Gardeners pack away their gardening tools in the winter and landscape companies often turn to snow clearing at this time of year, but stump and tree removal services don’t shut up shop during the cold months. Trees and shrubs may be dormant in the cold weather, but tree service businesses are not. Winter is the perfect time for pruning and shaping trees and tree service companies are often called in to remove dead trees and old stumps.Dead, Dying and Diseased Trees Pose a RiskIt is not always easy for gardeners to spot dead branches or dying trees in the spring and summer but once all the leaves have fallen off a professional arborist can quickly assess and evaluate the structure and health of the trees on your property, making tree trimming, pruning and removal simpler. In winter dead branches can quickly be identified and cut out without damaging young shoots and leaf buds. An arborist can also quickly spot diseased and dying trees that can topple over in a snowstorm or strong wind. It is essential to remove any dead branches or entire trees that are beyond saving because they pose a risk to you, your family and your property. Once any dead trees have been removed from your garden you still need to deal with the unsightly stumps, but you don’t have to wait for spring to get a tree service company to do the stump removal.Why Remove Tree Stumps in the WinterNobody wants old tree stumps scattered around their property. They look untidy, they pose a risk to children playing or sledding in the snow, they can spread diseases and they can damage landscaping equipment like mowers. There is no good reason to leave a stump on your property. Stumps that are left in the ground to rot and decay are a haven for insects and become a breeding ground for termites, beetles, ants, and other pests. If you do not remove a diseased tree stump, the disease that killed the tree can spread through the soil to other trees on your property. Tree stumps can also re-sprout and new trees can grow from an old root system and if you have paid good money to have a tree removed, you don’t want it to grow again. The best thing to do with old tree stumps is to remove them as soon as possible, regardless of the time of year.Stump Removal Options in WinterStump removal is a job best left to the professionals and there are several options. Stumps can be treated with chemicals and gradually left to decay, this is a slow process and the chemicals are not always environmentally friendly. Stump removal can also be carried out by digging up the entire stump and root ball. This is a challenging and time-consuming process, especially if the ground is frozen but it can be safely and successfully achieved by a professional tree removal company with the right experience, expertise, and equipment. The advantage of stump removal is that the entire stump and root ball is destroyed, making replanting easier and more successful.Stump grinding is another option. This basically removes the top portion of the stump by working a rotating cutting wheel across the stump surface and grinding it into mulch. Stump grinding is an efficient and environmentally friendly way to get rid of stumps but because the stump is not entirely removed trees can re-sprout and root decay can affect the soil. Stump grinding should be done before the first snowfall because as soon as the ground freezes, while not impossible to grind the stumps, the process becomes far more difficult, labor-intensive and taxing on the grinding equipment.Tree stumps should be removed as soon as possible and regardless of the season, Martin’s Tree Service can help you get rid of any dangerous trees and unsightly stumps on your property. Steve Martin I have a profound interest in trees and their natural beauty. I grew up on a hobby farm ten minutes north of Waterloo and spent many winters in the bush collecting firewood to heat our family home. It was definitely work, so I wasn’t always eager as a young boy to help my father and big brother, but I learned to love the process... READ MORE