After a tree comes down, the stump is the last decision. Some people leave it, some pull it out, and most grind it. Here is how to decide.

What grinding does

A stump grinder chews the stump down below the soil, leaving a pile of wood chips. The roots stay in the ground and rot away over a few years. Our small grinders fit through a standard garden gate.

When it is worth it

• You want to plant grass, a bed or a new tree in the same spot.

• The stump is a trip hazard or gets in the way of mowing.

• The tree was diseased, or the stump keeps sending up new shoots.

• You want to remove a food source for harmful fungi such as Honey Fungus.

When you can leave it

If the stump is at the back of the garden, out of the way, and the tree was healthy, leaving it is fine. Some people turn a wide stump into a planter or a seat. It will rot down on its own over ten years or so.

What it costs

Grinding is priced mostly by the width of the stump and how easy it is to reach. It is usually cheaper to add it to a felling than to book it on its own later. Ask for it on your free quotation.