As a homeowner, keeping unhealthy trees to a minimum on your property is ideal. Reasons exist to remove large tree stumps from the landscape. Examples:
● Large tree stumps might detract from a property’s aesthetics. Removing the stump may improve the area’s appearance.
● If you don’t periodically remove large tree stumps, they may be a tripping hazard and cause damage to your lawnmower and other gardening equipment. They also hide termites and ants.
● Tree stumps may generate new branches, which can become a nuisance. Preventing regrowth is vital. Stump removal may prevent future growth, saving the homeowner time and money.
● Large tree stumps may take up space that may be used for development, landscaping, or gardening. Stump removal will free up this space.
● If there are huge tree stumps on a site, they may make it harder to build new construction on the site.
Table of Contents
Disease Prevention
If left unchecked, stump diseases may spread to nearby trees. Removing the stump may prevent sickness and tree rot. Some tree diseases include:
Leaf Rust
Leaf rust manifests as sporadic discoloration of the leaf, most often in shades of orange, gold, and red. Rust fungus makes leaves ugly and damages plants by interfering with photosynthesis.
Rust fungus seldom affect plants. Fall leaves should be disposed of. Rust fungicides are available. Consult your local tree service.
Fire Blight
Fire blight makes trees and bushes seem like they’ve been burned. Some twigs wilt and become brown or black. Fire blight bacteria thrive in warm, damp temperatures. Bees, rain, and diseased pruning instruments spread it.
Infected branches may hang. The blighted twig’s bark becomes black, sunken, and dry after being water-soaked. The fire blight just has to infect a few twigs before it creates a flag-like pattern of dead leaves throughout the plant.
Damage From Root Systems
Large tree stump roots may damage subterranean pipes, foundations, and sidewalks. Only stump removal can prevent damage.As magnificent as trees are, their roots may destroy buildings, foundations, backyards, pavement, and plumbing systems, costing thousands of dollars to repair. Poor planning and picking the incorrect tree at a location are usually to blame.
Foundational Damage
Tree roots put a lot of pressure on their surroundings despite their gradual growth. They disturb the earth as they look for water and minerals. In arid regions, loose, dry soil moves and becomes ineffective at bearing a structural load, whereas clay soils compress more securely.
While roots don’t directly destroy structures or foundations, soil movement may weaken the soil and supporting structure. Everything on the soil moves. As the dirt displaced by massive tree root systems shifts, older building materials might rise or settle, creating fissures that lesser tree roots can reach.
Leaks
Most human-occupied structures have a drainage system for water and sewage, save for garden sheds and treehouses. In low-rainfall locations, such a system attracts tree roots by design. Due to their deep root systems, willows, maples, and aspens are highly invasive.
Standard drainage-field pipes have holes in them so that wastewater from the building’s plumbing can move out of the building and into the ground. Roots may quickly grow into these gaps and obstruct pipes, occasionally splitting them. Roots may also break old clay pipes with damaged joints.
Deterioration
Trees are good landscaping additions, but their roots may take over other plants and harm pricey plantings. Wind and erosion expose some tree roots as they age. Due to tangled roots, nearby trees compete for water and nutrients, making gardening difficult.
Asphalt may bend, swell, and fracture if laid too thinly near trees. Tree roots seldom penetrate concrete, but soil movement from them may buckle sidewalks and other paved places.
Considerations
Preventing tree root damage saves money. This involves choosing just the least dangerous plants and bushes. Trees should be planted at least fifty feet away from any buildings or systems, however even there is no assurance that the roots won’t eventually find their way under the foundation or into the leach bed.
Grinding Stumps To Start The Process
Stump grinding removes big tree stumps. That’s why stump removal experts in Albuquerque and nationwide utilize stump grinders to grind stumps. This equipment’s cutting wheel cuts stump wood. Grinding a stump depends on its size, location, and available equipment and gear.
Common Ways Include:
● Manual stump grinding uses a handheld stump grinder. For tiny to big stumps, it requires a lot of physical labor. It’s the cheapest way to remove a stump, although it may take longer depending on its size.
● This method requires a walk-behind stump grinder. It is usually used to grind up bigger stumps than a hand grinder, and it can cover more ground. This procedure is faster and more expensive than hand-grinding.
● Track-mounted stump grinders are used for track stump grinding. Track grinding removes stumps. It is used to quickly and efficiently remove the largest stumps.
● Chemical stump removal involves drilling holes and filling them with a wood-degrading chemical. This removes stumps. This chemical method takes weeks or months and is less effective than mechanical removal.
● Burn it. Burning the stump eliminates it. Only in a specific location is anything safe and legal.
Large stump removal requires safety precautions. Safety precautions when removing a large stump include:
● Wear safety eyewear, work boots, gloves, a hard helmet, and ear protection. Click here to read more about PPE.
● Use proper gear: Get the right tools. Chainsaws and stump grinders can remove large stumps.
● Beware of electrical lines, barricades, and other hazards. Be alert.
● The stump requires caution. While working, the stump may slide or roll.
● To avoid back injuries, raise large logs or equipment properly. Lifting properly may prevent back injury.
● Carry a first-aid kit. Accidents happen, so have a first-aid kit nearby.
● Fire extinguisher handy: Fire extinguishers are needed while using chainsaws or stump grinders.
● Always check the forecast and avoid working in inclement weather to reduce the risk of workplace harm.
● Use a spotter. A spotter is helpful while operating a chainsaw or stump grinder (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stump_grinder).
Removing large stumps alone is dangerous. Always work with a partner.
