Stump Grinding versus Stump Removal

Advantages of Stump Grinding

The process of stump grinding uses special saws to shred a stump into wood chips or sawdust. This machine will grind the stump to ground level, or grind it as low as a foot below the surface to create a large hole, which the stump grinding company will fill with dirt. Stump grinding is one of the best ways to remove a stump for several reasons. Below are the top advantages of stump grinding.

Speed

Stump grinding is fast and efficient. In many cases it can take 30 minutes to two hours, depending on the size of the stump. This is typically a faster solution than full stump removal. Stump grinding equipment works fast, and when finished, there is not much work left to do. Grinding does leave you with a pile of wood chips, which requires time for cleanup. A positive is that these wood chips can be used for other purposes around your yard, such as mulching.

Minimal filling

Stump grinding leaves the roots in plaec, so there is either no hole, or a small hole to fill in afterward. Many people choose this option because they don't have to pay for the extra work to fill in the hole that is left with full stump removal.

Cost

Stump grinding is in most cases less expensive than stump removal. The reason is that full stump removal is a much more labor intensive and time consuming project. Stump removal needs more machinery and labor to complete the job. Many people would rather go with a more cost effective option and use the added savings for other yard projects, which makes stump grinding a more popular option.

Disadvantages of Stump Grinding

Stump grinding does come with a few drawbacks. Let's take a look at some disadvantages listed below

Mess

Stump grinding leaves a mess that requires a full cleanup. The bits of wood will go everywhere and it will take time to get your property looking neat again. Since complete stump removal either keeps the stump intact or dissolves it chemically, there's no chip mess to clean up afterwards. That said, full stump removal is messy in a different way. It leaves a huge hole in your yard that will need to be filled in. Consider these tradeoffs when deciding between the two techniques.

Root Decay

After stump grinding, the roots will begin to decay. Some homeowners and business owners may not want this due to the associated fungi, bugs, and other pests that will now be attracted to the root system and their yards. An advantage of stump removal is that there is no root system to attact these pests. Another tradeoff to consider.

Potential Sprouting

When you leave roots int he ground, there will always be a possibility that roots will sprout. The roots could send up small new shoots where the stump used to be. Dealing with the fresh new sprouts after paying for stump grinding could be a frustrating situation.

Advantages of Stump Removal

Full stump removal can be an excellent option for getting rid of inconvenient stumps. It involves pulling the entire stump out of hte ground with a hydraulic jack or tractor, though sometimes chemicals or burning methods can be used. Here are a few advantages of complete stump removal.

Easier Replanting

Fully removing a stump will allow the option to plant a new tree. The roots are no longer there taking up space and you have likely filled in the hole with rich, clean soil. If you are looking to plant a new tree in the same spot as the oil one, complete stump removal is the preferred method.

Total Elimination

Full elimination of the stump opens up more options for your yard. Grinding the stump a several inches below the surface is great, but the roots are still there and may cause issues with planting or installing yard fixtures. Complete removal solves this problem

Minimal Chance of Complications

When you removal a stump, you take away all risk that it will sprout or rot. Grinding down the stump still leaves the roots below the soil, which could cause difficulties down the road. Total removal takes that concern out.

Disadvantages of Stump Removal

Just like stump grinding, stump removal also has some drawbacks. Let's take a look at a few of them below.

Greater Investment

Probably the most obvious disadvantage here. This process is more labor intensive, takes up more time and equipment, and because of that, will cost more money. The roots of a tree take up more than a third of the tree's total biomass, so this process will take a significant amount of force to remove the entire stump.

Extra Work

Full stump removal involves more concentrated additional work, such as filling in the hole left in the ground or cleaning up abrasive chemicals. If you would prefer to minimize the work involved, opt for stump grinding services.

Duration

The time it takes to complete the job with stump removal is much longer than stump grinding. If you are dissolving a stump, it could take quite a while versus grinding a stump over a few hours. If you want to get the work done as quickly as possible, full stump removal might not be the best option for you.