How Many Stumps Can You Grind in A Day?

If you have decided to get rid of the leftover stumps in your backyard and if you want to get the job done yourself, there are a lot of questions that need to be answered. One of the most important factors is the time it will take to fully grind a stump, especially if you have to grind multiple stumps in your property. Let’s take a look.

It can take you about 15 minutes to fully grind a 15” stump after some practice. If the diameter of a stump double, its volume will end up quadrupling which can increase the grinding by 4 times. Within a 6 hour period, you can grind anywhere between 15-20 stumps.

How Long Does It Take to Grind A Stump?

If you are grinding the stumps for the first time, it can take a little bit longer to get the hang of it. But once you know how to operate the machine, you can grind a 15” stump in about 10-15 minutes.

One thing to keep in mind is that if the stump is 10” in diameter and it takes you 10 minutes to grind it, then a 20” diameter stump has 4 times the volume, so it can take up to 4 times the time.

How Short Does A Stump Need to Be to Grind?

Before you actually start using the stump grinder, you need to prepare the stump first. Other than cleaning the surrounding area, you need to make sure that the stump is cut down to as low to the ground as possible. A stump grinder can only reach a certain height.

Using an ax or a chainsaw, cut down the stump so that it is not more than 6 inches above the ground.

How Hard Is It to Use A Stump Grinder?

To understand how to use a stump grinder and how difficult it can be, let’s take a look at some of the different types of stump grinders available in the market.

Although operating a stump grinder is not that difficult, there can be a learning curve for beginners. These are heavy machinery so make sure you practice how to move it correctly and get a feel for the grinding process before you actually begin.

Different Types of Stump Grinders

The first type of grinders is usually the most common, chances are that you will be renting this type as well. These grinders are called ‘handle-bar’, ’walk behind’ or ‘hand guided’ grinders. These are portable and small grinders which are also the easiest to operate. They can easily fit behind a small truck.

The second type is called ‘rear hitch’ or ‘wheeled grinders’, these can be attached at the back of a small truck or a pickup and can be transported quite easily. Once they reach the location, you can steer them into the desired place.

The third type is called a riding grinder. These are a little bigger than the previous two and are controlled by a person sitting on top of them like a bobcat or a small tractor.

The fourth type is called skid stump grinders. These are like the previous version but with tank-like track treads to offer better support while moving on wet or soft soil and grass.

Although the working mechanism is the same in all the grinders, with small changes, of course, larger grinders will be much more difficult to operate especially if you don’t have prior experience with them.

How to Operate a Stump Grinder?

Before you start operating a stump grinder, make sure you take all the safety precautions. Wear full-sleeved clothes, protective eyeglasses, boots, and gloves.

  1. Raise the grinder about 3 inches above the height of the stump and start at least 3 feet away from the stump.
  2. Move towards the stump and cover the front edge of the stump with the blade.
  3. Lower the blade and start grinding.
  4. Once the blade start grinding the stump, move it from side to side to grind that entire area.
  5. Move the grinder ahead and repeat this process.
  6. Once one round is done, lower the grinder again and repeat this process until the stump is fully grinded.

How Far Down Should You Grind A Stump

Most rental and portable stump grinders can grind up to 8-10 inches below the ground. Some professional grinders can go as deep as 18 inches. But it is an industry-standard to only grind the stump until it is slightly below the surface. This is usually accomplished by going 5-6 inches below.

Unless you are dealing with especially large stumps, in which case you will anyways need a bigger grinder and possibly some professional help.

Do You Need to Grind Your Stumps?

If you are still unsure whether you need to grind your stump or not, let’s take a look at some potential reasons why you should go ahead with it.

Leftover tree stumps can ruin the look of your property, they can also lower the value of your property. This is especially important if you are looking to sell or rent your property.

Tree stumps can also potentially sprout again, in which case it will be much harder to get rid of them. If left unattended, tree stumps can turn into small trees in a relatively short amount of time. Of course, in some rear cases, even after grinding roots can sprout new saplings.

Stump grinding is also very efficient and effective in getting rid of your stump. Stump removals on the other hand can require much heavier machinery and professional services. On the other hand, you can do the stump grinding yourself as well.

Stump grinding is also pretty economical. You can rent a stump grinder for as low as $100 per day. Even if you decide to hire a professional service, they can get the job done for as low as $150. Of course, this price will also depend on the size of the stump, the number of stumps, the terrain, etc.

Recommended reading: Stump grinding vs stump removal

Can You Grind Stumps in The Rain?

If you need to grind your stump and it is raining outside, the ideal situation would be to let the stump and the surrounding area dry out completely. There are a few reasons for this, if the stump is located in your backyard then taking a heavy piece of machinery through wet grass or mud can be a pretty big nuisance.

It might end up completely ruining your backyard. There are a lot of safety concerns as well, if your stump grinder is electric, then rain can potentially short circuit the machine which could be very dangerous. A stump grinder can slip or roll down if you are working on an incline.

Even diesel- or petrol-powered stump grinders have electric components which can short circuit.

Some professional grinding services tend to do the job if the stump is located next to your driveaway so that transporting the stump grinder is much easier. But even then, the professional services prefer to work when the conditions are dry.

Conclusion

Once you get used to operating a stump grinder, it will take you about 15 minutes to fully grind a 15” inch. In about 6 hours, depending on the size of the stumps, you can grind anywhere between 15-20 stumps. With smaller stumps, this number can easily rise to 24-25.

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