Canada is a massive country, but vast majorities of its people live in the cities along the southern American border. The rest of the country is made up of a brilliant wilderness, and in that wilderness, trees absolutely outnumber people. It can feel intimidating when nature takes over, but it can produce beautiful results. Sometimes, however, the results of nature can be self-destructive. Larger trees can obscure the growth of smaller vegetation, and sometimes large roots will overturn other trees and make it difficult to plant other things in surrounding areas; sometimes human interference can actually be beneficial to forest conservation. The trouble lies in knowing when you need to cut down that tree and use a stump grinder on the remaining stump, or let the tree alone and let nature do its job.
Your first responsibility as an environmentally-conscious consumer is to ensure that the tree in your backyard is not endangered. Chopping down and using a stump grinder on an endangered tree species is tantamount to destroying an ecosystem. Many trees have become endangered and extinct due to irresponsible forestry practices. Some species of trees that are endangered or threatened in Canada include the butternut tree, Tyrrell’s willow, Blue ash, American chestnut, and the Kentucky coffee tree.
Once you have decided that this tree is not an endangered species, the next step is to consider how old the tree is and if it acts as a habitat for any animals in your area. Sometimes endangered birds will nest in old growth trees, in this case you may want to rethink the plan to cut down and take a stump grinder to this tree. However, sometimes certain trees will be disadvantageous to the surrounding area, blocking the sunlight that younger trees require to thrive and growing extensive roots that may make it difficult to cultivate your land. In this case, it may still be worthwhile to cut down and use a stump grinder on the offending tree.
In some cases, cutting down a tree and using a stump grinder on the remains is the only option, such as when a tree is infected with a rotting or fungal disease. Using a stump grinder ensures that you will not be left with a diseased stump which could still spread spores of the disease via birds and insects, or even through gusts of wind. The responsible action in these cases is to quickly get rid of the tree and use a stump grinder on its remains.
Using a stump grinder on your remaining tree stump guarantees that after chopping down your tree you are not left with an unsightly, dead stump. The stump grinder will quickly chip away at the stump and eliminate the stump and all of its roots, leaving nothing but mulch in its wake. What you will be left with is an open space and younger plants and trees that are exposed to the sunlight and begin to thrive. Your backyard can finally become the oasis you dreamed of.
To learn more about Canadian forestry and Torret Technical Inc.’s forestry products, please contact us.
