What happens if you don’t grind a tree stump? You may have some ideas about it becoming a cute garden feature. However, the reality can become more of a nightmare. In this post, 3 Dads Tree Service, Crescent City’s reliable tree service, explains why grinding the stump below ground level makes your best option.
Why Grinding Instead of Removal?
After deciding to remove a tree, you’ll likely have many decisions to make. Removing the stump makes the best choice to stop the tree from sprouting again, but it’s expensive. It also leaves a massive crater in your yard. You then have to bring in soil to fill the holes.
Grinding helps you strike a happy medium by removing the obstacle and leaving your yard virtually intact. The roots will decay slowly over time, releasing nutrients into the soil.
Regrowth Issues
We can apply a potassium nitrate solution to speed up the stump’s decomposition, but trees often prove resilient. They still have enough energy stored in the roots to allow the tree to sprout again. What’s more, it’ll send up several shoots, each of which can become a new trunk.
Property Damage
What happens if you don’t grind a tree stump and the roots keep growing? Maybe you need to remove the tree to prevent damage to a structure. Leaving the stump intact increases the chance that the roots will continue to grow and cause unseen damage.
Spreading Rot and Disease
Wood will naturally decay over time, something that fungi and mold find appealing. Having the stump peeking out above ground increases the chances of spreading disease to other trees in the yard.
A Home for Pests
We all support the natural biome, but not when that means bringing in destructive insects like wood borers and ants. If you don’t grind a tree stump, you run the risk that you’ve simply put up a big welcome sign to all sorts of bugs. Then, it’s a short step from there until they move into your home.
Cause a Safety Hazard
The stump not only creates a trip hazard, but it’s also dangerous for other reasons. Small children love to climb and try to jump over obstacles. The difficulty here stems from the fact that rotting wood won’t support their weight and will splinter easily.
Takes Up Space
A stump gets in the way of putting in seating, a gazebo, or even a new bed. There are many appealing ways to use that space.
Inhibits Proper Lawn Maintenance
Without the shade of the canopy inhibiting it, grass will grow right up to the stump. This makes it challenging to cut the grass and weed the area.
Contact Our Team for the Right Advice
Now that you know what happens if you don’t grind a tree stump, you understand why it’s such an important part of backyard tree removal. If you have a troublesome tree, call 3 Dads Tree Service at (707) 506 6602 for your free estimate for removal and stump grinding today!