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    Tree Stumps & Stump Grinding Pasadena

    Stump Grinding Pasadena
    Stump Removal

    After cutting an undesired tree down, a homeowner is left with a sturdy stump.  What does one do to remove it? It’s obvious you can’t just leave it there. The stump comes with a lot of concern about what to do next. Are you supposed to leave it untouched in your yard, or kill it with the rest of your tree in one fell swoop? What about Stump Grinding Pasadena— how does it work?  Keep reading for answers to common questions about why and how to manage a tree stump.

    Reasons to Remove or Keep a Tree Stump In Ground

    Can’t decide whether to keep the stump or throw it out for good? We always recommend stump grinding.  An old tree stump may not cause problems at first, but the more you let it hang around, the more annoyance it can become.  Old stumps can get in the way of mowing your yard or your desire to plant new trees or bushes, or they can be a threat to you and your neighbors. Besides, they make it hard to grow a new tree when you’re done.

    Is it okay to leave a tree stump in the ground? Do they attract termites?

    Shortly after you cut your tree down, the stumps begin a very slow process of decay. And indeed, over time, a rotting stump becomes a trap for domestic pests such as termites or carpenter ants.  So, while you may choose to leave the stump and let it rot, the critters that come along in the process may spread to other plants and trees in your yard, or even invade your house. The best way to avoid these pest problems is to grind the stump.

    Why else do I have to get rid of a tree stump?

    Creepy critters are not the only reason to kill a tree stump. You should consider letting your stump go, too, because a decaying stump isn’t that pretty. It can throw off the whole look of your yard and even affect your property value.  The spot where the stump lies is off-limits as you mow your lawn, and the stump or roots could ruin your mower if you accidentally roll over them. Also, planting new trees nearby is a no-go as long as the stump and roots are in the way.

    Stump Grinding Pasadena
    Stump Grinding

    Is it safer to remove or grind your stump?

    Stump grinding and stump removal come with pros and cons. Choosing the direction that is right for you depends mostly on the future plans that you have for your landscape.

    The process of removing the stump is the most invasive of the two. This includes erecting a thick tree stump and then cutting out all the deep roots of the tree. As you can imagine, it takes a lot of time, elbow grease, and heavy equipment to get the job done What are the benefits? Upon extracting the stub, you’re left with a clean slate free to any new ideas you have for your garden. What’s not so cool is that the removal of the stump leaves behind a large hole that can be an eyesore until it’s filled.

    Stump grinding is a lot less complicated than that. In this case, arborists are using a tool to completely crush the stump down into small wood chips. Grinding is much more successful than removing the stem, but it leaves behind the roots of the tree. If the stump is large, the chip pile produced may also be very huge, but the chips can be used as a mulch for other plants in your landscape.

    What’s going to happen to the roots after grinding?

    While stump grinding takes care of the obvious remains of the bark, the roots of the old tree are still deep, sometimes 4, 8 or 12 feet away from where the stump sits. Such roots will eventually rot after grinding, but this is a long process. It may take more than 10 years for the roots to break down entirely.

    If you’re not sure if it’s safe for you to cut stump or chip, a professional arborist will assist like Tree Services Pasadena.  Please contact your local office for stump removal or stump grinding advice.

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