To fully remove a tree, you should also remove the stump. Sometimes, there are many stumps left behind on a landscape, which can be unsightly and unsafe. If you own such property, you may be looking at stump grinding. From preparation to stump grinding cost, here is an insight into how the process works.

Assess the Site

Before the process starts, the contractor will need to do a proper assessment of the area. If you have several stumps in your yard, the arborist needs to know how many they'll need to handle. After all, how many stumps need removing affects the stump grinding cost. At this time, you should get an overview of the final price.

Create a Clear Space

For the safety of the worker and anyone nearby, it's important to have a clear zone. Therefore, the area around the stump should be as clean as possible. There shouldn't be debris, rocks, toys, overgrown weeds, etc. The grinding contractor needs to have a clear view of the stump before they get started.

Find the Correct Angle

A stump grinder is a powerful tool. Therefore, you don't want it sliding off the stump as it could cause an injury. Before turning the machine on, the contractor has to position it properly on the stump. It's usually positioned right at the edge of the top. Once the grinding starts, it goes from the top into the roots. The contractor will work layer by layer until the stump has been ground down into dust.

Reach Proper Depth

Getting rid of the stump also involves some root removal. If you only remove the stump visible above ground level, the tree could always grow back. In our experience, the grinding can happen anywhere from one to 12 inches below ground. Depending on the size of the tree, this part could be extra intensive, as those roots may be deep and expansive on an older tree. In other words, the larger the tree, the greater your stump grinding cost is likely to be.

Cleaning and Mulching

Once the stump has been cleared, it's time to clean up. The grinding process may cause wood debris to fly around the area. The contractor will clean up excess debris while leaving some around the stump hole to further fertilize the land.

You don't need unsightly and dangerous stumps on your property. Some professionals can quickly remove them for you. Contact Tree Rescue, LLC today, so that we can discuss an estimate.