When a diseased tree is removed, it is sometimes advisable to remove the stump that is left. This should prevent fungal root rot and other issues and helps keep your garden hygienic and free from root diseases such as honey fungus. Depending of the species of tree, some stumps and roots that are left can also have issues with suckers growing from the trunk and roots.
So, what is the best way to tackle a remaining stump? There are a few options.
- The tree stump can be dug out physically by hand or excavated using machinery such as a mini excavator.
- Stump ground using a specialist machine
- Poisoned
- Left low to rot down on its own.
We can provide the following services to take care of any remaining stumps:
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Stump Grinding
Whether you have recently felled trees on your property, need us to fell them, or have an old stump that needs to be removed to make way for development – stump grinding is usually the best option for complete stump removal. Whatever the size or location of your tree stumps, we can remove them and prepare your ground for future planting or building.
For stump grinding, we use our specialist Rayco RG37T stump grinder. It is a very powerful, tracked stump-cutting machine. Being under a metre wide, this machine can fit through most garden gates and its rubber tracks mean minimal damage to the grass/ ground underneath.
The machine, used by our trained operators, is effective by cutting away at the tree stump using carbide teeth attached to a spinning wheel. As the stump is ground lower the ‘blade’ on the machine moves the grindings aside.
Things to consider before stump grinding
- Width of access (Our machine is 88cm wide)
- Weight of machine in case of any weight limits or delicate ground surfaces (Our machine is 839kg)
- Plans of pipes, electrical lines or other underground materials near to the stump. Whilst we can usually work around any known underground cabling or materials, Simpson Arboriculture Ltd does not claim responsibility for broken pipes, electrical lines or other underground materials that are damaged during stump grinding. It is the responsibility of the property owner to be aware of the presence of these items.
Grindings
Stump grindings/shavings are used to backfill the resulting hole as they decompose rapidly. The grindings can be removed from site, but this would incur an additional cost.
We usually grind the main stump and any large lateral roots in the main area of the stump. We do not chase every root back from the stump unless by prior costed arrangement with the customer.
Stump poisoning/Eco Plugs
Stump treatments to kill off any of the remaining stump or roots are also widely available. We use eco plugs which are small capsules containing granular glyphosate that are drilled into the stump. These are highly effective and help the stump and roots to decompose naturally into the soil. The great news is that they are safe for use in gardens with children and pets running around.
Whenever the use of a stump grinder is not possible or practical, we would recommend the use of eco plugs. These are a great option for when there is limited or narrow access, or the weight of a machine would cause damage to more delicate ground surfaces.
What are eco plugs?
Eco Plugs are a great way to control and prevent regrowth from trees that have been cut down to stumps. They are small capsules containing granular glyphosate which is a liquid that dissolves to kill parts of the stump that are still alive. These are placed into drilled holes in the stump so any liquid cannot spread or leak out. When implemented correctly, these are a much safer and more eco-friendly option than traditional liquid tree root killer, particularly in gardens with pets and children playing. The stumps will then naturally decompose over time.
Stump digging
For larger tree stumps we offer digging up of stumps using our excavators.
The pulled up stumps can then be mulched and incorporated into the ground
