One thing to consider, if you plan to use the site as a garden, a driveway or for a building, leaving all the roots in the ground will come back to bite you. Also, the backhoe takes out a lot more of the root system. If you leave the root system in the ground the dirt will sink in years to come as the stump rots away making uneven ground. Hope this helps. Cheers!
I was going to comment about the same thing. Thanks. As the wood from the old roots and stump break down the area above it all will slowly collapse. So, going in with a backhoe or excavator and removing it all to begin with just saves you the trouble of having to go back in and add more top soil and redoing your landscaping as a result.
I was thinking the same thing. I have experience using all the stump removal options and a lot depends of course on where the tree is. I had very large silver maples in the yard with roots that wanted to grow along the top of the ground. I used a stump grinder to avoid yard damage but years later I'm dealing with rough ground mowing because of all the roots that were left.
Another cheap option is a stump bucket for the tractor. I bought one for $450 and removed several 12" stumps with it. It may take a little longer than a backhoe or a grinder, but it works.
For me, it depends on where I’m working. In my yard, I generally grind the stump unless it’s a tree that will come back. We have a grinder than runs on the 3-point, but it’s not as fast as the one in the video. When clearing trees out on my property, I prefer renting a mini excavator. When done that way, you can use the weight of the tree to help knock it over. You can wait until you have several to do before renting a mini to make it worthwhile. We have a small backhoe, but I wouldn’t want to dig out a stump with it unless it was pretty small.
I have used a stump grinder several times. Once for large shrub stumps I did 29 in one day. Another time 8" diameter tree stumps- 5 stumps between 3 properties. I enjoy and learn alot from your videos. Thank You.
Yes the biggest factor is what are you doing with ground afterwards. Of course what's available also. If it's going to be a garden any tillable ground needs dug out.
Hands down, you have to use a excavator or backhoe if you're going to till or plow the land. If it's just a matter of wanting to lower the stump obstruction for mowing, my vote is stump grinder. Take it below grade, sprinkle a bit of dirt over, and seed it....done!
A third option is to cut the stump off flush with the ground. It dulls the chain a bit, and not the best for a regular lawn tractor. But fine for a subcompact tractor/mower, and it is a cheaper option. thanks for the video. I would not want to clear a lot of trees this way, but for a few it might be a cheap alternative.
With a backhoe/excavator you can get the root ball and big roots that often provide the means by which some tree varieties grow back. Poplars and aspens in particular. Also if you have surface roots that you need to remove a backhoe/excavator works so much better. Also with diseased trees you don't want to grind, you don't want the diseased chips in your soil. You want to dig as much out as you can. I had one such apple tree with a 24 inch base. I used the same model Bobcat and it took me about 10 minutes. Stumps grinders have their uses with trees that don't grow back from the roots. Pines, oaks, and such.
Any tree I cut down on my place that even thinks about growing back gets a good painting on the outer 2 inches on the stump with straight roundup/glyphosate. Kills em dead.
A 25 hp stump grinder mounted on tracks is around $200 a day for me to rent in my area. It did twenty pine tree stumps that were all 12 inches plus in diameter, one oak stump that was 3 feet across and a few small stumps for two different neighbors, all in one day, with time to spare. Crawling from house to house was miserably slow but really no problem. Crowd fund the rental with neighbors if you need to. Whatever you do, don’t buy a $1,000 or $2k grinder that you walk around like a small rototiller, unless the trees are all less than 4” diameter. Even then they are a waste of money.
Depends the area of land is going too be used for . If it’s a lawn that is going too mowed and groomed and needs too be nice looking all the time . Getting rid of the stump and root system is better . I have seen results of stump grinders after couple years . Sunken holes later because the stump and root system rots away and you end keep fixing with more top soil and seeding . Soft spots in lawn etc . In a field does not matter . You can rent a excavator for a week end and plan the whole job at once . Taking the branches off and leaving the main stem of tree also makes the job easier for a excavator . Leverage mechanical advantage . There is also root cutting blade attachment that makes less mess cutting the roots way out then pushing the stump with stem on it away she goes . Back hoes can be used but it’s better too make a root blade that attaches quick too the bucket . Less strain on hoe and tractor . Big time saver also .planing ahead is the key on major stump removal on a property . I have been down this road many times . Better too do it right the first time .
This...... was my experience exactly. I built a log home in the woods. Removed a lot of the trees when we built the house with a big excavator. Once we built the house, there were still about 20 trees in the 4 acre yard that I removed myself, then used a stump grinder for the stumps. Over the course of about 5 years, these stumps rotted under the ground, and essentially caused large craters in the yard, that I have been filling back in with topsoil and re-planting. Stump grinders are probably still my preferred method overall, but if it is in a lawn, you will definitely have craters later from the stumps rotting and creating a void.
If you rent or own a hoe to take the stump out, you would use the hoe to take the tree down as well. The time it takes to remove the stump would be about the same time it takes to take the whole tree out (inclusive of the stump). It’s also 10 x’s safer to take a tree down with a hoe than to cut it with a saw. Good video, thanks for your perspective.
@@clafournaise On smaller trees, I have dug the root ball on one side, then pushed the whole tree over. The root ball pops right up. This method works great on ERC scrub as long as the roots aren’t tangled in rock.
When I bought my tractor I talked to the dealer about adding a backhoe. At $9000 I figured I could rent a bigger, dedicated machine like a mini excavator whenever I thought I needed something like that for a big job. I did purchase a Baumalight 1p24 stump grinder (approximately $2500) and have been thrilled with it's capabilities and ease of use. It takes me about 5 minutes to attach it to the tractor and less time to take it off when done and fits nicely inside my shop. Now I can get rid of stumps whenever I want without having to go to the rental store, or being worried about getting everything done in the limited time I have the rental. I'm a +10 on the stump grinder, especially if you've got a lot of area to clear and while I haven't done so yet, I'm sure it'd pay for itself in a short time with a side job doing other folks stumps.
When you use a stump grinder one is left with the roots and ball to rot underground. Once my stumps started to rot, I spent the next 2 years filling in with dirt. Not an issue with a BH.
It all depends - years ago my Dad and I would typically cut down 1-2 walnut trees at our farm (mainly for "mad money") Dad would harvest the logs- he originally thought I was nuts for wanting to dig up the stump. Sure changed his mind after a trip to Warsaw....
Makes the difference where it is, on your lawn or pastute grinder is fine. Field or garden where you might dig or plow , get the stump completely gone with as many roots as you can pull.
Stump grinder would definitely be much cheaper to rent or hire out for sure. Only real downside to the stump grinder is the large depression in the ground years later when the stump rots.
I have had stump grinders in my yard. Now several years later I have holes in my yard. When you step into the hole it hurts. So I know i'm going to have to fill the holes. I guess in the long run maybe the time will be spent one way or the other. So know that when you dig or grind a stump, you are not done.
Tractor Mike you never stopped to amaze me I was literally just booking an appointment to order a stump grinder for a rental in my area they're booked up
Which method to use depends a lot on the situation. In my case, I want a smooth area to mow without a stump to catch the brush hog. A stump cutter is the tool for this job, with minimal clean up and repair. If you want a "root free" area to turn into a tillable area, then the mini-ex might be a better choice but now you have holes to fill in.
I have to agree with you there Mike, I'd prefer to use a stump grinder on stumps left in my yard/lawn area. I've rented stump grinders & have been very pleased with the results. Thanks for taking the time to show a basic comparison of the two options of stump removal methods. Thanks to your neighbor for allowing you to use his resent tree & stump removal for the video. Take care.
I've seen where the remaining stump can be pushed up out of the ground over the years. It looks nice when you grind it but sometimes it's better to completely remove it.
Great comparison. Both are great tools. Depending on the job we will use either a stump grinder or MiniEx for removal. On smaller trees (up to 6-8") we have found using a skid steer actually works best if you can use the tree as leverage to push over and dig out the roots.
I've watched other videos of people using larger excavators to remove whole swaths of trees. One good sweep of the roots on one side, then knock the whole tree over and pick it up and shake the dirt off. But that was with a LARGE dedicated excavator taking out an acre of trees in a day, stacking them into a big burn pile and moving on.
I agree that the stump grinder is the way to go. Finding a heavy duty stump grinder was the hard part but I was able to rent a Vermeer 252 stump grinder which was a little small but got the job done. I was able to grind about 20 stumps per day for a total of 120.
Ok now do that several hundred times to clear what used to be pasture back to pasture here on 15ac 🤣 One day I might have someone come in with something big, idk. I have a BH92 on my L6060 and yeah it’s a real pain to clear stumps with it. After doing a few I’ve basically said enough of that crap so I cut them off close to the ground and hear the cutter go bang bang bang every once in a while when I brush cut every year. The only ones I bother to dig out is where I would be putting a road or building. Great comparison video. I figured that excavator would be faster just because of the size.
I have to agree with you. I am very experienced at using an excavator to pull stumps and that stump could have been pulled out in a fraction of time with a lot less of a mess. But, someone who has little or no experience, then it could take even longer and be much more messy. Grinders do work well and are fairly quick but don't work that well on surface roots and don't take care of sucker roots especially with some types of tree species.
I actually use both machines on large stumps. The grinder helps knock down the mass. The excavator then can rip the large stumps out in pieces a little easier rather than rolling out one very large mass.
If you can only use one, it's pretty clear the mini excavator is the winner. The stump grinder only seems faster because it did not complete the job - it only removed part of the middle of the stump down to the ground level. You will still need to go in with the excavator to finish removing the stump, though I'm not sure how much easier that will be once the stump is ground down. If I hired someone to remove stumps I'd make sure they didn't do what you're suggesting.
Great video. Love the side by side video and fair equipment comparison. I've done both methods. Grinder leaving a smaller hole is huge positive if you are not replanting a new tree in the hole. If that's the case then adding soil to the wood chips is a consideration...and still had to do that when I had large stump in the yard I wanted grass to grow back on. Agree about excavator having other uses. I rent a mini excavator each year for misc projects and just take care of my small stumps then. Would be interested in your thoughts if the stumps are on a hillside. Same equipment in the video. Hillside accessible to both but scary to run a push brush mower or compact tractor with brush hog on. We have had a min excavator like in your video with experienced operator cutting switch back trails into hillside and easily/safely removed 3-4" sucker tree stumps.
A good operator who is efficient can pop stumps pretty quick with a mini ex. I always go for the excavator unless I'm worried about utilities. With the mini the stump and all the roots are gone and if done properly will never settle. But alot depends on the operator and the application as well, sometimes the grinder is the better choice for sure.
The difference is in what your desires use of the land is. If just a yard to plant grass to look at then cut it to the ground and grind it down. If your going to build or plant or keep hooved animals you need to get the stumps out. That’s better done with a dozer and then push it back clean and burn the piles.
Yep the stump grinder is definitely the best method for me for my application problem is I've already hired four different contractors for removing or grinding down stumps and we still have stumps left but I've noticed is they're mostly the big stumps about 4 to 5 ft in width that other people have skipped
Another person brought it up. But a stump bucket can be a cheaper alternative than the other two. A really good stump bucket can get some of the roots as well. A while back on A Ritter Bit will do, he showed the comparison between his Kubota subcompact Backhoe to a stump bucket on that tractor and the stump bucket was quite a bit quicker on a similar sized stump.
I took down a 24" Golden Locust and cut it flush with the ground. And it sent up suckers all around the root area for 6 years until my repeated spraying with Roundup finally killed it. So I would prefer digging out the stump with a backhoe.
I have a woodland Mills WG24 stump grinder. It works very well. It's small easy to store in the barn. Also it's about 1/3 the price of a backhoe for my LX2610.
Good comparison with the two different methods. No doubt a grinder is superior as it’s made specifically for the work. I suppose in an extremely rocky environment, a backhoe would be preferred.
You can dig them out, but then you also have a dirty stump to get rid of. They can be a pain to try and burn and are heavy and awkward if you take it to the dump. The dirt and rocks caught up in the roots aren't conducive to sawing it up either. Much easier to mulch it and let the termites, worms and soil fungus get rid of whats left.
Mike I has 2 large stumps ground 3 years ago, still don’t have enough dirt to grow grass, so I have 2 large bald spots in my yard, it only took about 1 hour to grind them, it would have taken at least 4 hours with a big backhoe, but I would be able to grow grass, so it all depends on what u r willing to put up with.
dig out the top 3 inches or so and replace with topsoil. typically the grindings are used as backfill in the hole creating a hotspot in your yard by throwing off the nitrites in that specific area.
I'm going to be dealing with this very issue next spring. I have an area with 14-20 inch oaks that I need to clear for a barn and garden. Under the footprint of the barn, driveway, and garden, I need the stumps removed. That will take a large excavator. However, the area around these things will utilize a stump grinder because I can let the stumps stay in the ground to rot with no worry because all I need is flat ground there.
Looks like there’s a lot more cleanup for the backhoe. In addition, there possibly a need for fill dirt. I would rather hire the work done rather than own the equipment. I had over 100 Walnut trees taken out several years ago and hired the stumps ground. Made bush hogging much easier.
The excavator is the best method for stump removal, if you plan toplant crops or plant a garden, if you don’t plan to ever need to plow the area, then stump grinders are cheaper and required less ground leveling.
I have both rented a stump grinder, and hired a professional stump grinder, and you are correct, the job site is pretty clean. However, if you want good solid ground when you are done, skip the grinder. In my experience, they never get the vast majority of the roots, and soil with wood chips will settle as the wood decomposes. When I am done with the back hoe, I am satisfied with the root removal, and I can back fill and groom the site. I don't get the settling from decomposing chips. I agree with others, this is probably personal preference. My preference is back hoe.
I don't picture myself using a backhoe on my tractor very much, in general. For my money, I'm better off renting a mini-ex when I need it. I know it's not as convenient, but they have a way more capable hydraulic system versus my tractor, too.
The stump Grinder pretty well took care of the waste material all at the same time. Save time, added more soil, and finish product was an almost unnoticeable stump extraction to the landscape. The Stump grinder was the obvious winner.
I have the same E42 excavator. If you also included in your video the time that is saved using the backhoe to help cut down/up and remove the downed tree VS the time needed to do it without the excavator, I think you would see that the "clear winner" would be the excavator. Also, if the operator of the excavator was using the correct attachment for removing stumps (a ripper blade) instead of a bucket, it would have gone faster and taken much less time to level up after the stump was removed. But, the most import thing to me is the elimination of the stump sprouting new growth which can happen with a bunch of species (sweet gum is the worst) and you will then have to start using chemicals to kill the root system. If the tree is in a yard VS in the woods you will evenually have to deal with sunken cavity when the root system rots.
If I didn't want to bulldoze the stuff -- to minimize disturbance, I assume -- I sure wouldn't use a backhoe/excavator. Instead of a 'finished' dozer-grubbed area, you'll have a series of holes that will all settle and be rough to mow over. It's going to take some time to clear much land with a chainsaw and stump grinder. And, it can be dangerous if you aren't used to doing it. I just had 4 acres of stuff like your writer described cleared about 6 weeks ago with a dozer. The dozer took care of the stumps and left me with a back-dragged surface. I sowed cover wheat and rye on it with my tractor; ran a chain harrow over it with my Gator; and, expect to mow it with a bush hog this summer (It's a hillside that you wouldn't let your daughter mow.).
Tree stumps are like nuclear waste where I live. Burning them is frowned upon and burying them can be a big deal too. I got in trouble burning so next time its a stump grinder!
Another option might be to leave the stump. It's a pain to mow around but a good reminder that there are consequences to planting trees willy-nilly. In case you couldn't tell, I just spent short of $4k to drop a tree that should've been removed 40 years ago when the house was built. LoL
My business is a pretty even split between tree service and excavation in the realm of small flat work wall waterproofing drainage etc. I really don't like grinding stumps and stump grinders are expensive to buy and maintain so I prefer to dig them out. Options for me are the New Holland E60C mini excavator or Baumalight 3P24 behind L3901 kubota. The stump grinder doesn't go deep enough unless the client just wants to raise grass where the excavator gets everything. Stump grindings often need to be dealt with where the excavator can scratch most of the soil off the stump and the hole is pretty good for whatever after that. I use both but all in all the excavator is my choice. I would think that for the average land owner the stump grinder is better as it is easier to become proficient with.
A commercial stump grinder is faster then a mini excavator. However there is times where a stump has to be totally removed because of septic systems water lines foundation work or road building. Have a great day be safe.
Very interesting comparison. I think resolving this issue to everyone's satisfaction is like answering the question of which came first, the chicken or the egg?! 😁 I would like to see/hear your opinion on the "new" stump bucket designs for the front loader as an alternative to the backhoe. I can see some disadvantages already like how much room you need for moving around the stump and you will also leave a big hole, maybe bigger than the backhoe. Thoughts? 👨🚒
I think you are about spot on with the spacing it takes to use that stump bucket, but then again an excavator isn't very small either, but you can get one that's quite compact and take up less room for sure especially if you are working in confined spaces like so many of these new home subdivisions where there isn't any room in the yard at all. Personally I'd use an excavator to do that type of work. There's a lot of forces on a front loader doing that type of work that's inevitably going to damage your loader trying to pull, pry, etc. on those stumps and roots; its best reserved for a larger machine made for that stuff. An excavator with a mechanical thumb will be much more advantageous than those digging buckets too for removing stumps and getting the roots out of the ground as well, the stump bucket can't do that stuff.
I'm not a big fan of stump buckets. I've seen folks tweak their loader arms when aggressively trying to remove a stump. Small tractor loaders are not really designed for that.
Interesting comparison. I think it would best to rent a stump grinder. But good to buy a backhoe because there are so many more jobs the backhoe can do. If you dig out the stumps, you can plow the field for farming. Stump grinding is only good for mowing lawn. Unless you are working with no-till Regenerative Agriculture techniques.
i skipped thru the video but another reason to go with a grinder is far less risk of hitting buried utilities even though you should call for a locate either way. damaged utilities will cost a fortune. i used to locate them and got a small damage early on. if i remember right it cost the company $4k. ive heard of other bad locates costing the company $250k but that was a high pressure gas line feeding a large mall. a supervisor should have double checked the locate on that one before digging began.
Backhoe... the whole stump is gone. Grinder, there's still a bunch of stump left. Are you going to plow? If yes, the grinder fails. You may need an excavator to dig out a big tree root...
With a 5 ton machine like that you literally leave the tree fully intact then push it over with an excavator and the stump comes up with it in about 10 seconds. At the end of the day a stump grinder will only grind stumps. Meanwhile an excavator will, cut in a foundation, level and grade, fell a tree without a chainsaw, work as a crane, dig a ditch line, pull an engine from a truck, put on slipped off tracks on a compact track loader, dig a utility run and demolish old structures.
Keeping with the Theme of Distinctions Why, from an engineering perspective, are Tractor Front end hydraulics so different from those of Backhoes? To be fair I've seen one backhoe with an FEL set up like a utility tractor and it was Chinese. Does that hydraulic cylinder arrangement give the Utility tractor FEL better overhead reach?
Not in my yard, but out away from the house, I drop the tree and use stump-out, come back in six months, and push the rotted stump. No grinder. No digging. When dealing with honey locus, I poison the stump so that the roots don’t shoot. It’s been so wet here in NW Georgia the last few years that I haven’t even needed the stump-out.
Stump grinders leave lots of roots and only go a few inches below the surface. Great for a lawn, horrible if you want to plant or plow the area. I dig them out by hand and chop up the stumps with an axe. It doesn't take as long as you would imagine once you get going.
@@PatrickKQ4HBD never faced that problem. Have done two 2 to three foot oaks several times. Maples are bad because roots are near the surface and if you ever want to till or plant things abandoned roots will be a big problem. Some trees like locust and mulberry will come up from roots.
Even told a guy with a stump grinder please don't skip any stumps and he said oh I can't do this one it's going to hurt my machine I thought isn't that kind of your job dude
Hey Mike, I agree with you that the stump grinder is the better option in almost every case. If you dig it out with a backhoe or an excavator now you have the problem of water am I going to do with the stump? If you did a whole bunch of them you could be creating another problem for yourself.
I always use my backhoe (TLB) to avoid the hole that will show up later when the chips rot away - plus you really should not plant grass seed over chips. I backfill and compact with the TLB and add some more dirt to make up for the displacement of the stump. Stump grinders are an additional cost and expensive to replace the carbide teeth and the less costly rental ones are usually controlled by handle bars and are like wrestling an alligator all day which I can't do anymore at my age. I am a better backhoe operator than the guy in your video. I put the stumps in my burn pile or have buried them deep in an out of the way spot on the property.
What I did was cut the trees off flat with the ground. Let the stump set for 2 or 3 years. Then have my tree guy hit'em with the stump grinder, and they usually came all apart. This was with big poplar and oak. I agree, the back hoe will tear up more ground...probably have to get fill dirt. Also. My Case backhoe was heavy, so it would really tear up my yard...even if dry.
If the excavator used a frost tooth it would probably go faster also if the grinder job would have cleaned up the chips & filled the whole with dirt so mushrooms don't grow & the chips don't suck all the nitrogen so that grass can grow so the completed job matched the excavator job it would have taken longer.
Both have there place. Sometimes one is better than another. A stump 3 or 4 foot across a grinder every day. Smaller stumps a mini excavator every time. I have to mention that the comparison you showed side by side was not really fair. An inexperienced grinder operator will be quicker than an inexperienced excavator operator as in your comparison. Get someone that is an excavator operator he would get the job far quicker and cleaner and neater. Not having a go at anyone, just trying to compare apples with apples
What about a 3d option. A ripper tooth for back hoe or exavator. I m new but have dug up a couple roots. I am making me a ripper tooth to add on to my bucket. It going to be 16inch long. I wount it easy to be installed and removed. I'm still working on it thow
Or the ones where they were back kind of out of the line of sight that maybe they thought we wouldn't see I really hate that when like you hire somebody to do a job and they basically skip the stumps I would not have minded to pay them extra just don't skip the stumps
Can't help but think this video was made to favor the stump grinder~Why did the excavator operator make a full 45 degree to his starboard side to drop the dirt? A foot or two to either side of the stump is all he had to move. He should have tested the firmness of the stump after just a couple of digs on each side, to see if he could pull it out. Made a lot of unnecessary moves. But, if you are being paid by the hour ~~~~
Don’t cut the tree down when you use an excavator or backhoe. The weight of the tree will help take it down. I am against grinders except for trees an arborist must take down in pieces.
I have a backhoe with a stump bucket. I never poke around like your guy on that mini excavator. It would only take 1 minute to tear that tiny stump out. No one digs a massive hole for a tiny stump. You must be selling stump grinders. My stump bucket has two 24 inch long ripers and I barely have to dig any dirt out. I reach over the stump break the roots with the rippers and pull the stump out complete. I could do 5 of those in 5 minutes. Let's see you do that same video with 24 inch stumps. Your stump grinder would be choking. It's hilarious you made a video comparison about backhoes and did not even use a backhoe. This gets a 5 STAR sucks award.!!! You should also tell your adoring viewers that stumps that are ground still grow. I use a bulldozer all of the time and many people tell me "I just paid to have all those stumps ground out and they grew up in a year." Sweet gums are great for that. Don't forget to tell your viewers that stump grinders charge by the stump and charge for any and all teeth that need to be replaced. Backhoe services by the hour Can do so much more. I took out a 36 inch stump in 30 minutes and had the hole filled and compacted. I would love to watch your stump grinder do that one.
Mike I respectfully disagree, if the trees are on property that is not “lawn” the landowner would be money ahead to buy a full-size backhoe with 4n1 front bucket or mini x with a thumb, simply reach up and push the tree over, no digging or just minimal digging around the stump?then push tree over, cut off brush, if the trunk is good cut log out for sawmill or firewood, pick up log and carry to pile, pick up brush and top and carry to burn pile, no remaining stump or big roots left to rot out as years go by and create sink holes or roots for new sprouts to come from, use machine to chunk burn pile and you will have nothing left but ashes, then use machine to cut roads/install culverts and generally take care of property to the point that it can be kept with a farm tractor with bushhog/ box blade, sell backhoe or mini x for probably nearly no loss of money…………..
One thing to consider, if you plan to use the site as a garden, a driveway or for a building, leaving all the roots in the ground will come back to bite you. Also, the backhoe takes out a lot more of the root system. If you leave the root system in the ground the dirt will sink in years to come as the stump rots away making uneven ground. Hope this helps. Cheers!
I was going to comment about the same thing. Thanks. As the wood from the old roots and stump break down the area above it all will slowly collapse. So, going in with a backhoe or excavator and removing it all to begin with just saves you the trouble of having to go back in and add more top soil and redoing your landscaping as a result.
I was thinking the same thing. I have experience using all the stump removal options and a lot depends of course on where the tree is. I had very large silver maples in the yard with roots that wanted to grow along the top of the ground. I used a stump grinder to avoid yard damage but years later I'm dealing with rough ground mowing because of all the roots that were left.
My thoughts exactly.
Pretty much why the grinder does me no good as I've been building up a new driveway/road.
Another cheap option is a stump bucket for the tractor. I bought one for $450 and removed several 12" stumps with it. It may take a little longer than a backhoe or a grinder, but it works.
I think it would really depend on what you would be doing with the land after removing the trees. But excellent time comparison.
For me, it depends on where I’m working. In my yard, I generally grind the stump unless it’s a tree that will come back. We have a grinder than runs on the 3-point, but it’s not as fast as the one in the video. When clearing trees out on my property, I prefer renting a mini excavator. When done that way, you can use the weight of the tree to help knock it over. You can wait until you have several to do before renting a mini to make it worthwhile. We have a small backhoe, but I wouldn’t want to dig out a stump with it unless it was pretty small.
I have used a stump grinder several times. Once for large shrub stumps I did 29 in one day. Another time 8" diameter tree stumps- 5 stumps between 3 properties. I enjoy and learn alot from your videos. Thank You.
Yes the biggest factor is what are you doing with ground afterwards. Of course what's available also. If it's going to be a garden any tillable ground needs dug out.
Hands down, you have to use a excavator or backhoe if you're going to till or plow the land. If it's just a matter of wanting to lower the stump obstruction for mowing, my vote is stump grinder. Take it below grade, sprinkle a bit of dirt over, and seed it....done!
A third option is to cut the stump off flush with the ground. It dulls the chain a bit, and not the best for a regular lawn tractor. But fine for a subcompact tractor/mower, and it is a cheaper option. thanks for the video. I would not want to clear a lot of trees this way, but for a few it might be a cheap alternative.
With a backhoe/excavator you can get the root ball and big roots that often provide the means by which some tree varieties grow back. Poplars and aspens in particular. Also if you have surface roots that you need to remove a backhoe/excavator works so much better. Also with diseased trees you don't want to grind, you don't want the diseased chips in your soil. You want to dig as much out as you can. I had one such apple tree with a 24 inch base. I used the same model Bobcat and it took me about 10 minutes.
Stumps grinders have their uses with trees that don't grow back from the roots. Pines, oaks, and such.
Any tree I cut down on my place that even thinks about growing back gets a good painting on the outer 2 inches on the stump with straight roundup/glyphosate. Kills em dead.
Great comparison and gave some excellent food for thought as I consider my upcoming homestead clearing project.
A 25 hp stump grinder mounted on tracks is around $200 a day for me to rent in my area.
It did twenty pine tree stumps that were all 12 inches plus in diameter, one oak stump that was 3 feet across and a few small stumps for two different neighbors, all in one day, with time to spare. Crawling from house to house was miserably slow but really no problem.
Crowd fund the rental with neighbors if you need to.
Whatever you do, don’t buy a $1,000 or $2k grinder that you walk around like a small rototiller, unless the trees are all less than 4” diameter. Even then they are a waste of money.
Depends the area of land is going too be used for . If it’s a lawn that is going too mowed and groomed and needs too be nice looking all the time . Getting rid of the stump and root system is better . I have seen results of stump grinders after couple years . Sunken holes later because the stump and root system rots away and you end keep fixing with more top soil and seeding . Soft spots in lawn etc . In a field does not matter . You can rent a excavator for a week end and plan the whole job at once . Taking the branches off and leaving the main stem of tree also makes the job easier for a excavator . Leverage mechanical advantage . There is also root cutting blade attachment that makes less mess cutting the roots way out then pushing the stump with stem on it away she goes . Back hoes can be used but it’s better too make a root blade that attaches quick too the bucket . Less strain on hoe and tractor . Big time saver also .planing ahead is the key on major stump removal on a property . I have been down this road many times . Better too do it right the first time .
This...... was my experience exactly. I built a log home in the woods. Removed a lot of the trees when we built the house with a big excavator. Once we built the house, there were still about 20 trees in the 4 acre yard that I removed myself, then used a stump grinder for the stumps. Over the course of about 5 years, these stumps rotted under the ground, and essentially caused large craters in the yard, that I have been filling back in with topsoil and re-planting. Stump grinders are probably still my preferred method overall, but if it is in a lawn, you will definitely have craters later from the stumps rotting and creating a void.
If you rent or own a hoe to take the stump out, you would use the hoe to take the tree down as well. The time it takes to remove the stump would be about the same time it takes to take the whole tree out (inclusive of the stump). It’s also 10 x’s safer to take a tree down with a hoe than to cut it with a saw. Good video, thanks for your perspective.
Maybe it's obvious to everyone else, but how do you take a tree down with a backhoe?
@@clafournaise
On smaller trees, I have dug the root ball on one side, then pushed the whole tree over. The root ball pops right up. This method works great on ERC scrub as long as the roots aren’t tangled in rock.
When I bought my tractor I talked to the dealer about adding a backhoe. At $9000 I figured I could rent a bigger, dedicated machine like a mini excavator whenever I thought I needed something like that for a big job. I did purchase a Baumalight 1p24 stump grinder (approximately $2500) and have been thrilled with it's capabilities and ease of use. It takes me about 5 minutes to attach it to the tractor and less time to take it off when done and fits nicely inside my shop. Now I can get rid of stumps whenever I want without having to go to the rental store, or being worried about getting everything done in the limited time I have the rental. I'm a +10 on the stump grinder, especially if you've got a lot of area to clear and while I haven't done so yet, I'm sure it'd pay for itself in a short time with a side job doing other folks stumps.
Agreed on the stump grinder vs backhoe! You also have to get rid of the stump and all the roots after you dig it out.
I prefer removing all remnants with a backhoe unless there is any utilities nearby including drain lines. Great video Mike, thanks for sharing
When you use a stump grinder one is left with the roots and ball to rot underground. Once my stumps started to rot, I spent the next 2 years filling in with dirt. Not an issue with a BH.
It all depends - years ago my Dad and I would typically cut down 1-2 walnut trees at our farm (mainly for "mad money")
Dad would harvest the logs- he originally thought I was nuts for wanting to dig up the stump. Sure changed his mind after a trip to Warsaw....
Makes the difference where it is, on your lawn or pastute grinder is fine. Field or garden where you might dig or plow , get the stump completely gone with as many roots as you can pull.
Stump grinder would definitely be much cheaper to rent or hire out for sure. Only real downside to the stump grinder is the large depression in the ground years later when the stump rots.
I have had stump grinders in my yard. Now several years later I have holes in my yard. When you step into the hole it hurts. So I know i'm going to have to fill the holes. I guess in the long run maybe the time will be spent one way or the other. So know that when you dig or grind a stump, you are not done.
The answer depends in no small part upon what your definition of "remove" (also "removal" and "removed") means.
Tractor Mike you never stopped to amaze me I was literally just booking an appointment to order a stump grinder for a rental in my area they're booked up
Which method to use depends a lot on the situation. In my case, I want a smooth area to mow without a stump to catch the brush hog. A stump cutter is the tool for this job, with minimal clean up and repair. If you want a "root free" area to turn into a tillable area, then the mini-ex might be a better choice but now you have holes to fill in.
I have to agree with you there Mike, I'd prefer to use a stump grinder on stumps left in my yard/lawn area. I've rented stump grinders & have been very pleased with the results. Thanks for taking the time to show a basic comparison of the two options of stump removal methods. Thanks to your neighbor for allowing you to use his resent tree & stump removal for the video. Take care.
I've seen where the remaining stump can be pushed up out of the ground over the years. It looks nice when you grind it but sometimes it's better to completely remove it.
I would like to see the lawns one year later. The site of the stump grinder won’t have much grass whereas the excavated stump won’t be detectable.
Great comparison. Both are great tools. Depending on the job we will use either a stump grinder or MiniEx for removal. On smaller trees (up to 6-8") we have found using a skid steer actually works best if you can use the tree as leverage to push over and dig out the roots.
I've watched other videos of people using larger excavators to remove whole swaths of trees. One good sweep of the roots on one side, then knock the whole tree over and pick it up and shake the dirt off. But that was with a LARGE dedicated excavator taking out an acre of trees in a day, stacking them into a big burn pile and moving on.
I agree that the stump grinder is the way to go. Finding a heavy duty stump grinder was the hard part but I was able to rent a Vermeer 252 stump grinder which was a little small but got the job done. I was able to grind about 20 stumps per day for a total of 120.
Ok now do that several hundred times to clear what used to be pasture back to pasture here on 15ac 🤣 One day I might have someone come in with something big, idk. I have a BH92 on my L6060 and yeah it’s a real pain to clear stumps with it. After doing a few I’ve basically said enough of that crap so I cut them off close to the ground and hear the cutter go bang bang bang every once in a while when I brush cut every year. The only ones I bother to dig out is where I would be putting a road or building. Great comparison video. I figured that excavator would be faster just because of the size.
Great job Mike. Real good side by side comparison. I'ld rather go with the stump grinder also.
It doesn't look like the guy running the excavator is the best operator you could find.
That's what I was thinking too.
I have to agree with you. I am very experienced at using an excavator to pull stumps and that stump could have been pulled out in a fraction of time with a lot less of a mess. But, someone who has little or no experience, then it could take even longer and be much more messy. Grinders do work well and are fairly quick but don't work that well on surface roots and don't take care of sucker roots especially with some types of tree species.
I actually use both machines on large stumps. The grinder helps knock down the mass. The excavator then can rip the large stumps out in pieces a little easier rather than rolling out one very large mass.
If you can only use one, it's pretty clear the mini excavator is the winner. The stump grinder only seems faster because it did not complete the job - it only removed part of the middle of the stump down to the ground level. You will still need to go in with the excavator to finish removing the stump, though I'm not sure how much easier that will be once the stump is ground down. If I hired someone to remove stumps I'd make sure they didn't do what you're suggesting.
I agree with you Mike. I had a tree service come out a grind 6 10” pines and the bill was $600. Not bad.
Great video. Love the side by side video and fair equipment comparison. I've done both methods. Grinder leaving a smaller hole is huge positive if you are not replanting a new tree in the hole. If that's the case then adding soil to the wood chips is a consideration...and still had to do that when I had large stump in the yard I wanted grass to grow back on. Agree about excavator having other uses. I rent a mini excavator each year for misc projects and just take care of my small stumps then. Would be interested in your thoughts if the stumps are on a hillside. Same equipment in the video. Hillside accessible to both but scary to run a push brush mower or compact tractor with brush hog on. We have had a min excavator like in your video with experienced operator cutting switch back trails into hillside and easily/safely removed 3-4" sucker tree stumps.
A good operator who is efficient can pop stumps pretty quick with a mini ex. I always go for the excavator unless I'm worried about utilities. With the mini the stump and all the roots are gone and if done properly will never settle. But alot depends on the operator and the application as well, sometimes the grinder is the better choice for sure.
The difference is in what your desires use of the land is. If just a yard to plant grass to look at then cut it to the ground and grind it down. If your going to build or plant or keep hooved animals you need to get the stumps out. That’s better done with a dozer and then push it back clean and burn the piles.
Yep the stump grinder is definitely the best method for me for my application problem is I've already hired four different contractors for removing or grinding down stumps and we still have stumps left but I've noticed is they're mostly the big stumps about 4 to 5 ft in width that other people have skipped
Another person brought it up. But a stump bucket can be a cheaper alternative than the other two. A really good stump bucket can get some of the roots as well. A while back on A Ritter Bit will do, he showed the comparison between his Kubota subcompact Backhoe to a stump bucket on that tractor and the stump bucket was quite a bit quicker on a similar sized stump.
Thanks Mike
I took down a 24" Golden Locust and cut it flush with the ground. And it sent up suckers all around the root area for 6 years until my repeated spraying with Roundup finally killed it. So I would prefer digging out the stump with a backhoe.
I have a woodland Mills WG24 stump grinder. It works very well. It's small easy to store in the barn. Also it's about 1/3 the price of a backhoe for my LX2610.
thats some serious skills with the backhoe
You never know; you may discover gold when you dig out the stump! Lol.
Good comparison with the two different methods. No doubt a grinder is superior as it’s made specifically for the work.
I suppose in an extremely rocky environment, a backhoe would be preferred.
You can dig them out, but then you also have a dirty stump to get rid of. They can be a pain to try and burn and are heavy and awkward if you take it to the dump. The dirt and rocks caught up in the roots aren't conducive to sawing it up either.
Much easier to mulch it and let the termites, worms and soil fungus get rid of whats left.
Mike I has 2 large stumps ground 3 years ago, still don’t have enough dirt to grow grass, so I have 2 large bald spots in my yard, it only took about 1 hour to grind them, it would have taken at least 4 hours with a big backhoe, but I would be able to grow grass, so it all depends on what u r willing to put up with.
If you need to grow grass over a stump that was ground out, you have to remove all the chips from the stump hole and replace with suitable top soil.
dig out the top 3 inches or so and replace with topsoil. typically the grindings are used as backfill in the hole creating a hotspot in your yard by throwing off the nitrites in that specific area.
I'm going to be dealing with this very issue next spring. I have an area with 14-20 inch oaks that I need to clear for a barn and garden. Under the footprint of the barn, driveway, and garden, I need the stumps removed. That will take a large excavator. However, the area around these things will utilize a stump grinder because I can let the stumps stay in the ground to rot with no worry because all I need is flat ground there.
Looks like there’s a lot more cleanup for the backhoe. In addition, there possibly a need for fill dirt. I would rather hire the work done rather than own the equipment. I had over 100 Walnut trees taken out several years ago and hired the stumps ground. Made bush hogging much easier.
The excavator is the best method for stump removal, if you plan toplant crops or plant a garden, if you don’t plan to ever need to plow the area, then stump grinders are cheaper and required less ground leveling.
When I'm taking trees out that size I push them over with the mini excavator easier and faster.
I have both rented a stump grinder, and hired a professional stump grinder, and you are correct, the job site is pretty clean. However, if you want good solid ground when you are done, skip the grinder. In my experience, they never get the vast majority of the roots, and soil with wood chips will settle as the wood decomposes. When I am done with the back hoe, I am satisfied with the root removal, and I can back fill and groom the site. I don't get the settling from decomposing chips. I agree with others, this is probably personal preference. My preference is back hoe.
good comparison
I don't picture myself using a backhoe on my tractor very much, in general. For my money, I'm better off renting a mini-ex when I need it. I know it's not as convenient, but they have a way more capable hydraulic system versus my tractor, too.
The stump Grinder pretty well took care of the waste material all at the same time. Save time, added more soil, and finish product was an almost unnoticeable stump extraction to the landscape. The Stump grinder was the obvious winner.
I have the same E42 excavator. If you also included in your video the time that is saved using the backhoe to help cut down/up and remove the downed tree VS the time needed to do it without the excavator, I think you would see that the "clear winner" would be the excavator. Also, if the operator of the excavator was using the correct attachment for removing stumps (a ripper blade) instead of a bucket, it would have gone faster and taken much less time to level up after the stump was removed. But, the most import thing to me is the elimination of the stump sprouting new growth which can happen with a bunch of species (sweet gum is the worst) and you will then have to start using chemicals to kill the root system. If the tree is in a yard VS in the woods you will evenually have to deal with sunken cavity when the root system rots.
If I didn't want to bulldoze the stuff -- to minimize disturbance, I assume -- I sure wouldn't use a backhoe/excavator. Instead of a 'finished' dozer-grubbed area, you'll have a series of holes that will all settle and be rough to mow over. It's going to take some time to clear much land with a chainsaw and stump grinder. And, it can be dangerous if you aren't used to doing it.
I just had 4 acres of stuff like your writer described cleared about 6 weeks ago with a dozer. The dozer took care of the stumps and left me with a back-dragged surface. I sowed cover wheat and rye on it with my tractor; ran a chain harrow over it with my Gator; and, expect to mow it with a bush hog this summer (It's a hillside that you wouldn't let your daughter mow.).
Tree stumps are like nuclear waste where I live. Burning them is frowned upon and burying them can be a big deal too.
I got in trouble burning so next time its a stump grinder!
Another option might be to leave the stump. It's a pain to mow around but a good reminder that there are consequences to planting trees willy-nilly. In case you couldn't tell, I just spent short of $4k to drop a tree that should've been removed 40 years ago when the house was built. LoL
My business is a pretty even split between tree service and excavation in the realm of small flat work wall waterproofing drainage etc. I really don't like grinding stumps and stump grinders are expensive to buy and maintain so I prefer to dig them out. Options for me are the New Holland E60C mini excavator or Baumalight 3P24 behind L3901 kubota. The stump grinder doesn't go deep enough unless the client just wants to raise grass where the excavator gets everything. Stump grindings often need to be dealt with where the excavator can scratch most of the soil off the stump and the hole is pretty good for whatever after that. I use both but all in all the excavator is my choice. I would think that for the average land owner the stump grinder is better as it is easier to become proficient with.
A commercial stump grinder is faster then a mini excavator. However there is times where a stump has to be totally removed because of septic systems water lines foundation work or road building. Have a great day be safe.
Very interesting comparison. I think resolving this issue to everyone's satisfaction is like answering the question of which came first, the chicken or the egg?! 😁 I would like to see/hear your opinion on the "new" stump bucket designs for the front loader as an alternative to the backhoe. I can see some disadvantages already like how much room you need for moving around the stump and you will also leave a big hole, maybe bigger than the backhoe. Thoughts? 👨🚒
I think you are about spot on with the spacing it takes to use that stump bucket, but then again an excavator isn't very small either, but you can get one that's quite compact and take up less room for sure especially if you are working in confined spaces like so many of these new home subdivisions where there isn't any room in the yard at all. Personally I'd use an excavator to do that type of work. There's a lot of forces on a front loader doing that type of work that's inevitably going to damage your loader trying to pull, pry, etc. on those stumps and roots; its best reserved for a larger machine made for that stuff. An excavator with a mechanical thumb will be much more advantageous than those digging buckets too for removing stumps and getting the roots out of the ground as well, the stump bucket can't do that stuff.
I'm not a big fan of stump buckets. I've seen folks tweak their loader arms when aggressively trying to remove a stump. Small tractor loaders are not really designed for that.
Interesting comparison. I think it would best to rent a stump grinder. But good to buy a backhoe because there are so many more jobs the backhoe can do. If you dig out the stumps, you can plow the field for farming. Stump grinding is only good for mowing lawn. Unless you are working with no-till Regenerative Agriculture techniques.
i skipped thru the video but another reason to go with a grinder is far less risk of hitting buried utilities even though you should call for a locate either way. damaged utilities will cost a fortune. i used to locate them and got a small damage early on. if i remember right it cost the company $4k. ive heard of other bad locates costing the company $250k but that was a high pressure gas line feeding a large mall. a supervisor should have double checked the locate on that one before digging began.
This video was obviously not made during a full moon. Plenty of dirt left over.
Backhoe... the whole stump is gone.
Grinder, there's still a bunch of stump left.
Are you going to plow? If yes, the grinder fails.
You may need an excavator to dig out a big tree root...
With a 5 ton machine like that you literally leave the tree fully intact then push it over with an excavator and the stump comes up with it in about 10 seconds. At the end of the day a stump grinder will only grind stumps. Meanwhile an excavator will, cut in a foundation, level and grade, fell a tree without a chainsaw, work as a crane, dig a ditch line, pull an engine from a truck, put on slipped off tracks on a compact track loader, dig a utility run and demolish old structures.
I imagine the stump grinder generates more respirable dust. You should have done air sampling! (I used to be an industrial hygienist.)
GWT Stump bucket all the way! Backhoe to much of a mess stump grinder leaves a hole years later when decomposes.
Keeping with the Theme of Distinctions
Why, from an engineering perspective, are Tractor Front end hydraulics so different from those of Backhoes?
To be fair I've seen one backhoe with an FEL set up like a utility tractor and it was Chinese.
Does that hydraulic cylinder arrangement give the Utility tractor FEL better overhead reach?
Mike, by using a stump grinder can you till field into a Hayfield or grass for cattle? Thank you
Not in my yard, but out away from the house, I drop the tree and use stump-out, come back in six months, and push the rotted stump. No grinder. No digging.
When dealing with honey locus, I poison the stump so that the roots don’t shoot.
It’s been so wet here in NW Georgia the last few years that I haven’t even needed the stump-out.
Stump grinders leave lots of roots and only go a few inches below the surface. Great for a lawn, horrible if you want to plant or plow the area. I dig them out by hand and chop up the stumps with an axe. It doesn't take as long as you would imagine once you get going.
Would you dig out 20 by hand consecutively?
@@PatrickKQ4HBD never faced that problem. Have done two 2 to three foot oaks several times. Maples are bad because roots are near the surface and if you ever want to till or plant things abandoned roots will be a big problem. Some trees like locust and mulberry will come up from roots.
Even told a guy with a stump grinder please don't skip any stumps and he said oh I can't do this one it's going to hurt my machine I thought isn't that kind of your job dude
Hey Mike, I agree with you that the stump grinder is the better option in almost every case. If you dig it out with a backhoe or an excavator now you have the problem of water am I going to do with the stump? If you did a whole bunch of them you could be creating another problem for yourself.
If you are wanting to remove organics and rootball the excavator is the only way.
The backhoe or excavator is good for so many other things. The stumpgrinder is a one trick pony.
I always use my backhoe (TLB) to avoid the hole that will show up later when the chips rot away - plus you really should not plant grass seed over chips. I backfill and compact with the TLB and add some more dirt to make up for the displacement of the stump. Stump grinders are an additional cost and expensive to replace the carbide teeth and the less costly rental ones are usually controlled by handle bars and are like wrestling an alligator all day which I can't do anymore at my age. I am a better backhoe operator than the guy in your video. I put the stumps in my burn pile or have buried them deep in an out of the way spot on the property.
"red wood " always comes back untill you pull all the roots , but any root left grows back in a few years . hard to kill
Now he has to figure out what to do with that stump! Bury it?
What I did was cut the trees off flat with the ground. Let the stump set for 2 or 3 years. Then have my tree guy hit'em with the stump grinder, and they usually came all apart. This was with big poplar and oak.
I agree, the back hoe will tear up more ground...probably have to get fill dirt. Also. My Case backhoe was heavy, so it would really tear up my yard...even if dry.
I'll take digging it out better then leaveing any roots to rot down the road
If the excavator used a frost tooth it would probably go faster also if the grinder job would have cleaned up the chips & filled the whole with dirt so mushrooms don't grow & the chips don't suck all the nitrogen so that grass can grow so the completed job matched the excavator job it would have taken longer.
You take tree down all at once with the excavator then cut stump off, much better and totally clean space.
Not interested in finding a place for the entire stump. Still fresh harder to burn.
Stump grinding is the way to go.
Both have there place. Sometimes one is better than another. A stump 3 or 4 foot across a grinder every day. Smaller stumps a mini excavator every time.
I have to mention that the comparison you showed side by side was not really fair. An inexperienced grinder operator will be quicker than an inexperienced excavator operator as in your comparison. Get someone that is an excavator operator he would get the job far quicker and cleaner and neater. Not having a go at anyone, just trying to compare apples with apples
What about a 3d option. A ripper tooth for back hoe or exavator. I m new but have dug up a couple roots. I am making me a ripper tooth to add on to my bucket. It going to be 16inch long. I wount it easy to be installed and removed. I'm still working on it thow
My cousin had a gradall business and said digging out stumps was hard on the gradall he prefered grading work instead,
Or the ones where they were back kind of out of the line of sight that maybe they thought we wouldn't see I really hate that when like you hire somebody to do a job and they basically skip the stumps I would not have minded to pay them extra just don't skip the stumps
Can't help but think this video was made to favor the stump grinder~Why did the excavator operator make a full 45 degree to his starboard side to drop the dirt? A foot or two to either side of the stump is all he had to move. He should have tested the firmness of the stump after just a couple of digs on each side, to see if he could pull it out. Made a lot of unnecessary moves. But, if you are being paid by the hour ~~~~
Don’t cut the tree down when you use an excavator or backhoe. The weight of the tree will help take it down. I am against grinders except for trees an arborist must take down in pieces.
Why dig out the stump when you can just knock down the tree with the excavator which will most of the time pull out the stump roots and all.
I have a backhoe with a stump bucket. I never poke around like your guy on that mini excavator. It would only take 1 minute to tear that tiny stump out. No one digs a massive hole for a tiny stump. You must be selling stump grinders. My stump bucket has two 24 inch long ripers and I barely have to dig any dirt out. I reach over the stump break the roots with the rippers and pull the stump out complete. I could do 5 of those in 5 minutes.
Let's see you do that same video with 24 inch stumps.
Your stump grinder would be choking.
It's hilarious you made a video comparison about backhoes and did not even use a backhoe.
This gets a 5 STAR sucks award.!!!
You should also tell your adoring viewers that stumps that are ground still grow. I use a bulldozer all of the time and many people tell me "I just paid to have all those stumps ground out and they grew up in a year." Sweet gums are great for that.
Don't forget to tell your viewers that stump grinders charge by the stump and charge for any and all teeth that need to be replaced.
Backhoe services by the hour Can do so much more.
I took out a 36 inch stump in 30 minutes and had the hole filled and compacted. I would love to watch your stump grinder do that one.
Good Vid Mike....I bought a 3 Pt stump grinder...it is faster and now I'm real popular with the neighbors ( it must be my charisma right ?) Ha ha
pc
To bad we can't do like my grandpa back in the 50's,....he used dynamite.
Mike I respectfully disagree, if the trees are on property that is not “lawn” the landowner would be money ahead to buy a full-size backhoe with 4n1 front bucket or mini x with a thumb, simply reach up and push the tree over, no digging or just minimal digging around the stump?then push tree over, cut off brush, if the trunk is good cut log out for sawmill or firewood, pick up log and carry to pile, pick up brush and top and carry to burn pile, no remaining stump or big roots left to rot out as years go by and create sink holes or roots for new sprouts to come from, use machine to chunk burn pile and you will have nothing left but ashes, then use machine to cut roads/install culverts and generally take care of property to the point that it can be kept with a farm tractor with bushhog/ box blade, sell backhoe or mini x for probably nearly no loss of money…………..
Beware... you can rip the backhoe apart pulling stumps if you aren't careful.
Im a backhoe operater and u dont dig up grass to Pull a stump out