There’s more to eliminating the stump of a felled tree than simply grinding it out. The arborists also need to clean up after themselves, leaving the area tidy and ready for landscaping or whatever other project the homeowner has in mind. These are ways that the remains of a stump can uglify your yard.
Trash Left at the Site
Trash such as shredded wood, soil, rocks, and bits of root leaves an unsightly mess that needs to be cleaned up. One tip is to repurpose healthy leftover wood into mulch for your garden. If you took the tree down because it was diseased, then it’s best to collect the wood quickly and discard it.
A Great Mound of Chips
One odd fact about stump grinding is that when your arborist grinds up a stump along with a good portion of its roots, it can leave a huge, ugly mound of chips, dirt and sawdust. This mound can be much larger than the original stump.
Sinkholes Both Unsightly and Hazardous
Organic debris that isn’t removed will start to decay. This includes the roots that you can’t see. Decay can take years, but if it isn’t managed, a sinkhole can form. Sinkholes are not only unattractive but also a trip-and-fall hazard. They can sometimes be easy to miss in an otherwise grassy yard.
Unwanted Fungi
Some enterprising property owners may use the remains of a stump to grow mushrooms. But if homegrown mushrooms aren’t your thing, debris left behind can attract fungi, including mushrooms that may or may not be poisonous.
Nests of Warm and Cold-Blooded Vermin
The messy remnants of a stump removal can also attract vermin looking for shelter and food. They include termites, bark beetles, ants and rodents. These creatures set up gnarly colonies and nests and may find the area so hospitable that they spread to other areas of your property, including your home.
Traumatized Turf
The grinder inevitably tears up the soil and grass around the stump. This can leave the area so traumatized that no vegetation can grow on it for a while. This may be inevitable, but you or your arborist can help. Rake away sawdust and wood chips, and add topsoil and fertilizer with a high nitrogen content. Then, sprinkle grass seed over the soil, and keep it well watered.
Don’t try to grind out a stump yourself. The equipment is heavy, unwieldy and dangerous to use. Hire a professional arborist who knows how to properly grind out a stump and how to clean up the site afterward. When you need stump grinding services in Wixom, MI, contact Ruben’s Tree Service.