A common hurdle often presents itself in the form of an old, sickly tree. Trees can tolerate a fair amount of abuse and with regular watering and annual pruning most will chug along just fine. However, trees can eventually fall ill from diseases specific to their species or from damage to their roots or trunk. When a homeowner contacts an arborist to have such a tree removed, they are given a few options. They can cut down just the tree, leaving behind the stump and roots, or some combination of these options.
Stump removal is priced according to the size of the tree and other case specific variables such as its orientation as well as any foreseeable hazards that are nearby. The cost of tree stump removal tends to start about $100 regardless of the size of the stump. This is because the use of a stump grinder needs to be employed. This is a powerful piece of machinery that is designed to shred through the stump eventually bringing it to ground level. Although you can rent these at a home improvement store, they will have lower powered motors that might prove insufficient when going up against a big stump. Tree removal contractors will have various pricing schemes in place to determine the overall tree removal cost. They may adjust the price according to the diameter of the stump or may charge you an hourly rate atop the base rate.
Some homeowners are ambitious and have a go at the project to save on the cost of tree stump removal. Without first being treated with tree stump removal chemicals, a tree stump can be difficult to dislodge. Extensive hack work must first be conducted on the root system. This may require several people to complete in a short time frame, but you can reward them with snacks and beverages with the money you saved. If you opt to treat the stump before having a go at it, you will first need to drill some holes on its upper surface.
These are then to be filled with something like potassium nitrate or nitrogen fertilizer to help ignite the decomposition cycle. You should check up on the stump regularly to see how much it has softened. Most of these chemical agents cause enough rotting after several weeks that the stump can be removed with little effort. Don't delay the stump removal process too long after treating it with chemicals because rotting wood can attract termites and fungus.