When trees are removed a stump is left at or near grade level. If the stump is not an eyesore, trip hazard, or in the way of something it can be left alone. Through nature's circle of life, the stump decays and joins the topsoil. Along the way, it becomes the home for animals and insects, the food for fungi, which contribute nutrients to the soil, and occasionally a
useful platform for resourceful gardeners. But sometimes a stump just has to go when a tree is removed. Maybe it's in the way of a construction project or landscape feature. It could be a trip hazard. Or it could be just too ugly to stay in the place where it lies.
When stumps need to be removed the job is best done by grinding it. Stump grinding involves a fast spinning wheel with carbide teeth that chop the stump and roots into dust. What is left behind is a mixture of wood shavings and soil. This material makes for excellent mulch for already established plants and trees, but should be removed from the hole in order to plant anything new.
There are many different varieties of stump grinding machines. They vary in their power (from small gasoline engines to powerful diesel engines), size, and mobility. At Pro Arbor we have chosen to use machines that have a good balance of power (60 hp diesel), mobility, size adjustability, and weight. Our machines move on rubber tracks, spreading out the weight of the machine so as to not leave tracks on lawns. Width can be reduced to 36" to fit through most gates.
Ask a sales arborist for more details about stump grinding.
