Stump Removal vs Stump Grinding

[BoneheadNW]

plaindave-

Just to clarify: The stump sits approx. 20 feet from the back of the house. Between the house and stump, pipes run from a sandfilter (part of the septic system) to one of the septic tanks. We (or I) decided not to cut the tree down during construction of the house but unfortunately many of the surface roots were damaged by construction traffic (trackhoe, bulldozer), even after we specificly instucted the workers to keep clear of the tree. Thus, a year after moving in, we had to remove the tree as is showed signs of dying (which was proved during autopsy). A picture of the tree being removed is attached.

Bonehead

 

[Maine_Polack]

Another suggestion. Dig around stumps a few inches down. Take your garden hose and clean the dirt off the side of the stump. Then use a chainsaw and cut the tops off. Fill over with dirt.
Yes in 10 years a "depression" will show up, so deal with it then.

 

[BoneheadNW]

Maine Polack-

You know, that is a great idea. It will probably dull the chain quickly, but it is worth it. Definately worth serious consideration!

Bonehead

 

[Flyrod]

I priced a stump grinder for the PTO ......... WOW! $5,000.00 ... was I surprised. Little more and I could by a brand new Backhoe that is much more useful. I think I will go the backhoe route. I have many small stumps 12" or less that I think the backhoe will pull with little trouble and three stumps that will be major projects over 24" across. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[Farwell]

I haven't read all of this thread but thought I would add my experience. I had 48 red pine cut from my property because they were infested with a bark beetle. Many of the stumps were in the way of things I wanted to do so I checked around and found a guy that had a heavy duty walk behind hydraulic stump grinder. With the number of stumps I wanted ground he said he would do it for ten dollars a stump. $400 later I had 40 stumps gone. He did a supper job. I have seen work done by the small rental units that will grind the stumps but leave most of the roots that are near the tree in the ground. When this guy got done, there was a hole in the ground about 18 inches deep and 36 inches square and no sign of the bigger roots that cause all of the problems laters. I have yet to have any problems with any of the roots that are further out from where the trees were. Red pine have a tap root the size of a telephone pole. I found out the hard way, I was going to dig around one of the trees, cut the main roots and try to push the tree over with my tractor until I found the massive tap root.

 

[KennedyDiesel]

I've gone away from gringing them, and been having them dug with a backhoe. Either way makes a mess, but having it GONE is a better solution in my mind, and a backhoe can generally dig just as fast or faster than you can grind...

 

[edski]

I've dug a couple of large mean stumps lately.
Not only do I create a large hole (which is quickly filled), but a good deal of the surrounding area is impacted from having to double handle the spoil. I can't spin 180 and dump like a track hoe. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
A professional w/ a grinder can do in an hour what it takes me to do in eight.
BUT, I'd dig it myself anyway, that's why I got a B/H.
PLUS, w/ ~ 50 hrs on a $20K TLB...that's $400/hr...8 hr job ...$3200 for me vs. paying someone else $35.

Isn't "New" math great! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[BoneheadNW]

edski-

Nice to hear from you. Have you been away or just lurking? Or maybe I have missed your posts.

I got Mrs. Bonehead to agree to the "limited BH" approach posted by someone on this thread. I am going to dig down approx 8-10" around the stumps and attack the thing with my chain saw. If I make a mess of the thing she will then say "I told you to hire someone to grind the stump" and if it works out she will say "That was a good idea of mine".

I'll post pictures during "operation stumpcumsition"

Bonehead

 

[AndyMA]

Personally having dug out hundreds of them in rocky New England over the last 40 years. I now prefer a stump grinder. I dig about 12" deep all around, derock the stump and gring away. This way I get no settling and the soil types remain in the correct locations. If I need to plant something there, I may still use a portable grinder to cut off the roots so I don't have to dig them out. Any then you don't disturb the compacted soil and leave in it its native form you will get much less compaction. In New England disturbed soils tend to compact about 20% by volume as a rule of thumb.

There are some interesting small carbide wheels available for hand grinders and also carbide chains for chain saw that that fairly kindly to this type of cutting. One of these dish type carbide cutters (I think <$100) will easily take one or two stumps down in a few hours. Hint = hose off the stump and get the grint off it which dulls all kinds of blades.

Good luck with stumps. Old Farmers method- drill holes and fill with corn---let pigs loose--- will root out /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Andy

 

[edski]

Hey Bonehead,
Been out of town on business lately.
When home I've been working past dark and require all the beauty sleep I can get. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
Sounds like Mrs Bonehead has her bases covered.
Same here on the "right" coast.
Mrs ski is always right after the fact. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Good luck with that stump, and I look forward to the pix.