What Happens to Roots After Stump Grinding?

One of the biggest questions that a lot of homeowners have is what would happen to their property after grinding a tree stump. There are a lot of factors involved such as what happens to the root, will the tree be able to grow back, etc.

After stump grinding, the tree roots won’t be completely removed. Stump grinding can go as deep as 18 inches, but the industry standard is to only grind it till the stump is flush with the surrounding soil. In most cases, the leftover roots will rot over time and get mixed with the soil. But in some rare cases, the roots can sprout back.

Does Stump Grinding Remove Roots?

Stump grinding works by shedding the leftover stump down, into tiny wood particles or grindings. These grindings can be used as mulch or for composts. Some stump grinders can go as deep as 18 inches below ground but the industry standard is to only grind till the stump is gone.

One of the drawbacks of stump grinding is that it does not remove or kill the roots during the process. If you are grinding a small plant stump, there is a chance that the roots will not die

To prevent the roots from sprouting back, it is important to treat the tree stump with herbicides right after cutting down the tree.

Does Stump Grinding Kill Roots?

A lot of people think that because stump grinding does not remove the roots, they will start sprouting back, but this only happens in rare situations. Most of the time, the roots will decay and rot over time and get mixed with the soil.

How Can You Ensure That the Roots Don’t Sprout Back?

In those rare cases when the roots start sprouting back, or if you want to be fully sure about killing the roots, you can treat the leftover roots with herbicides and chemicals. You can use 2,4-D or Tordon and brush it over the exposed roots to effectively kill them.

Conclusion

Although Stump Grinding gets rid of the stump entirely, it is not able to get rid of the roots completely. Most of the time, the roots will rot and die over time. But in some cases, the roots can sprout back again which can lead to another tree growing in the area.