified Arborists, Certified Tree Risk Assessors, and a long history of crew and property safety.
Our equipment is state-of-the-art and radio dispatched for immediate response. The company fleet consists of several aerial lift trucks, chippers, chipper trucks and stump grinding machines for stump removal as well as various pieces of machinery for right of way work.
Our reputation speaks for itself. We have served thousands of customers throughout the Delaware Valley and maintain the highest level of customer satisfaction. The vast majority of our business comes to us via referrals from past customers.