Why grind a stump?
A stump might seem harmless, but it gets in the way for years:
- It’s a trip hazard and an obstacle you have to mow around
- It takes up space you could use for grass, a bed or a patio
- Rotting stumps can attract termites and fungus
- Some trees, mesquite especially, sprout right back from the stump and roots
Grinding versus digging out
Stump grinding uses a machine with a toothed cutting wheel to chew the stump down below the surface, turning it into wood chips mixed with soil. It’s far faster and less destructive than digging out the whole root ball, which tears up a large area of your yard.
We grind stumps as part of a tree removal or as a standalone job, including old stumps that have been sitting in the yard for years.
Mesquite and other stubborn stumps
Mesquite is the classic Big Country problem. Cut it off at ground level and it often comes back as a bush of new shoots from buds just below the surface. Getting below that bud zone is what keeps it from returning. Some other species, including certain elms, can also send up sprouts from their roots after the trunk is gone.
After the grinding
Grinding leaves a pile of wood chips and soil. They can go back into the hole or be used as mulch around trees and beds.
If you plan to lay sod or plant in that spot, the grindings should be cleared out and replaced with soil first. Fresh wood chips use up nitrogen as they break down, which can leave new grass and plants yellow and hungry. We can take care of the leveling and sod afterward too.