Stump Grinding

Tell us about stump grinding...

Once a tree or hedge is removed we will always ensure that the stumps are cut as close to ground level as practically possible, however the root ball and remaining stump will be left in situ.  A stump grinder can be used to clear away the remaining roots and stump, and the resulting hole will be filled as required to ground level.  

Why is stump griding necessary?

There are several reasons people may wish to have the stump and roots ground out. It may be that you wish to reseed the area with grass, or plant a new flower bed (or better still, plant with a new tree!) which is possible thanks to the ground being left completely flat. It also means the area could be built over. Safety is another key reason, as a tree stump can be pretty large and runs of risk of injury through a fall.

However, there are some very important reasons stump removal should be considered after the removal of a tree or hedge. If the tree was not completely dead when it was felled, new shoots can begin to grow over time thanks to the energy the tree stores in its roots through photosynthesis. This creates a multi-trunked tree. The old stump and new tree will be harder to destroy, and could need removing anyway.

Second is the risk of diseases. If the tree or hedge was dead when felled, the resulting stump and roots will start to rot and will naturally attract and harbor diseases. The most important to note is Honey Fungus. Honey Fungus is the most destructive fungal disease in the UK and spreads underground, attacking and killing the roots of nearby woody and perennial plants and then decaying the resulting dead wood (thus giving it further food source). As it spreads it quickly kills the plant/tree and there is currently no chemical remedy, meaning all infected plants and trees would need to excavated and destroyed, including the stumps and roots. As it can be appreciated, it has the potential to cause a lot of damage and can be extremely costly.

Should you wish to know your options, our experts will happily discuss stump removal in more detail during your quotation.