WE GET A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT TREE STUMP GRINDING SO WE THOUGHT WE'D SHARE THE ANSWERS TO SOME OF THE MOST COMMON ONES WITH YOU...

​

• I’ve just had a tree cut down. Why should I grind the stump away?

  • There are many reasons to use a Charlotte stump grinding service to remove your stump – aesthetics, you don’t want to constantly mow around it, you want to avoid termites and ants near your house, you want to plant a new tree, you don’t want the stump sprouting into a new tree…

​

• Can you remove the entire stump?

  • Yes, most tree stumps have all their major roots in the top 16 inches of soil. We can also grind deeper when required.

​

• What about all the surface roots – can you grind those away too?

  • Yes, we can usually use the stump grinder to grind down 6 inches or so and remove all the tripping hazards that extend out from the stump.

​

• How deep do you grind a stump?

  • We normally grind down 8 inches below grade so there is ample soil depth to grow grass. We also offer a shallow grind where we go 4 inches below grade. This saves money but you won’t be able to grow grass there so we recommend this for a stump in the woods line or perimeter of the lawn.

​

• Can I plant a new tree in the same place as the old stump?

  • Yes, we can usually grind a stump away so there is nothing left.

​

• How long does it take to grind a tree stump?

  • Depending on size, it can take as little as 15 minutes all the way up to 2 hours. We have a very powerful machine that is much more efficient than smaller units that can be rented.

​

• How do you price stump grinding?

  • There are several cost factors, like access to the site, presence of rocks, quantity of surface roots, etc.

​​

• Am I left with a big hole when you’re finished?

  • With a professional Charlotte stump grinding service, we will push all the dirt and chips back into the hole so there isn’t a hazardous hole in your yard. Some larger stumps will actually leave a mound of chips behind. 

​

• Will tree stump grinding damage my lawn/landscape?

  • Not when it’s done properly. We have a machine that has extra tires to minimize the pressure on a lawn and we also have large plastic mats we can put down to protect softer areas from being torn up.

​

• Do you remove the stump grinding debris?

  • Yes, we offer that as an optional service at an additional cost. We can also bring in topsoil, seed and straw – you just add water and it will be lawn in no time.

​

• Can I use the mulch from the stump grinding?

  • Yes, depending on the size of the stump there is a mix of dirt and woodchips which composts into rich topsoil in about a year or two depending on moisture levels. These chips also work great as mulch in vegetable and flower gardens.

​

• Can your machine fit through our gate?

  • Our machine was specially designed to fit through a 36 inch gate – that’s a standard-sized gate or opening so we can probably get through your gate without any problems.

​

• I have stumps on a hill. Is it possible to grind them?

  • In most cases. yes. We have a 4 wheel drive machine that can be driven into tough locations.

​

• Can you get your machine into an area that has limited access?

  • We’re pretty creative and have the equipment to get nearly anywhere. We’ve even used cranes to lift the stump grinder into position up to 100’ away from a driveway.

​

• Can you grind a tree stump that’s next to a wall, sidewalk, foundation, leaching field or other structure?

  • Yes, but we need to be cautious and sometimes we can’t grind quite as much of the stump or roots because of the infrastructure. This is where experience plays a big part in knowing just how far to go and when it’s not safe to do it.

​

• How long does it take a tree stump to rot away if I leave it alone?

  • It really depends on five things: size, species, moisture levels (in shade vs sun), insect activity, and structure of the stump. For example, a 20” oak tree stump in a sunny yard might take 18 to 20 years to decompose naturally, whereas the same stump in a shady moist environment might take 12 -15 years to rot away. Just realize that it’s not a quick (or pretty) process.

​

• There are fungus/conks/mushrooms on my tree stump. Is that a problem?

  • This is a normal part of the decomposition process as the wood breaks down. Obviously some of these can be poisonous so if there are house pets or children in close proximity you might want to consider grinding the stump.

​

• If I grind away my tree stump will it eliminate the termites and ants?

  • While we can’t guarantee that all termites and ants will disappear, grinding will significantly reduce and probably eliminate those insects since what they where using as a home is now gone and starting to decompose into soil.

​

• Is tree stump grinding mess/noisy/dangerous?

  • Yes on all counts. This is why we do not recommend the homeowner DIY approach of renting a small stump grinder. We have many years of experience and we use several different safeguards, from plastic mats to commercial grade screens that can stop a flying rock from being a dangerous projectile. Plus, we require personal protection equipment for our operators. Not to mention that Tripletts is fully insured and licensed.
    ​​​

• Do you also remove trees or help clean or trim storm damaged trees?

  • YES, with our Spider Aerial Lift we can perform full-service tree removal. We can also help trim or prune larger trees to correct storm damage.​

​

​

Hopefully these will answer your questions too, but if there’s something we missed, just send us an email or give us a call – we’re happy to talk with you about Charlotte stump grinding any time!