If you have a stump, you can no longer keep in place for whatever reason, you may be wondering how to pull out a tree stump – and what tree stump removal services entails. In truth, getting rid of stumps is a more involved process than you may have realised. That’s because of the number of challenges involved, which make it a job for professionals.
Challenges when Removing Tree Stumps
- The potential damage to property if stump removal is not done properly. Excavation or pulling a stump out is an invasive process which can damage surrounding structures if it is not conducted in a particular way. It can also pull, break, or damage underground services through roots which pull many metres away from the actual stump.
- There are further challenges in terms of the stump’s weight, size, and location. If the location of the stump is complicated – for example it’s on a slope, tight to a wall etc. – then only a professional tree stump removal specialist will be able to take it out safely.
- You’re unlikely to have the right equipment as most homes do not – and so you’ll need to hire specialist tools which have been properly maintained to the right standards, and be trained in how to use them safely, so that no one gets hurt, and nothing gets damaged. Heavy machinery can be awkward to operate safely without experience, compact the soil and damage the surroundings if you don’t know what you’re doing. Equally, of course, you need to ensure you follow all the right health and safety procedures.
- You need to factor in disposal: If you pull a stump out or excavate a stump then this is classed as hazardous waste by skip companies or the local refuse centre. It may not be possible to dispose of this via the standard garden waste services and will incur an extra cost to do so. Stump grinding produces a useable mulch and wood chippings, so there is no added waste disposal cost.
Professional Tree Stump Removal Service
So without professional help, removing tree stumps can potentially be harder than felling the tree. It is a labour-intensive and time-consuming task, especially for larger tree stumps and those with extended root systems.
What’s more, some of the methods you could try yourself to remove a tree stump are potentially dangerous and costly. There are, for example, risks involved in burning a stump – and, in any case, the result is not always successful. Another idea is to use chemical stump killers, but these contain glyphosate, and you need to be extremely careful in following the manufacturer’s instructions for use. Some of these products also take an exceedingly long time to take effect, since killers prevent regrowth, but the stump itself can take years to rot away (plus stump killers are essentially poison, so you need to proceed with extreme care).
What does a Local Tree Stump Removal Service do?
One of the quickest and most effective ways of removing a tree stump is to use a stump grinder to do the job quickly and thoroughly. This powerful machinery has a heavy cutter wheel which through a number of cutting teeth, chips the timber from top to bottom, digging right into the soil beneath to unearth even the deepest-set roots. The arisings are a very utilisable garden mulch, ideal for feeding the soil and plants.
The teeth are designed to cut through trees, so can be extremely dangerous – you will need protective kit including gloves, boots, ear, and eye protection as the bare minimum. Equally, if the stump grinding area isn’t cleared thoroughly, any stones or rocks could be thrown around at high speed thanks to the action of the blades.
You may need some expertise in the best way of getting the machine into your garden, for example along the side of a property.
How StumpBusters can help with Tree Stumps
At StumpBusters when we remove tree stumps for our customers/clients, we offer a low-impact, accurate and thorough tree stump removal or grinding service, leaving the area clean and tidy ready to be landscaped. What’s more, it is our specialism, and one in which we have over 25 years’ experience, nationwide. We do not hire out tools, use chemicals, or provide training in stump removal – we just concentrate on providing a fast, cost effective, reliable service to make tree stump removal ‘hassle free.’
With fully trained staff, insurance, and industry leading experience and accreditation, we have an extensive range of equipment which can grind any stump no matter of size, quantity, or awkwardness of location/access, all while causing zero damage. Often getting machinery to a stump is part of the process that can be as tricky as the removal itself. All our operators are highly skilled at getting through the most awkward accesses without damage to your property.
Tree stump removal requires specialist expertise, so call in the professionals. Talk to us today to find your local StumpBuster and get a tree stump removal or grinding quote over the phone right away.