Stump Grinding
Stump Grinding – Tree Stump Removal
In clearing a certain area, may it be for a backyard garden or an area to construct a new building, it is unavoidable to cut some trees. Cutting trees can really be messy and after clearing the leaves, trunk and branches, you are still left with one problem: the tree stump.
Removing the tree stump is probably the hardest part in tree removal. Now you can let the nature takes its course and cover the stump with soil that will eventually lead it to decay. Once the stump is rotten, it can then be easily removed by using an ax or a shovel.
But that would of course take some time and so if you want the stump to be removed as soon as possible, you can do so by means of stump grinding. Instead of digging out the stump and roots and excavating it manually, stump grinding machines are use to remove this stubborn part of a tree.
Stump grinders are machines that can be as small as a lawn mower or as big as a truck, which removes tree stumps using rotating cutting disk with uniquely designed teeth by grinding the stump into small chips.
Stump Grinding Process
The modern stump grinding machine was invented by Gary Vermeer in 1956, and is the first machine to use a horizontally moving rotor. The stump grinding machine works by horizontally rotating the blade back-and-forth, chipping away the stump in the process.
Once the stump is reduced in height, it is pushed from 4 to 8 inches beneath the ground by moving the grinder downward by means of hydraulic lever. Stump grinding machine have three types: handlebar stump grinder, self-propelled stump grinder, and tow-behind stump grinder.
The handlebar stump grinder is operated like a push lawn mower, where an operator will control the handlebar while walking behind the stump grinding machine. This is usually used on backyard landscaping. Self-propelled stump grinders on the other hand are preferred for heavy duty stump grinding on areas that are not easily accessible by vehicle. The tow-behind stump grinder is pretty much like the self-propelled grinder but is towed behind certain machineries like tractors and pick up trucks.
Stump Grinding Prices
Stump grinding is done by landscaper, though they charge according to the size of the stump to be removed. A price of $90 to $150 is to be expected for a 24-inch diameter stump.
A stump grinding machine can also be rented for $100 per day. If you only have one stump to remove, it is definitely more convenient to have a professional do the job, saves you time and energy for basically the same price. But if you have more than five stumps, then it is probably more economical to rent a stump grinding machine as long as you know the basic know-how in stump grinding.
Be sure to ask the dealer on how to operate the machine, or better yet, let them show you how to do stump grinding safely. Also bear in mind to use eye and hearing protection, as it is a loud powerful machine that produces particles that can cause harm to the eyes.
