WHAT IS A STUMP GRINDER?

Stump grinders are powerful machines that look—depending on their size and model—a little like a lawnmower and a circular saw had a baby together. They’re designed to be rolled up to the stump and then grind it into little pieces. 

When removing a tree or large shrub to ground level, a small proportion of the trunk or stem remains in the ground. This is known as the "Stump" or main rootball. 

HOW DOES STUMP GRINDING WORK?

A stump grinder chews away at the stump wood that’s left after a tree has been cut down. All stump grinders use a powerful, rotating blade that rips into the wood as it turns. The blade’s teeth cut the stump wood into small pieces. The operator guides the blade over the entire stump as the blade reduces the wood to chips, and takes the stump down to well below ground level.

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE WOOD FROM THE TREE STUMP AFTER GRINDING?

Stump grinding results in lots of chips of wood. You’ll make more of them than you think, but they can be used as mulch on-site or added to your green waste bin. You’ll also have a hole, since you’ve just ground out all the stump volume that filled it. You can shovel the wood chips into the hole to decay, or you can import soil and fill the hole so that it’s even with the surrounding ground. Patriarch Tree Services does not remove the grindings from the site due to bio-security and the transportation of fungus and bacteria, we suggest the grindings are levelled in the local area to the stump

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WHEN SHOULD I REMOVE A STUMP?

A stump can remain in the ground without causing any harm.   However; if you wish to replant or lay more lawn, then it is necessary to remove the stump. The stump may also need removing for: 

• a new building / outhouse to be constructed 

• a new fence to be erected 

• or when it is just not appealing to leave an old stump in the lawn. 

 

ARE THERE SITUATIONS WHERE A STUMP CANNOT BE GROUND?

Most easily-accessible trees that are removed can also have their stumps ground out. Sometimes a stump has to be removed for safety reasons, or because it blocks access. But there are situations where stump removal may be difficult or impossible.

• Hard-to-reach trees in places where access is limited or where equipment is too large to bring in may not be candidates for stump grinding

• Trees that were growing in small planting holes surrounded by concrete or other hardscape materials may leave behind a stump that can’t be removed without damaging the surrounding material, or the material may need to be removed first. This can be costly or impossible.

• A tree stump that’s close to other trees or valuable shrubs may damage these other plants and their root systems if their stump is ground out.

• Stumps that are close to buildings or other structures may be hard to grind out because of the chance of damage to foundations, footings, or underground utilities and pipes.

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

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Patriarch Tree Services off a eco plug and poising treatments as an alternative to stump grinding. Click 

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