If a tree falls and no one hears it, there’s still a stump to eliminate
Whether your tree fell in its prime or was on its way out, removing a tree can have a major impact on your curb appeal—especially if you haven’t removed that eyesore of a stump. Learning how to use a stump grinder to remove what’s left of your tree is the final step to making your yard look as good as new. Knowledge is power, so before you call in the pros, here’s everything you need to know about using a stump grinder to remove your tree stump.
Stump grinders are high-risk tools that can accidentally propel objects and debris. When using a stump grinder, equip yourself with protective clear and thoroughly clear the area. Alternatively, hire a professional stump grinder to ensure your personal safety and professional-level results.
Before you start removing a tree stump with a stump grinder DIY-style, you should do a few things to prepare for your project.
Removing a tree stump with a stump grinder is a big job that takes some know-how and requires heavy-duty power tools. Protect yourself by wearing the following:
Hearing protection
Safety glasses
Closed-toed boots
Gloves
A long-sleeved shirt
Pants
Any other protective gear mentioned in the safety instructions of your stump grinder.
Keep children and pets away from the area while you operate the machinery. You’ll also want to cover your windows or cars with plywood if you plan on operating the stump grinder within 75 feet, as stump grinders are capable of sending debris and wood chips flying.
Even if you know where underground lines are in your yard, it’s possible your tree’s roots grew over buried lines. Be sure to call 811 or your local dig line to have underground utilities in your yard marked so you don’t accidentally hit them and cut off the internet to the neighborhood.
Remove any objects that could jeopardize your stump grinder or safety: This includes rocks, branches, outdoor furniture, and debris. Failure to remove rocks, in particular, can dull the blades of your stump grinder, causing it to take longer. Use a shovel to dig up rocks at the perimeter of the stump.
With safety in mind, here’s how you can use a stump grinder to remove your tree stump.
As tempting as it may be to go ahead and start grinding your stump, cutting the stump as close to the ground as you can will make the process easier. There are several tools you can use for this process.
Using a chainsaw to remove a stump is by far the most popular option. Chainsaws are powerful, customizable, and require less manual labor than other methods. At the same time, they’re more dangerous—especially if your tree stump is large in diameter and requires a heavy-duty chainsaw.
If you don’t have a chainsaw and the tree stump is small in diameter—6 inches or less—you can use a bow cut saw to manually cut the tree stump as low as possible. This method is ideal for anyone who wants to avoid handling more dangerous machinery like chainsaws.
You can also use a felling ax to chop the stump. Keep in mind that this option may be more challenging for getting a close cut to the ground.
Remember: A stump grinder is heavy and sharp, so be careful as you prepare to grind your tree stump. Most machines follow a similar procedure, but you’ll want to read through the machine’s instruction manual to correctly position the stump grinder.
Use the brake lever to lift the grinder wheel a few inches above your tree stump.
Lower the grinder wheel onto the tree stump until the teeth are close to being in contact with the stump.
Power on the machine.
Now, it’s time to grind the stump. There may be a learning curve with using the stump grinder. While, again, you’ll want to follow the specific manufacturer's instructions, below are general steps to grind a tree stump.
Release the clutch to engage it.
Lower the cutting wheel onto the stump to grind away the surface.
Lift the wheel slightly to move it deeper into the stump—about 3 inches.
Then, swing the blade back and forth in a sweeping motion across the stump.
Continue this motion until the grinder digs 3 inches into the section that’s in range.
For larger tree stumps, lift the wheel again to move to the next section until the entire stump is 3 inches shorter.
Repeat this process, working no deeper than 3 inches at a time to avoid damaging the blades.
Stop and turn off the machine once you’ve dug 6–8 inches below the ground.
Leaving the site without filling the hole is a tripping hazard. Fill the hole in with the wood chips that accumulated from the stump grinder or use soil to cover it. This is also a good time to plant grass seed on the site and give it a good watering if that’s the route you’ll be going.
You can use the wood chips in your yard to make mulch, create compost, or fill the hole. However, if none of those options work for you, you’ll need to eliminate the debris. If you have a truck, you can easily transport the mulch to a green recycling facility. Alternatively, check with a local community garden to drop off excess wood chips.
If you don’t have ample transportation, consider working with a yard waste hauling service to easily remove debris from your yard.
DIYing your tree stump removal using a stump grinder can save you money. You’ll pay around $190 to $270 per day to rent a stump grinder, so the size and number of tree stumps you’re removing could lead to longer durations with the grinder and, therefore, higher prices. Labor alone adds around $150 to the cost of your project.
If you aren’t comfortable using a chainsaw and a stump grinder, consider hiring a local stump removal service. While you’ll likely pay more to hire a stump grinding professional to handle this service, you can guarantee your personal safety and removal of the stump. Since this task requires handling dangerous machinery, it’s best to let a professional with the proper training and experience handle it.
Using a stump grinder is no walk in the park. You’ll need to feel confident using some heavy and dangerous equipment. You’ll also need to know what size chainsaw you’ll need. Factor in the labor for clearing out the debris and filling the hole, and your project becomes quite a laborious one. If you don’t have experience with operating a stump grinder, it might be best to call a professional to do the job for you.
It will take you anywhere from 15 minutes to two hours per tree stump to grind and remove the stump from the ground. The larger the size, the longer it will take to remove the stump. Also, keep in mind that rocky soil may require local excavation services to loosen up large boulders before you can begin to remove the tree stump.
Whether you grind or dig up and remove your tree stump depends on your landscaping goals. Using a stump grinder leaves the root system in place for it to decompose over time, whereas digging up the tree stump removes the roots and the stump. Overall, stump grinding is a far simpler process since you won’t need to deal with the roots. Stump removal will make your yard look like a demolition site, but you’ll have an easier time replanting in the same place as your former tree.
