Stump Grinding Portland Maine
A Great First Step to Creating a Better Yard
Stump grinding is the process of removing tree stumps. A power chipper will be used to chop up the stump into small pieces, then a bulldozer will push them into a pile so they can be burnt. Sometimes, there is not enough space for the machine to do this, so it has to be done manually with an axe and a shovel instead.
As with any yard work, stump grinding can be a little bit of a messy process. However, our grinding process comes with an extensive clean-up that starts with our initial survey to make sure that we have the property scoped out for the work we will complete. But you may be here to learn a little bit more, maybe about the cost, how we handle roots, and the time it takes on average to complete the stump grinding process. Let's dive right in.
What is Stump Grinding?
A stump grinder is a two-wheeled tractor that has a large fast-spinning disc in the front. These discs can be either metal or wood. The disc rotates at high speeds and the machine is used to grind up tree stumps, roots and brush into small pieces of wood chips or dust. The higher power models are capable of grinding up larger tree trunks as well which then need to be separated from the chips by some type of separator.
Stump grinding is a process of removing tree stumps by chewing them down to the ground level. The most common time of year to grind stumps is in the spring when they have been exposed by winter weather. For manual stump grinding, a person will need to use a chainsaw to cut away the tree trunk at its base and then use an axe or some other tool that can penetrate into the wood. After cutting at least one-third of the way around, there will be enough room for another person equipped with an axe or another long-handled tool like a two-man crosscut saw to push up and lever out chunks of wood from around the stump. A large stone may then be placed on top of the area and tapped into place so that it wedges tightly against all sides of the stem, preventing it from being pushed back into place later on when more work needs doing below ground level. When finished, there should be no part of its original shape remaining above soil level.
Stump Removal v. Grinding?
The short answer is: it depends. Stump grinding is a useful process for most people that want an efficient, and relatively tidy way to handle the tree stump that's either in a dangerous area that limits the safety of your yard or simply an eye sore that doesn't allow you to utilize your landscape to its full potential. However, there is the alternative of stump removal as well, which is a different process that handles the stump in a different way. Some considerations to take into account when choosing which route to take are how deep are the roots, do I have any time restrictions, and of course the cost of dealing with that pesky tree stump. To get a better understanding of the cost of our service, and why we recommend stump grinding, feel free to give us a call to discuss with one of our stump professionals.
Grinding a stump is often the best option for people who want to get rid of a tree stump. Grinding ensures that the stump will be removed and there will not be any roots or plant growth coming from it. This can keep the area safe and prevent future damage or injury to other plants in the garden. To begin our service, we first need to take a look at the area we'll service and more directly study the tree stumps you want to be removed. Once we have completed this survey, we'll be able to give you an estimate for our stump grinding service and then we'll schedule a time to come back, unload our grinder, and grind that stump away in no time. We believe it is almost always better to grind tree stumps rather than trying other removal methods because grinding completely removes the root of it, making sure that there are no leaves coming out of it and any ground-level weeds near your garden won't grow as well since they need nutrients from roots. There are options to rent these machines and take care of the job yourself, but we would encourage you to take the safety precautions seriously and would recommend you hire a professional instead, even if it's not us.
What to Expect After Our Tree Service
Most homeowners need our service for an average of 2-4 stumps, however, we have seen cases with many more needing to be removed. This is one of the primary factors that will determine how much time it will take. Additionally, some stumps can be more difficult to grind than others, and may chew up a larger portion of your ground. If that's the case, we'll be sure to let you know if there's anything you'll need to do to properly manage your landscape, or if there are any professionals we can recommend to help you transform your yard into a new stump-less paradise.
So let's talk about different stumps. Larger stumps, with more complex root systems, will take longer and potentially carry with them a higher cost to remove. We begin our survey process by considering the diameter of the stump - i.e. how many inches is it from one side to the other. Then we need to take a look at the root system. Understanding what type of tree your stump is coming from will help us determine a few things, so we may ask you what your tree was before it became just a stump.
One thing we haven't mentioned yet is how there is an additional component to our service that most homeowners need to utilize: tree service. This obviously will add an additional cost to your project, but you'll need to clear out your trees before we service your landscape. Anyway, once we get an idea of how large your tree is, and how complex the root system is, we will have a better idea of if it is a more difficult service job than others.
Safety is our primary concern when it comes to removing your roots. In fact, a common reason for stump removal in the first place is to clean up the system because they can pose a tripping hazard. However, as we finish our process, you will be left with a safe, harmless patch that is ripe for something new. We have professional landscaping partners that we can point you towards if you would like to transform your new yard into something more extravagant. Or... you can leave it as it is, plant some new grass, and enjoy your new yard free of hazards.
