Stump Removal – How to Get Rid of a Tree Stump

Tree stumps can be unsightly and can cause many problems in your yard. They attract pests like termites and carpenter ants, encourage weed growth, and can damage the foundation of your home. It’s important to remove them as soon as possible to avoid these heavier consequences. Stump Removal can be done by burning the stump or using a grinder to break it down underground. This is a difficult job that should only be performed by an expert, as it involves dealing with a lot of heavy equipment and safety precautions. An expert will know how to deal with issues such as septic systems, gas lines, and underground water lines that may be in the way.

Burning a tree stump can be dangerous as the smoldering embers can easily catch nearby vegetation on fire, or even ignite septic systems or your house foundation. It’s also a very time-consuming task, and requires days of monitoring to make sure the stump doesn’t smolder into the ground and damage other plants or structures in your yard. It’s also a very dirty process, requiring you to dig around the stump with a mattock and shovel the dirt out of the way in order to expose the roots for cutting.

For homeowners who aren’t interested in completely removing the stump, it can be trimmed down to several inches above the soil level and then covered with a preservative to prolong its life. This can be a great option for people with sentimental feelings about the stump but who want to eliminate the risk of rot and pests.

Stump grinding is the most effective way to remove a stump and prevent it from growing back. Using a machine called a grinder, the top portion of the stump and some of the roots are ground up to create mulch that will be used in your garden. This method is less invasive to your garden as opposed to digging up the entire stump and its root system, which can cause significant disruptions to your yard.

It’s also important to keep in mind that even if you successfully remove a stump, it can re-sprout from its roots. In addition, the remaining roots can grow into the surface of the ground and interfere with any future plant growth you want to do in your yard. Removing the roots of the stump will ensure that it won’t re-sprout and become a tripping hazard in your yard.

Some smaller stumps can be removed with a chainsaw, though it won’t be flush with the ground or address any of the roots. It is important to hire an expert for this task, as they will be able to identify and remove any lingering wood in the roots of the stump, which can cause further complications. If you’re thinking about hiring an arborist to take care of a stump removal, contact Martin’s Tree Service. We’ll provide a free estimate and let you know what options are available for your property.

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