Stump Grinding Tips to Avoid Problems

Stump Grinding Tips to Avoid Problems

March 9, 2020

Stump Grinding Tips to Avoid Problems

March 9, 2020

Stumps are ugly and should be removed from yards, but grinders can be challenging for many to use. As a result, it is essential to know tips for using the best stump grinder Iowa City, Iowa has to offer. These simple ideas are things that we’ve run into at Kruse Tree Trim & Construction over the years and are not challenging to understand fully. However, you need to make sure that you take the time to grasp them as much as possible fully. Doing so will ensure that your yard is in great shape.

Knowing When to Grind

The toughest part of this process is knowing when it is time to grind a stump, and when you should use another method. For example, many people tend to believe that a stump grinder can handle all types of stumps. And while they are quite powerful and can handle most demands, they aren’t always useful for every kind of situation. As a result, it is critical to understand when you should consider this option and when you should not.

First of all, grinders are an excellent choice for stumps of just about any size. While some grinders may be a little limited in size, others can be adjusted to handle many stumps. As a result, it shouldn’t be hard to find one that meets your needs. However, your lawn may be somewhat limited in size, which might make it harder for you to put a grinder on your property. Just as importantly, you may find that your grinder makes too much of a mess with the wood chips.

That problem is typically why people do not use wood grinders and turn to other options. Although wood chip management isn’t too challenging, many don’t want to deal with it and would rather have their stumps burned away with chemicals. That said, this management option is usually better if you want a stump gone as soon as possible – chemicals can take over a week to burn away a stump, but grinders get rid of them in mere hours.

Handling a Stump Grinder

If you plan on doing your grinding yourself, you need to make sure you know how to handle this machine. And even if you are hiring somebody else to do it for you, it is critical to know exactly how they handle the machine. Doing so can help ensure that you catch any misuse of the machine or any problems that may develop unexpectedly as it runs.

Start by placing the wheel a few inches above the stump before you grind. The adjustment lever should be precise enough to allow you this kind of selection. Then, it would help if you moved the machine so that it is directly in front of the stump. Your stump grinder needs to sit here because you will attack the stump at an angle and destroy it as much as possible. Turn the wheel, and you’ll lower the stump until it is about three inches from the stump. Turn on the grinder.

As you move the grinder back and forth, make sure to hold the handle tightly to avoid any issues. That’s why gloves are so important – they prevent injuries to your hand as the grinder runs. And we cannot emphasize this enough but do NOT force the grinder down. As you wave the grinder over the stump, it should naturally catch the wood and destroy it. Let the machine pull itself down until you are about four inches from the ground. You can then slowly decrease the device even further to the point where the stump is gone.

Getting Rid of Roots

The steps above should make it easier for you to destroy your stump and get it out of your yard. However, you may still have roots that exist above the ground that must be destroyed. Thankfully, this step is fairly simple and shouldn’t take much time for you to perform.

Once you have destroyed the stump, you can move the grinder to the roots. The process here is more or less the same that you use when grinding the stump itself. However, it would help if you were careful with how you move the stump grinder because roots can be a little trickier than the central stump. Try to avoid hitting it too hard against the wood and move slowly, as always, to ensure the best results.

And try to focus specifically on individual roots to achieve the best effect. You don’t need to grind everything all at once to achieve a good result. Instead, you can get rid of one root, move to another, and proceed in this way until the stump is gone. Make sure to approach the roots at an angle that makes sense for it, such as from a slight incline towards more massive stumps.

Proper Wood Chip Disposal

Lastly, it is essential to know how to handle wood chips when you’re using a stump grinder. While some grinders may have tools that collect chips, many more do not. As a result, it is essential to know how to handle this substantial level of debris when your grinding is over. Thankfully, this process isn’t too complicated and should be relatively easy for just about anybody to handle. That said, it will take some time to get it right if you aren’t careful.

First of all, you should find out if anybody in your area wants or needs wood chips. Good people to ask include nurseries and neighbors. Often, people use wood chips as compost to help their plants grow more vigorously. You can also use wood chips in this way yourself if you like. Some recycling centers take wood chips, as well, and turn them into useful products. The choice is ultimately yours and depends on your agenda.

When collecting your wood chips, you should use a rake and large garbage bags. You may want to double bag to ensure that they don’t break open. As you rake, you may end up pulling up some topsoil – you’ll have missing topsoil from where you pulled the stump. Add some more soil to these areas and sprinkle them with grass seeds. Water them, as needed, to help them grow.

Don’t Forget: Help is Available

As you can see, working with a stump grinder in Iowa City, Iowa doesn’t have to be a significant challenge. So make sure to contact us at Kruse Tree Trim & Construction to learn more. Our experts have years of experience in this field and will do what they can to help you out. Don’t forget – we’re here to help you and ensure that your yard is free of stumps for years to come.

Share Article
Get A Free Estimate