When it comes to stump grinding, the decomposition time depends on a variety of factors. The size of the tree, the climate, and the soil conditions all play a role in how long it takes for a stump to decompose. For instance, a 20 oak tree stump in a sunny courtyard may take 18-20 years to decompose naturally, while the same stump in a shady and humid environment may take 12-15 years. On the other hand, if ants, insects, diseases, fungi, or moss start to grow on the stump, this can speed up the decomposition process.
It usually takes two years for the stump to decompose enough for oxygen, worms, and other organisms to come back in. When you have a tree removed, a professional tree removal company may suggest that you grind your stump if conditions around the base of the stump allow it. This is because grinding can help speed up the decomposition process. It can also help prevent disease or pests from spreading if you have removed a diseased or pest-riddled tree.
Stump grinders that are available for rent by homeowners will be smaller and less powerful than those used by professionals. If you opt for stump grinding, it will usually take about three months for the grinding to start breaking down. You should also fill in the mulch after this happens. Additionally, it is recommended that any mulch created by wood chips from stump grinding be used at least two feet away from the foundation of your home.
In most cases, it is best to wait four to five years for the root system to break down before planting another tree in the ground that was under the foliage of the old tree. However, some tree stumps begin to send buds in an effort to regrow; they may eventually become a new tree rather than decompose. The stump of an older, larger tree may take 20 years or more to naturally rot and decompose. If you want to get rid of your stump completely, you can enlist the help of a stump shredding business.
The operator will guide the blade over the entire stump as it reduces the wood to chips and lowers the stump well below ground level. Professional arborists and tree removal companies also have insurance against accidental property damage from tree removal and stump grinding. In conclusion, how quickly stumps decompose will depend on their size, climate and general soil conditions. If you have some topsoil available, use the grindstones to fill most of the hole left by the tree stump and then cover it with top layer of soil.
This is often the best argument for grinding stumps; leaving a stump in place can mean repeatedly pruning with suction cup, a garden task that offers little satisfaction since it is never finished.
