Stuck with a stump grinder when I should've just dug the thing out

Had to remove a big cottonwood stump last month in my own yard, and everyone online swore by renting a 35hp grinder for $250 a day. I went against the grain and just dug it out with a shovel and my truck over three afternoons. Ended up saving money and getting way better root clearance for replanting. Has anyone else found that grinding isn't always the answer?

2 comments

2 Comments

simonh7426d ago

Three afternoons with a shovel and your truck sounds like my idea of fun in the same way a root canal is fun. I tried grinding a stump once and ended up with a half-destroyed lawn and a grinder that needed a tow.

jamesm4826d ago

OH man, I am SO with you on this. Grinding leaves a MESS of wood chips and roots that just sit there and rot, you never get good dirt back. I've pulled out stumps with a chain and my truck before and it's a workout but the payoff is huge. Plus you can fill the hole with actual soil and plant something NEW right away. Shovels and sweat beat a rental headache any day.