Unpopular opinion: I think leaving stumps high is safer than grinding them flush

Tbh I was on a job last spring in Austin where I ground an old live oak stump down to grade in a tight backyard. Two weeks later the homeowner called saying their kid tripped on a root flare I missed and scraped their knee bad. Now I leave stumps about 12 inches tall so people can see them and avoid them. Has anyone else switched up their stump approach after an accident?

3 comments

3 Comments

lunaf6728d ago

Actually 12 inches might be a bit much. If someone clips a low branch or hits that stump with a mower, it's its own hazard. I've seen guys leave them at 4-6 inches and paint the top bright orange or reflective white. That way you can see them but they're not tall enough to catch a shin or mess with equipment. Had a neighbor take out a trimmer blade on a 10 inch hackberry stump last summer and it was not pretty. Ever tried the paint trick or do you just rely on the height?

annaw7328d ago

Holy crap, she hit it twice?!

king.robin28d ago

My buddy Mike left a 6 inch maple stump painted blaze orange last fall and his wife still hit it with the riding mower twice before he finally ground it out. He said the paint didn't help much when you're looking down at your phone.