Lot clearing: should I excavate my stumps, or grind them?

Stump grinding is a cleaner and more economical way to remove your stumps than excavating, as we explained in a previous article.

Stump grinding is a cleaner and more economical way to remove your stumps than excavating, as we explained in a previous article. However, there are some situations where stump grinding isn’t feasible. Here’s what you need to know:

• You don’t want to pour concrete over a buried stump. As it decays, the stump will leave a sinkhole. The void will cause the concrete to crack at best, and create a pothole at worst. This applies to sidewalks, patios, garages, floor slabs, and driveways. As a general rule, it applies to footings and foundation walls, too. You don’t want to bridge a gap with a concrete structure that’s engineered to rest on bearing soil.
• If the stump is in an open space where you intend to plant grass or a garden, a grind depth of 4-8” will work.
• If you need to build a fence in the spot, you’ll need to excavate the stump so you can dig postholes (unless you’re certain you can space the fence posts to either side of the stump).
• If you need to run utilities through the spot, you’ll have to excavate, too.
• You can get away with stump grinding to create space for a paver slab. If a sinkhole appears, you can always remove the pavers in the affected area, fix the ground underneath, and then reinstall the pavers.
• If you plan to wait several years before using the area, stump grinding might be your best option, since the remainder of the stump will start decaying immediately after grinding

Most stumps will take several years to decay, even after grinding
Many of your stumps with above-ground material are still alive, living on stores in their roots and trying to sprout enough foliage to keep living. These stumps can last for years before their reserves runout, and only then will decay begin.
If your stump is truly dead, it can still take a few years to decay completely. A stump that’s been ground down and buried is 100% dead, and will decay faster. Still, you’ll want to wait before you use the spot for certain things.
The time a stump takes to decay depends on its size and species, so we can’t give you an exact estimate. Expect softer woods like cottonwood and poplar to decay faster, while strong wood like that of the Doug fir will take longer.
Clear your lot safely and economically with Snohomish Tree
Property owners and developers in Snohomish County and the surrounding area can contact Snohomish Tree for help clearing their lot. We can:

• Remove all the stumps on your lot, whether they need grinding or excavating
• Safely take down difficult and/or dangerous trees in tight quarters
  
• Help you harvest the wood of commercially valuable trees on your lot and sell it
  
• Chip and haul the brush
  
• Leave your property as clean as we found it
  

To schedule an estimate from Snohomish Tree, you can fill out an estimate form here.