Stump Removal vs Stump Grinding: the Pros and Cons

There are many reasons to remove a tree stump from your garden, such as to improve the aesthetics of your backyard or to prevent it from causing injury to any member of your family.

The challenge is deciding how to do it. Do you go for stump removal or stump grinding? These are the two most-used techniques, and they have very different approaches.

Stump Grinding

The grinding process doesn’t require strenuous work, which means it can be done relatively quickly. Stump grinding involves exposing the roots and using a grinder to reduce the stump to pulp. Any small roots that are left behind will decay over time.

Stump Removal

Depending on the size of the tree, the root ball can grow up to 10 times the size of the tree trunk and can be well rooted to the ground, which makes getting it out a big job. This method is more challenging as involves removing the stump along with the roots.

Let’s look at the pros and cons of each technique to help you make an informed decision.

Why it’s essential to remove stumps

There are many important reasons you should remove a stump from your garden rather than just leaving it in place. Some of the reasons are:

• To prevent it from depriving other plants of nutrients

Leaving a stump in place increases the likelihood of smaller trees shooting from it. These offshoots would continue to take nutrients from the soil thereby preventing nearby plants from receiving them, resulting in them withering or dying.

• Safety

Stumps can be dangerous because they are a safety hazard and can cause accidents when children play outside. They can also damage appliances like lawnmowers.

• Prevent pests from moving in

Decaying stumps attract pests like carpenter ants and termites which can kill or damage other plants in the garden, and even wooden structures in the home. If left in place, tree stumps can also become a host for diseases and fungi, which could destroy your whole garden.

As you can see, stump removal is a necessity. Now, which method will you choose: stump grinding or removal? Here are the pros and cons of both.

Stump Grinding Pros

• Fast
• Not labour-intensive
• No gaping hole is left afterwards
• Environmentally friendly
• The remains of the stump are ideal for mulching

Stump Grinding Cons

• The possibility of eventual sprouts
• Roots decay
• Potentially harmful to children

Stump Removal Pros

The advantages of stump removal are generally the same as those of grinding. However, because this process involves pulling the stump from the ground, this means it can be done in a day.

Stump Removal Cons

• A more complicated process
• A large hole is left, which needs to be filled.
• Requires heavy equipment and can be costly

Now that you know the pros and cons and have made your choice, the next decision you need to make is who will remove or grind your tree stump. It is crucial to hire a professional company to advise you and perform this service.

Arborist 360 highly skilled experts specialise in stump grinding services in Auckland at competitive rates. Get in touch today, and we’ll get the job done right.