Stump Grinding Vs Tree Removal: Learn The Difference
Do I need stump grinding or tree removal? It’s a good question to have. Because although they both involve discarding the anatomy of your tree, both tackle completely different issues and require completely different techniques.
So you have a tree or stump that’s unsightly, over-growing, causing a hazard, or housing pests and insects…
Let’s dive into the details of stump grinding and tree removal to help you make an informed decision that suits your specific needs:
Tree Removal: The Basics
Tree Removal
Is your tree showing signs of death and disease like black foliage, swarms of insects, or deep cracks and holes in the bark? Or perhaps you think it’s starting to pose a safety risk to you, your family, or the surrounding area?
Tree removal involves cutting down the entire tree, from the branches to the trunk. It’s a more complex process that requires careful planning, equipment, and expertise.
The important thing to know here is that stump grinding is NOT included in the tree removal process. That’s because it requires different equipment and chemicals, so tree companies (like us) have to charge it as a separate item. So after your tree removal, you will still have a stump about a couple of feet tall. Many homeowners don’t mind leaving the stump there, but there are some pros and cons to this which we’ll get to shortly.
Our Process for Tree Removal:
Assessment: Our Vancouver arborists and Burnaby tree removal professionals will come to your home or commercial property to assess the tree's health, size, and location to determine the best approach for safe removal.
Tree Cutting: We always cut your tree down in sections. This makes sure we maintain control over the way the tree falls and prevent any damage to surrounding structures or landscapes.
Stump Left Behind: After the tree is felled, the remaining stump is typically several feet tall, depending on the tree's size.
Stump Grinding: The Basics
Stump Grinding
If you want to avoid your tree stump housing insects that can overrun your whole garden or landscape, you’ll want to consider stump grinding.
Stump grinding is a non-invasive, eco-friendly process that focuses on removing the tree stump from the ground. In this instance, the upper and middle parts of the tree will already be completely removed.
Instead of physically removing the entire stump, a stump grinder—a powerful machine with a rotating cutting disk—is used to grind the stump into small wood chips (which can then be used as mulch!). This process ensures the stump is less of a safety hazard and more pleasing to the overall aesthetic of your greenspace. It’s also a more cost-effective solution to maintaining your stump than having it completely removed.
Want to know more about stump removal? Head on over to our service pages.
Our Stump Grinding Process:
Preparation: Our team clear the entire area around the stump from leaves to debris, so nothing can interfere with our grinding process.
Stump Grinding: We use a powerful stump grinder to reduce what’s left of your tree so that it’s a specified depth below the soil surface.
Wood Chips: The grinding action creates wood chips out of the stump itself. They can be used as mulch for healthier greenery or removed from the area completely (but we highly recommend the first option!).
Key Differences Between Stump Grinding and Tree Removal:
1. Final Appearance
While tree removal leaves the stump above the ground, stump grinding provides a clear and level surface. It all depends on the homeowners budget, needs, and preferences for how they’d like to leave the tree.
2. Regrowth Potential
Stump grinding reduces the potential for new growth, because the root system is ground into chips. It should be noted however, that there IS still a possibility you could witness some regrowth. The only way to bypass this is to have the stump completely removed.
Tree removal on the other hand still leaves a large possibility for regrowth - because new shoots can begin to sprout from the leftover stump. Pairing tree removal AND stump grinding is a cost-effective way many homeowners eliminate regrowth potential.
3. Timeline
Tree removal takes a lot longer than stump grinding. The process of cutting down the tree is complex, especially if it’s large or has a vast amount of damage we need to consider. Stump grinding tends to be the quicker process. So you can expect to be able to access your garden or commercial space sooner than tree removal.
4. Cost
As you may have already guessed, tree removal is more expensive than stump grinding. It requires more people, more planning, and more equipment to take down the different sections of your tree. Stump grinding also requires specialized equipment, but it’s still a faster job that requires less labour and manpower.
The Big Takeaway:
When choosing between our Vancouver and Burnaby tree care services, it all depends on the anatomy of your tree and what’s required for your personal landscape.
If you have a tree that needs to be felled, it’s important to know you’ll still have the stump to deal with. In this case, you’ll also want to add stump grinding (or stump removal) as an additional service. However, if a tree has already been removed and you’ve only got the stump to deal with, stump grinding is a great cost-effective solution for many homeowners or commercial property owners.
Consulting with our certified arborists and tree removal professionals can help you make a decision that suits you. We can guide you through our process in detail so you have a better understanding of bylaws, labour needed for your particular greenspace, and the overall costs you can expect.
Whatever you decide, you can always rely on our Burnaby and Vancouver team at Linden Tree Care to make your space safe, functional, and visually beautiful. We never leave debris - and always leave your landscape looking flawless.
Contact us today to discuss your landscape needs or ask us any questions. We can’t wait to help.
