Stump Removal & Grinding Services
Stump Removal & Grinding Services
Stein Tree Service has been grinding tree stumps and removing tree stumps for homeowners, business owners and municipal customers in Delaware, Maryland, and Pennsylvania since 1983. Our trained and experienced stump grinding and removal crews are skilled at the safe and sensible tree stump removal and stump grinding, using modern techniques and equipment. We also always leave your property in pristine condition.
Why Do You Need Tree Stump Removal?
Once a tree has been cut down, or felled in a storm, the stump that is left behind can be an unattractive addition to an otherwise beautiful landscape. In addition to the obvious aesthetics, other reasons exist for having a tree stump removed.
Regrowth
If a tree stump is left unattended, sprouts could appear within a short time. After a time, removal of multiple additional tree sprouts can be inconvenient and costly.
Makes Mowing and Landscaping Difficult
Landscaping around an unsightly stump can be annoying, and weeds or tall grass can grow up around stumps, making them difficult to see. This visibility issue is one of the potential reasons for tripping, and, depending on how low to the ground the stump has been cut, could be a possible path to destroying your mower blades if you accidentally mow over them.
Danger to Pedestrians
Children playing outside or even passersby are at risk of tripping and being injured. Obviously, you want to keep people safe, and with strangers, you may have financial liability if someone is injured on your property.
Encourages Fungal Growth and Insect Infestation
Rotting tree stumps can become home to fungi. Many insects are attracted to the dead or rotting wood, and some woodboring varieties, like carpenter ants, can spread out to other plants or even structures on your property. Removing the stump could save you a great deal of money.
Tree Stump Removal Options
The longer you delay tree stump removal, the more likely injuries or problems to your grass, plants and even your home may occur. Once you decide to remove a tree stump, you should find a reputable professional tree service company and learn your options. You can choose stump grinding, or complete stump removal, and your choice could depend on several factors, including whether you have a large or small stump, if you plan to replant in the same spot, and what your budget constraints are. Contact us to learn about our services.
What Is Stump Grinding?
Stump grinding is a process by which a tree grinder is used to mechanically grind the stump until the remainder is 6-10″ below ground level. The pieces of the stump are small and can be used to fill the hole afterward. If any parts of the root or the stump remain, they usually decompose with no further issues
Stump Grinding vs. Other Methods of Tree Stump Removal
In the past, complete tree stump removal has proven to be a very involved process. If the tree was small, the stump and roots could be dug out and the hole filled in relatively easily. If the tree stump had a large diameter, a bigger process could be involved, requiring an excavator to dig the stump out. A root ball can grow 4 to 10 times the size of the tree and some roots can actually spread out even farther. A common estimate is that the roots of a tree could spread out one foot for every inch in tree trunk diameter. Whatever estimate you use, the removal of such a large mass would leave a very large hole in the ground, which would need to be filled with something.
Benefits of Stump Grinding to Remove Tree Stumps
Stein Tree Service removes trees and utilizes a stump grinder to remove the stump when requested by the homeowner. With this method, we are able to eliminate the entire stump in 95% of cases. One factor about tree growth in our area that makes total removal of stumps possible is that we have very little topsoil. This thin layer of good soil means that trees in this area are fairly shallowly-rooted due to the presence of rock and clay. Trees maintain their roots in soil that gives them the most nutrients and they get none from rock and clay. Thus, we can often grind out the stumps of most trees because they are relatively shallow: possibly 8-12 inches in most of our local areas. Besides cost, stump grinding has a few advantages over other, older methods of tree removal:
Less Environmental Impact
As mentioned, when such a large piece of material is removed from an environment, a void will be left. For safety reasons, you will want to fill the hole with something. We normally backfill the hole with the chips from grinding, however, if requested, we can provide additional services, such as hauling away the chips, or adding topsoil and seeding/regrading the area. Each of these options carry different costs.
The choice to have a tree service company remove a stump from your yard or to perform stump grinding is a personal one. If you plan to replace a large tree with a new one, stump removal will be necessary to accommodate that growth.
No Heavy Equipment
For large stump removal, some methods could require heavier equipment to be used on your lawn, which can cause trauma to the surrounding trees and plant life. Stein Tree Service’s professionals use a stump grinder that is self-propelled and has rubber “turf-friendly” tracks. We bring the grinder to the job site on a trailer, unload, and then steer to the stump. Even with its Heavy Duty size, the stump grinder can fit through most 36″ wide gates and is on self-propelled tracks which minimizes the impact on your yard, especially compared to grinders that are towed behind a truck.
Call a Professional for Stump Grinding or Tree Stump Removal
Activities involving tree care can be dangerous. Depending on the size, tree stump removal may involve special equipment and special knowledge. Our certified arborists and other tree care specialists know the proper, safe procedures. We also own and are trained to use the necessary vehicles, machinery, and tools. We are fully licensed and insured, so in the unlikely event of injury, you will be protected from liability.