Whether from natural death, the effects of severe weather, or the result of pests or disease, there are many reasons why you may need to remove a tree in your yard. When this happens, you’re left with a sad reminder in the form of a storm. Fortunately, you don’t have to look at the remains of your tree if you don’t want to. There are many stump removal methods, but stump grinding is the superior method. Here’s why.

Why Stump Grinding Is Best For Stump Removal

There are five different methods to removing a stump from your property. However, when you compare them, it’s clear that stump grinding provides the maximum benefits.

Option 1: Manual Stump Removal

Your first thought may be to dig out the stump and remove it manually. Unfortunately, this method only works well with smaller or medium-sized trees. The larger the tree, the harder it will be to reach the root ball, which must be removed to remove the stump successfully. You’ll need to purchase equipment, including an ax, mattock, saws, shovels, work gloves, and a digging bar. If the tree is a medium-sized one, you may need the help of an extra person. Once you’ve got your equipment and potential helper, make sure to budget up to 12 hours to finish the job. Digging out the earth around a stop is time-consuming, and you’ll need to use your ax, mattock, or whichever tool you prefer to chop the roots away. Keep working until you reach the root ball and then continue underneath to the taproot. A taproot is a large, central, and dominant root from which other roots sprout. You’ll have to cut the taproot so that the root ball can be lifted out.

Drawbacks

Firstly, there’s the time. Who wants to spend the majority of a Saturday or Sunday doing hard manual labor? Secondly, there’s the safety issue. Even if you know how to use an ax or saw, accidents can happen. Then there’s the cost to consider. If you don’t own the necessary tools, you’ll have to buy them.

Option 2: Chemical Removal

Though the chemical method may only take about three hours, it technically can take much, much longer. This process involves harsh chemicals that break essentially melt the stump. You can buy these chemicals at a hardware store. You won’t have to do the manual labor of digging out the stump, but you’ll still need to buy or rent a chainsaw. You’ll want to cut the stump as low as possible to the ground. After, you’ll need to use a large drill bit and create as many holes as you can – spaced a few inches apart. Once you’ve drilled a decent number of holes, you’ll need to create a mixture of water and the chemical remover. Be sure to read the label to see what the correct ratio is. Lastly, you cover the entire thing with a plastic tarp and cover the tarp with mulch to weigh it down and trap the moisture within. Then all that’s left to do is wait. Depending on the size of the tree, it could take many months to break down fully. If the tree is on the larger end of the spectrum, you may need to add water beneath the tarp to keep the moisture level high. When the chemicals have broken down the wood fibers, you’ll be able to break through the stump with an ax or shovel easily. From there, you can remove the larger parts.

Drawbacks

This method requires the use of harsh chemicals that could harm your skin if you accidentally come in contact with it. They also are not environmentally friendly. And like the manual method, you’ll need to use a chainsaw to remove a portion of the stump, which can be dangerous if you’re not used to using one. And while the basics of this method are not as time-consuming as digging out a stump, you could be stuck looking at the mulch-covered tarp for many months.

Option 3: Decay Method

If you have the patience, you could just let the natural decay process unfold. But this could take years, and in the meantime, the stump could become a haven for pests like carpenter ants. And if the stump is near your home, garage, or other structure, pests could easily migrate from the stump to other wooden structures.

Drawbacks

This process is undoubtedly the longest of the five. It could take as long as a decade, especially if the tree is large. And you’ll be left looking at the eyesore that used to be a majestic tree. And as mentioned above, pests like carpenter ants will jump at the chance to colonize a giant stump.

Option 4: Burn Method

Burning is typically faster than the chemical or natural rot method, but it requires extreme caution and can be tricky. Some cities may not allow you to do this, so you’ll have to check your local ordinances. You’ll need to drill holes into the stump and pour kerosene over it. Try to drill the holes as deeply as you can so the kerosene really soaks into the wood. Let the stump go undisturbed for a few days so the fuel can fully penetrate the wood. You’ll also need stones or fire-safe bricks to surround the stump with. Using caution, light the stump. You may need to add wood to the fire to keep it at a high even temperature.

Drawbacks

Keeping fire at an even temperature is not easy, and you’ll need to do so if you want to remove the stump successfully. Then there’s the fuel to consider. Kerosene that may soak into the earth is not great for the environment. Lastly, there’s no way to tell how long it takes for the fire to do its job, but you’ll need to watch it the entire time to make sure there are no accidents. This could take hours or even the whole day, depending on the size of the stump. And once the fire’s done, you’ll need to make sure the embers are put out properly.

Option 5: Grind The Stump

You can rent a stump grinder yourself, which could cost you a pretty penny. Or you could leave it to a tree removal service like us! PPM Tree Service & Arbor Care can have the stump ground and removed in a few hours or less! You won’t have to do any digging, burning, cutting, lifting, or chopping yourself! And when we’ve finished grinding the stump, we’ll use the newly created mulch to fill in the hole left by the stump. Or, if you prefer, we can fill in the area with topsoil and hydroseed the surface so your lawn will have a seamless look. Plus, we’ve got state-of-the-art equipment to make sure we don’t disrupt power cables or plumbing that may lie beneath. When our trucks pull away, your property will be stump and debris-free.

Get Stump Removal Near Metro Detroit

If you’re looking to clear out that eye-sore stump from your yard, the experts at PPM Tree Service & Arbor Care can help! Our stump grinding service is the fastest and most convenient way to remove the last remnants of a dead tree. Our team will make sure the ground is level, and we can even re-seed the area with our hydroseeding service if that’s what you’d prefer. There’s no need to sacrifice the look of your yard and be reminded of the beautiful tree that once stood. If you’d like to improve the look of your yard, give us a call at (877) 454-8733 or leave us a message online.

We post blogs twice a month on all manner of topics relating to trees. Check out our past articles here and connect with us on social media! Like our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter, or browse our Pinterest boards to learn more about tree care and see photos of our work!