Tree guy says if I don;t pay to have stumps ground, we'll get termites. True? (landscaping, trees) - Garden -Trees, Grass, Lawn, Flowers, Irrigation, Landscaping... - City-Data Forum

normie · 03-12-2010, 11:38 AM

We had severe damage to our landscaping from the blizzard this year. Among the damage was a row of white pines. They all have to removed, which is going to cost us a small fortune.

In addition, the tree guys want to charge us $75 per tree to grind down the stumps. We are talking about 11 trees, so it's no small change.

I own a chain saw, and I think my grandsons and I could cut the stumps down to ground level ourselves. However, the tree guys sad that if we don't have the grinding process done the stumps will attract termites.

What do you guys think?

crazyme4878 · 03-12-2010, 02:21 PM

Does it matter if they do? I mean, are they close to any buildings? I don't see what the issue would be, but I'm far from an expert. Either way, why don't you cut them down yourself (then you can cut and split the logs and use for firewood or sell the firewood) and if need be, have the tree guy come later and grind the stumps.

bellalunatic · 03-12-2010, 02:24 PM

Yeah, who cares if the termites eat the stumps? As long as they aren't eating you house right?
You can wait on it, I second that idea for sure.

normie · 03-12-2010, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazyme4878

Does it matter if they do? I mean, are they close to any buildings? I don't see what the issue would be, but I'm far from an expert. Either way, why don't you cut them down yourself (then you can cut and split the logs and use for firewood or sell the firewood) and if need be, have the tree guy come later and grind the stumps.

Thanks, I was thinking the same thing. I might invest in extra termite treatment around the house, just to be safe.

I wish we could take the trees down, but we have four houses close to each other, with the trees in between and only about 5 feet from one of the houses (the trees mark a property line). They're more than 60 feet tall and hav very large branches, so taking them down will be tricky. To be honest, I'm just as glad to see them go. They got way too big to be so close to houses.

However, once the trees are down I feel I can take care of the stumps.

lifelongMOgal · 03-12-2010, 02:29 PM

Suggest renting a stump grinder yourselves. With the number of stumps you have the rental will pay for itself.

normie · 03-12-2010, 02:30 PM

Where do you rent stump grinders? Are they hard to operate? How much does it cost?

FLPL75 · 03-13-2010, 06:10 AM

Normie,
You might be able to rent one at Home Depot tool rental

Submariner · 03-13-2010, 07:18 AM

As big as the top of the tree was, so is the root sytem underground.

The stump may be visible but it is only a tiny portion of what remains.

I do not see how the above ground portion of a stump is going to attract insects anymore than the tonne of wood that remains underground.

capecodet · 03-16-2010, 01:17 AM

A stump grinder is not difficult to use as long as you take your time on setting it up and don't try to do too much with each pass.
By the second or third one you will have it down.

kygman · 03-16-2010, 08:39 AM

If you check with a hardware store, there is a stump killer you can get to spray the stump right after cutting the tree. I sprayed mine in the late summer and by early spring (this was last year) I dug up the stump without a whole lot of trouble. Of course mine was less than a foot in diameter. But if it kills the stump you can chip some off every now and then. When I talk about spraying it, I use one of those spray bottles like you spray Windex or something.