You may notice that a tree on your property is blinding the driveway or you may have a tree that may have become hazardous to your property, your home and your property. So you decided to take it down and cut the tree once and for all. But now you have to deal with another problem. You’re now left with the stump on your property.
What do you do? The two most common options are stump grinding and stump removal, and they come with very different benefits and drawbacks.
What Is Stump Grinding
Stump grinding is the removal of the stump without actually removing the roots out of the ground. Instead of digging up the stump, you will be grinding the stump down to the ground level using huge grinding machines. The stump grinding process may take longer than the actual tree removal process, but the job is much easier and with less effort.
The biggest drawback with stump grinding is that you will still have to find a way to remove the removed roots, which can be difficult because the roots can spread out in all directions and grow into very large roots.
What Is Stump Removal
Stump removal is the complete removal of the stump roots, which can be buried in the ground or left above the ground. The stump and root system are dug out of the ground and removed from the property. The only things left on your property after the job is completed are a small patch of dirt where the stump was located and the dirt that was displaced by the digging.
The risk factor is definitely much higher with stump removal, but you don’t have to worry about any roots growing back. If you decide to use stump removal, you must adhere to your local, county, and state regulations and laws, because you may have to have certain permits and complete certain steps to get rid of the stump.
The Pros of Stump Grinding and Stump Removal
Stump Grinding
- You don’t need to dig up the roots of the tree and that saves you a lot of time and effort.
- It is helpful in areas where there are many trees, but the roots are not deep.
- It can be done in a shorter time period than stump removal
Stump Removal
- The roots are totally removed from the ground and there is no chance of them growing back.
- It is easier to landscape the area where the stump is located.
The Cons of Stump Grinding and Stump Removal
Stump Grinding
- It is time-consuming
- It is more expensive than stump removal
- It can take weeks to grind the stump down
Stump Removal
- It is very messy
- The stump may have to be burned because of environmental laws
- It can be very hard to remove the stump completely because of the roots
Overall, the decision on what to do with the stump is totally up to you. But only you will know the best for your property and limitations.
Which Is Better?
The only real situation where stump grinding will be better than stump removal is if you’re looking to save money. Stump grinding is cheaper than stump removal, but it comes with added risk because the roots of the tree will not be removed from your property.
If you’re looking for the best option, stump removal is definitely the better of the two. The best part is that the company can completely remove the roots and make the roots completely disappear.
Conclusion
As you can see, both methods of removing stumps can be a bit risky. That is why it is very important that you do your research, understand the basic differences, and make a clear decision when it comes to your property.
Porterfield Stump & Tree offers tree service in Monroe, GA that includes tree trimming, tree removal, tree stumping, and grinding. Let us assist you with your tree service needs. Contact us today at 706-714-8733 to get started!
