What’s Involved in Stump Removal?

Stumps are hard to deal with. They take up valuable space that could be used by kids to play, friends to hang out and plants to grow, and they’re also breeding grounds for pests like termites and wood-centric ants. If left unchecked, those infestations can move from the stumps themselves to your home, which is a much bigger problem.

There are many reasons why you may want to remove a stump, but if you’re thinking of doing it yourself or hiring someone else to do it, it helps to understand what’s involved in the process. Burke says the first step is to put on work gloves that fit well, as loose gloves will rub and irritate your skin while you’re working. Then, using a mattock or digging bar and a shovel, dig down through the stump and roots to expose as much as possible of them. You may need to do this over a period of months, or even a year before the stump completely decomposes and is fully out of the ground.

If you’re going to do it yourself, Burke recommends setting up a safety barricade around the stump and wearing protective equipment like safety goggles and steel-toe boots. He also suggests making sure your tools are in good condition, including your chainsaw and stump grinder. Once you’re ready to get started, drill deep holes into what’s left of the stump, spacing them out and drilling as thoroughly as possible. This will make the stump easier to break up and remove with an axe or other tool.

Once you’ve removed the stump, be sure to fill in the resulting crater with sawdust or loam so that it doesn’t settle and sink over time. Burke says it’s important to do this, as it’ll prevent the hole from becoming a weed patch that can compete with your lawn and distract from its beauty.

One downside of stump grinding is that it can disrupt the flow of water and nutrients to other nearby plants, causing them to suffer. This may be a concern if you’re planting new trees and shrubs in the same area afterward.

Another downside of a stump that remains is that it can pull nutrients from the soil and inhibit growth in surrounding trees, plants and flowers. This is especially true if the tree or plant was diseased and needed to be cut down.

Stump removal is a big project that can be physically demanding, depending on the size and age of the stump. It’s also costly, and it requires heavy machinery that can rip up the stump and root system with ease. However, it’s the most effective way to ensure that the remaining stump and root system is out of the ground completely, which can make it easier to plant in the same area. It also reduces the risk of future insect problems and enables you to maximize use of your yard space for activities like gardening, mowing, etc.

source https://cameronstreeservices.wordpress.com/2023/12/12/whats-involved-in-stump-removal/