There are different size stump grinders ranging in power from 5 to 100 horsepower. Most smaller stump grinders only grind to ground level.
- ASK EACH TREE SERVICE – How deep do you grind the stump and do you remove the root system?
If you want to plant grass after having a tree stump removed, then the stump will need to be grinding at least 6″ into the ground. You will need to fill the hole with lime and dirt. Lime decreases the soil acidity and helps grass seeds sprout. Be sure the tree service grinds the above-ground root system, “Chasing the Roots.”
- ASK EACH TREE SERVICE – If you have a gate, will the stump grinder fit through your gate without removing sections?
Our Carlton SP7015 Stump Grinder has a 27″ cutting wheel powered with 60 horsepower, grinding down 12″ – 15″ into the ground with a 70″ cutting arc. It is the most powerful self-propelled stump grinding. Its runs on tracks and can fit through a standard 36″ gate, with a minimal damage to grass.
- ASK EACH TREE SERVICE – Do you remove the wood & stump chips?
Stump Grinding produces a large amount of wood & stump chips. All wood chips will need to be removed before planting grass. Trees are acidic and any wood chips in the ground will prevent grass from growing.Stump Grinding estimates generally do not include removing the wood & stump chips.
Most tree services don’t include removing wood & stump chips in the price of stump grinding. There may be an extra charge for removing all the wood & stump chips. Removing the wood & stump chips can take up to 5 times longer than just stump grinding and will generally triple the price. Otherwise, stump chips usually take 3 – 7 years to decompose.
ASK EACH TREE SERVICE
- Do you fill the stump hole with stump chips, leveling them out and creating a natural area?
- Do you rake or blow wood & stump chips into a natural area?
After grinding the stump, you are left with a giant hole and a 1′ to 3′ tall pile of wood & stumps chips. The stump grinder will throw wood & stump chips anywhere from 10 to 15 feet. Filling the stump hole and leveling the wood & stump chips as well as raking or blowing stump chips into a natural area is generally not including by most tree services.
We can fill the hole back in with the wood & stumps chips, level out the area, and create a natural area. If you want to plant flowers, bushes, or tree the wood & stump chips will need to be removed. Fill in the hole with dirt, lime, and a nitrogen-rich fertilizer. It is best to wait at least a year for the soil acidity to naturally decrease. Continue checking the soil’s pH balance during the year.
ASK EACH TREE SERVICE
- Do you blow wood & stump chips off street, driveway, and sidewalks?
As you can see, many tree services offer stump grinding only and do not provide stump chip removal or any other landscaping services. Most often tree services grind the stump and pack up, leaving you with a huge mess. Your yard may end up looking like a battle field with 12″ deep holes, 2′ mountains of stump chips, and wood & stump chips scattered all over your grass and driveway.
