Frequently Asked Questions

1. What do you do with all the wood from tree removal?

Very good question. The majority of the wood debris that we take away from our clients’ properties (everything 15” diameter and less) goes through a chipper. The wood chips are then taken to a mulch plant where they are used as raw material for various kinds of mulch.

Because all of this takes place in Prince William County, Pro Arbor is always in compliance with the Northern Virginia quarantine on wood that has been imposed as a result of the Emerald Ash Borer. Our larger wood is used by firewood sellers in Prince William and Fairfax Counties.

Similarly, the wood debris in PA is taken to a mulch plant in Blair County, PA.

So 100% of the waste from our operations is recycled.

2. How do I get rid of a Tree Stump?

After a tree is cut down, a stump is left behind. A chain saw can only cut a tree down to a few inches above ground level, so the stump will be visible. In some cases it can be a trip hazard, or it will be in the way of the landscaping or building that follows the tree removal. So it has to go. But how?

If you are doing it yourself, you have a few options.

1. 1. You can dig it up. This can be quite challenging depending upon the placement of the stump and its size. Most likely you will need an axe and pry bar in addition to your digging tools.
2. 2. You can facilitate the stump’s decay by adding an enzymatic product (available at garden centers) to it. Drill many small holes in the stump, then fill the holes with this product in powder form. It may take months for the stump to decay enough to be broken to pieces.
3. 3. You can grind it. This is the method that professional tree services employ. A gas or diesel powered machine with a carbide-toothed grinding wheel is applied to the stump, turning it into shredded wood. You can rent these machines at rental centers. When you do, be sure to call Miss Utility before using it so that you do not strike any buried utility lines.

The easiest, most cost-effective, safest way to get rid of a stump is to have your tree service do it with their grinding machine. Count on spending about $8-11 per inch diameter of the area to be addressed. When the grinding is finished, the shredded debris is usually raked into a mound where the stump was. If this is not how you want the site left, then specify to your arborist what you would like done.

If you are planting another tree in the same place, then you should make sure that all of the shredded debris from the grinding is removed prior to planting. This material is highly compostable, and will harm transplanted roots if left there. It is, however, useful as mulch for already established trees or plants. It is best to find a use for this material somewhere on your property, since a tree service will often charge just as much to haul it away as they do to grind the stump.

Towns That Pro Arbor Serves:

Tree Removal Alexandria Arlington Tree Removal Tree Pruning Ashburn Fairfax Tree Removal Great Falls, VA Tree Trimming and Removal Tree Pruning in Lake Ridge Tree Care Manassas McLean, VA Tree Cutting and Removal Tree Service Montclair Northern VA Tree Service Tree Pruning Reston Tree Removal in Vienna Tree Removal Woodbridge