Stump grinding is considered a separate service from tree removal because the processes are so different. Grinding requires a completely different set of tools and equipment. It’s easier for tree service companies to separate the two services, especially for smaller trees. That said, you’ll most likely want to arrange for stump grinding at the same time that you have a tree cut down.

Stumps Will Rot, and That Attracts Pests

Many tree problems are solved by removing the bulk of the tree. Removing the stump often isn’t necessary to take care of the immediate issues, such as storm-damaged branches. However, even the healthiest tree stump will eventually start rotting. That rot can attract pests and diseases, leading to more infestations and infections in your yard. If the tree was cut down because it had died, the stump is already beginning to rot.

Tree Pathogens Can Hide in Stumps

It’s not unusual for bacteria, fungi, and viruses that infect trees to be limited to one section, such as a couple of adjacent branches. However, those pathogens aren’t limited to just branches, and they can easily infect other parts of the tree. If you’ve had a tree cut down because it was too diseased to save, you need to arrange for the stump to be removed, even if you think the stump was unaffected.

Stumps and Roots Can Damage Lawn Mowers

Shallow roots attached to an old stump create a number of problems when it comes to lawn care. Roots can spread far from a tree, and grass and groundcover plants can hide those roots. If you don’t check the area around a tree stump to see how far out the roots spread, you could end up accidentally mowing over them and damaging the mower. That’s not an issue if you remove or grind up all of the stump and roots.

Those Roots Are a Trip Hazard

Last, but not least, if the stump has lateral roots, then those roots become tripping hazards. It just takes one root hidden in tall grass to make you fall as you walk through your yard. If you remove the main trunk of the tree, remove or grind up the stump at the same time so that you don’t have to worry about this.

Think carefully about why you’d want to leave the stump in the ground after the rest of the tree has been removed. Then, give Woodland Tree Service a call to arrange for tree removal and stump grinding in Plymouth, MN.