There are several reasons why homeowners want their tree stumps removed from their yards. Do you have them in your home but haven’t considered removing it? The reasons stated below, as well as the simple steps on how you can remove a stump, may change your mind.
Why Stump Removal?
Health & Safety: Perhaps the most important reason for it is to prevent accidents from occurring due to it. Kids who run around the yard may fail to see the stump and trip over it. A rotting tree stump also attracts insects and pests. That’s fine if they are confined to your yard, but what’s stopping them from making their way into your house?
Convenience: Tree stumps can get in the way of your daily activities. For example, when you’re mowing, you have to maneuver your heavy lawnmower every time you encounter it. Accidentally bumping into it can also damage your lawnmower, so it makes sense to avoid this and get the stump removed.
Appearance: Unless your yard follows a specific wood-related theme, it’s unlikely the decaying tree stump is adding to your landscape’s aesthetics. Now that you’re aware of what could happen when there’s a stump in your home, let’s take a look at the 3 effective ways you can remove tree stumps.
Digging
The manual way to remove tree stumps is by digging. As the method is as tiresome as it sounds, manual stump removal should be kept only for small stumps. The removal is done by digging around the tree to expose its roots. The roots are then axed off, making it easy for the stump to be levered out.
A great tool for this purpose is a mattock. A mattock have two different ends; the blunt end can be used to dig through the earth while the sharper end can cut through the roots as you dig.
Many homeowners abandon their removal and consult professionals to finish doing what they had originally started. Therefore, before you plan to dig the stump yourself, commit to the hard work that the job will take out of you.
Grinding
If you’re seeking a quicker, less labor-intensive method of stump removal, grinding is your answer. Grinding, which uses a stump grinding machine, will also be suitable for bigger tree stumps as the process does not require you to lever out the stump.
What the stump grinder basically does is that it grinds back and forth on the surface on the stump until it is reduced to a level below the ground. You can also grind the roots peeking out from the stump as well as the earth mound that gathers around it.
Another great thing about stump removal via grinding is its ability to remove stumps in all kinds of places like nearby walls and paths. Stump grinders also come in different shapes and sizes to fit in with different situations. You can rent one at your local tool rental store or hire the services of professionals who will be much more effective.
Chemically
If you are a very patient being who can withstand waiting several months to years, choose to remove stumps chemically. This approach is also the least labor-intensive method and an economical one, making it a good option for those seeking to remove many at one go.
Evenly spaced holes are drilled into the stump, which are later filled with stump remover. Over time, the chemical accelerates the rate of decay and softens the wood. This softening allows you to easily axe the sponge-like stump away and remove it completely. Do note that older stumps tend to take less time to rot than younger tree stumps.
As this method takes a fair bit of investment of your time, we suggest stumps that aren’t too big to be removed by grinding. Invest in the machinery or simply, hire professionals.