Finding the Best Stump Solutions in Memphis
Once you’ve decided to have a Memphis tree service remove a tree from your yard, you’ll need to decide what to do about the stump that’s left behind. It’s easy to forget about this extra step because you’re focussed on the tree itself, but the stump that’s left behind can be just as problematic as the tree was. At Red’s Tree Service, we recommend having a professional remove or grind down the tree stump so it’s no longer a hazard or an eyesore. We’ll help you determine whether stump removal vs. stump grinding will work best for you.
What Happens if You Leave Your Stump
There are quite a few problems that can arise from leaving a stump in place after having a tree removed. If you’re dealing with some or even all of these issues, talk to a Red’s Tree Service team member about the best options for you.
Stumps are an eyesore.
The most basic reason to remove or grind a tree stump is the fact that they just don’t look good in your yard. Everything else about your landscaping could be beautiful, but a rouge tree stump will distract from all of the good things. This is especially a problem if you’re trying to sell your home. A distracting tree stump may leave a bad taste in a potential buyer’s mouth.
Stumps are dangerous.
Tree stumps pose a threat to children (or adults) who play or run in your yard. Low cut tree stumps are more dangerous because it’s more likely that grass or weeds will grow up around it and make it harder to see and easier to trip over. If a neighbor trips over it and hurts themselves, you may even be liable for their injuries.
Stumps can be dangerous to your lawn equipment too. If you forget it’s there and run over it with your lawnmower, it could get damaged or break beyond repair.
Stumps can cause new tree growth.
If your stump is left in your yard with the roots intact, new trees can start to sprout, and you’ll be back where you started. Except this time, it will be even harder to remove the trees and the stump because they’ve strengthened and grown in more complicated ways. The small trees that pop up can also steal nutrients from the soil and the plants around them.
Stumps attract bugs and pests.
As the stump starts to rot, it can attract beetles, termites, ants, and other wood-boring pests. You may not mind them in your yard, but they can eventually spread to your home.
If you are experiencing any of these issues, contact your Memphis stump removal experts, Red’s Tree Service.
Stump Grinding Pros and Cons
When it comes to getting a stump out of your way, you can grind the stump down so it’s below the surface of the ground, or you can remove the stump and its roots entirely. There are pros and cons to both options.
Here are some of the pros of stump grinding:
- Faster to remove – the process takes a couple of hours instead of several days.
- Not labor-intensive – Stump grinding is quick and easy, and the process is done entirely with a machine. The grinder reduced the stump to mulch, which can be used in other places in your yard. We’ll grind the stump until it is 1 to 12 inches below the soil level and, and the roots are left to decay naturally.
- No gaping-hole after construction – Since stump grinding doesn’t remove the roots, it only leaves a slight dip that will eventually blend in with your lawn.
- Environmentally friendly – Stump grinding requires no harmful chemicals and creates no waste.
- Stump can be used for mulching – save money on mulch by reusing the remains of your stump.
- Lower cost than stump removal – stump grinding, on average, cost around $100-400
Of course, this isn’t a perfect solution, and there are some cons involved.
- Possibility of eventual sprout – while the root is still living, there is a slight possibility that it will sprout new tree growth.
- Root decay under the surface
- You can’t replant in the same spot
Stump Removal Pros and Cons
The other option is professional stump removal from Red’s Tree Service in Memphis. This process will permanently fix the issue of an unsightly stump. Some of the pros are:
- Complete elimination of stump and roots – no part of the stump is left on your property, so there’s no chance of decay or new growth.
- Replanting is easy – There’s nothing stopping you from planting a healthy tree in the spot the stump was if you so choose.
There are several cons to consider as well.
- Time-intensive – This process can take several days. Depending on the situation, we may drill holes in the stump and pour a chemical that will soften the soil and break down the stump. We’ll leave it overnight, and bring our equipment back the next day to pull the stump and it’s roots out of the ground. It can take a while to do this safely and with the least damage to your yard.
- More difficult to remove – Since we’re removing everything, it’s a much more difficult and involved process.
- Gaping hole after removal – There’s no way to avoid a large hole in your yard. You’ll need a plan to fill it after we’re done.
- Not environmentally friendly – This method sometimes involves harmful chemicals, and can also harm plant life and grass growing in the vicinity. It also creates waste in the form of the stump, and we’ll need to determine the best way to dispose of it.
Always Trust the Experts
There are a lot of dangers to attempting either method on your own. It’s always best to let the professionals at Red’s Tree Service in Memphis do the hard work. If you try to do it yourself, you risk exposure to harmful chemicals and pollutants, injury, breaking equipment, and causing even more damage to your lawn.
If you have a stump that needs to be removed or are already planning on having a tree removed, talk to the professionals at Red’s Tree Service about your tree stump removal options. Contact us for more information and a quote.