Stumps can pose a hazard to people, pets, and the surrounding landscaping. They attract pests, and someone could trip and fall over an exposed root while walking in the yard.
While you may need to completely remove some stumps, others can stay in the ground. You only need to grind them down so that people don’t trip over them. Over time, they will decay and provide nutrition for the surrounding landscaping.
However, the process of grinding them down can also put the surrounding landscaping at risk. Heavy machinery can crush lawn grass, the grinder can send rocks flying, and the wood chips can smother nearby plants. The machinery can also damage irrigation lines.
Protecting your yard when stump-grinding is vital. It takes only a few straightforward steps to keep the lawn and other plants looking good.
Mark Sprinkler and Utility Lines
Before you do any sort of work, mark the sprinkler and utility lines that cross the yard. Dial 811 to have someone from a utility company in your region come out and locate the lines. Contact an irrigation company to find all the sprinkler lines. Even if you know where all the sprinkler heads are, you need to know the exact pipe layout as well.
Stump-grinding machinery immediately cuts into anything it touches when it’s on. You could easily damage a sprinkler pipe or utility line if the grinder were to slip. If tree roots have grown close to one of the lines, then merely grinding down the visible portion of the root can put those lines at risk.
Water the Lawn to Control Dust
The soil in your yard dries out in the summer, and the grinding process could send up dust clouds. It’s a good idea to water down the lawn enough to keep the dirt in place. Don’t make the soil soggy, however. That would only make it harder for the stump grinding machinery to stay in place.
Some stump grinders are hand operated. However, others are more like excavators, with an operator sitting in a small cabin. The ground needs to remain solid enough to support the weight of the machinery.
Inspect the Site for Debris
Check the area around the stump carefully for any sort of hard debris like rocks. If the grinder hits the lawn and catches on the rock, the fast-spinning grinding wheel will fling the rock toward landscaping, your home, or you.
Contain Flying Wood During Grinding
As you work on the stump, you’ll see a lot of small wood chips scattering all around the area. Do what you can to contain this. You can cover the lawn and nearby bushes with tarps. There are vertical panels you can set up, too. These form walls around the grinding area, preventing the chips from landing farther away.
Consolidate Stump Debris in the Hole
Once the grinding is finished, don’t leave the wood chips lying in the grass. Rake the chips back over the remainder of the stump. Fill the rest of the depression with mulch and topsoil, and tamp them down.
Protecting your landscape when grinding down an old tree stump isn’t difficult. If you hire a professional arborist to grind the stump, the job becomes even easier for you. Take the time to inspect the area around the stump and ensure that you’ve done everything possible to keep the yard in good shape. If you live in Columbus, OH or a surrounding area and need stump grinding services, make your first call to Bluegrass Tree & Lawn.