Stump Grinding & Removal
Stumps take a long time to decay naturally and digging them out is usually impractical. Stump grinding utilizes power equipment to pulverize a stump into mulch. This process usually takes less than an hour.
Poisoning a stump is a cheaper alternative that prevents regrowth, but leaves behind a stump. For some species like aspen, poisoning and grinding should be done to prevent new shoots growing from left over roots.
Poisoning stumps
Trees can be incredibly persistent. Even after being cut down to a stump, a tree can regrow. Cutting to a stump used to be done intentionally for firewood and other industrial uses, a practice called coppicing. For most of us, the ability of a tree to regrow from a stump is a nuisance. Various herbicides are available that can be applied to a freshly cut stump that kill the tree and prevents future growth. These work by being applied to the cambium. The vascular tissue of the tree sucks the herbicide down into its roots. You do not need to drill a hole into the stump, particularly in the center where the cells are already dead. The herbicide we prefer to use is “practically non-toxic” (EPA – toxicity class IV). It won’t hurt people or pets, but there is some possibility of damaging nearby plants (usually only the case when roots of the same species have grafted together).
Stump removal
Even after poisoning, a dead stump can take a very long time to decay. Depending on the location of a stump, this long process might be undesirable. For most people, stump removal is the best followup after tree removal.
Things to know about stump removal.
- Stump removal requires different tools than tree removal. Stumps are ground out with a stump grinder that pulverizes the stump with a toothed cutting wheel. Such stump routers are available to rent at equipment rental stores, but the price to rent for ent one for a day is usually more than it costs to hire us. If you have many stumps to remove, then it may be worth renting your own.
- Strump removal creates a mound of wood chips mixed with dirt. The standard across tree service companies is to leave the stump grindings on site. This material makes excellent mulch for other parts of your garden. Alternatively, if you would like the debris removed or would like us to re-soil and plant grass seed, let us know and we can give you an additional quote.
- The price of stump removal depends on the diameter, height, and species of the stump. Usually, a 24” diameter stump will cost around $140 to remove.
Do You Haul Away The Gridnings?
The standard in the tree care industry is to leave behind the grindings. It is a great substance to repurpose for garden mulch! If you want the grindings to be hauled away by us, that can be arranged.
Pricing
$6.00 per inch
We charge a fixed rate of $5.50 per inch of diameter (measured along the widest line where the root flare meets the ground).
Additional costs:
Surface root: $10 and up. Usually around $20 each root.
Stumps that were left high: depends on the size, but usually between $20 and $40.
Uprooted trees: Trees that have been uprooted in a windstorm may require an in person estimate.
Contact Us!
Fill out our contact form here for a free estimate on stump grinding and removal.