Grinding a stump may take a while, but it’s still a faster and more effective removal method than digging, chopping, burning or using chemicals.

Tired of tripping on that old stump in the yard or dreading taking out a dying tree because of the unsightly base it will leave behind? Removal might be easier than you think: Use a stump grinder.

Whether you hire a professional or do it yourself, grinding is far faster and more effective than digging, chopping or burning a stump or attempting to rot a stump out with chemicals. Even the biggest and burliest stumps can be ground in a few short hours.

If you decide to hire someone to do the job, look for an arborist or landscape maintenance company that offers stump grinding services. Knowing the approximate size of the stump and whether there are any accessibility limitations will help you get an accurate quote.

Prices may also vary depending on the size and type of machine they use, so shop around. Ask about depth of grinding and cleanup services to make sure you are comparing apples to apples.

For the do-it-yourselfers, check with local equipment rental companies for rates and machine specifications. Renting a machine may honestly be about the same price as paying someone to do grind the stump for you, but again, shop around.

The size of the stump might dictate the decision here too, as rental companies may only have smaller grinders. A small grinder can certainly be effective on a large stump, but might take a little finagling.

When you get the stump grinder home, the most important thing to remember is patience. You are speeding the process from many years to a few hours, but trying to cut that down to a few minutes can be disastrous.

Most stump grinders have a vertical blade attached to an arm that swings side-to-side and also moves up and down. The operator controls the movement of the arm, moving the blade back and forth across the stump, then lowering it to grind it away a little bit at a time.

The best operators are patient, starting on one side and taking little “bites” from the stump as they work back and forth across it. Setting the blade too deep or trying to take off too much of the stump at one time will bog down the machine and can send large chunks of wood flying (especially if the stump is partially rotten).

Setting up a couple of pieces of plywood or another sort of barrier around where you are working is a good idea as stump grinders often turn up rocks and other debris from the soil surrounding the stump.

Be prepared for a pile of wood chips and soil once the stump is ground. The pile will settle over time as the wood breaks down, but typically you will want to remove some of it. Mix it into landscape or garden beds or add it to the compost pile.

Most stumps can be ground far faster than any other method could remove them. Chopping and digging is long, hard work. Chemical methods require drilling into the stump and waiting months or years before you remember you still have to chop out what is left with an ax or shovel.

Burning also involves drilling or chopping (to get the fire down into the stump) and usually takes repeated attempts before you still have to chop out what is left. Hooking a chain around the stump and attempting to pull it out is often unsuccessful, could damage the vehicle, and leaves you with a big hole in the ground if it does work.

— Jennifer Smith is a former horticulture extension agent for K-State Research and Extension and horticulturist for Lawrence Parks and Recreation. She is the host of “The Garden Show.” Send your gardening questions and feedback to features@ljworld.com.