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What is Stump Grinding?

Artemis Tree Services are experts at felling and our clients have trees removed for a variety of reasons. It might be that a tree is dead or dangerous and needs to be taken down over safety concerns or it might be that a tree is removed for aesthetics or to allow room for building work or a driveway.

Regardless of the size of the tree being removed, there is almost always a stump left behind. Arborists can only cut a tree close to ground level but not all the way down. 

If the tree that’s being felled is situated in a lawn or driveway, the residual stump can be unsightly or inconvenient and might even cause a trip hazard or obstruction.  Tree stumps can usually be removed but it does require special equipment and is not always included as part of a tree removal. 

Stump grinder machines

Here at Artemis we have several stump grinders of differing sizes for different situations. A stump grinder uses a spinning wheel with sharp teeth on it that will grind down through wood and earth.

Our smaller stump grinder is slightly larger than a lawnmower and is pushed by hand. It is ideal for working on stumps with smaller diameters or where access is limited. 

Our larger stump grinder is a self-powered system with hydraulics to move the cutting wheel. We would use this for where a much bigger tree has been removed and there is wider access. 

How to remove a tree stump

For more information, view our step-by-step infographic on how to remove a tree stump.

Before

Before starting to grind out a stump we have to secure the immediate environment for the safety of our operatives. We set up safety shields around the stump so flying debris doesn’t hit the operator or customer property and cause any damage We have to ensure there are no utilities hidden underground like water pipes, electricity lines or gas pipes that could get accidentally damaged by the grinder or injure one of our operators as a consequence. 

There are some exceptions, for example where a tree stump is too close to a wall or fence to get a grinder to it or the access simply doesn’t allow. This doesn’t happen often and we have even managed to remove a stump from a cemetery without damaging surrounding gravestones. 

All staff who use the grinders are fully trained. Our team members will always wear proper personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect their eyes from flying chips, ears from the noise of the machine and work boots to protect feet. 

Grinding out a stump doesn’t necessarily remove the roots. Tree roots that are visible on the surface of the soil can be removed but others that run deeper will be left untouched underground. In most cases, the roots will eventually die off without the need for hazardous chemicals. 

After

After the process is completed a mound of sawdust and woodchip will be left behind. Over time the mulch will settle and drop down into the dip where the tree stump was. We recommend leaving several weeks before levelling out the ground with topsoil for reseeding a lawn, laying turf or paving to allow enough time for the sawdust to compact down. If the mulch is in a flowerbed it can be useful to keep the soil moist, insulate plants from frost and suppress weed growth.

When a stump is removed customers are often surprised by the size of the space left behind. In a border plants can fill the space, lawns can be evened out and drives made bigger. Alternatively, a new replacement tree can be planted in the same area (though not in the same place exactly). 

If you need any help with stump removal call our team today.