What is the Best PTO Stump Grinder for Large Property Owners?

Want the best tool for grinding stumps? Let's check out your options for a 3-point PTO stump grinder

As the owner of a farm, woodlot or a similarly large acreage, you need the best machine to tackle stump removal tasks. 

That's because you can't afford to have stumps sticking around, acting as tripping hazards or getting in the way of your equipment.

And having something that attaches to your tractor's PTO shaft is best because it lets you use your existing tractor's horsepower, which is great for owners of large tractors.

So what's the best stump grinder for you as a large property owner? Let's find out.

How to Deal with Large Stumps

Stump grinding is a task many property owners opt to do themselves, since paying tree service companies to come in or renting equipment can quickly get expensive.

While large stumps may seem intimidating, with a reliable and heavy duty stump grinder, you can quickly make work of them. Even smaller stump grinders may require more time, but they can still get through large stumps just the same as larger machines.

Just set up your stump grinder on your tractor's 3-point hitch and connect it with the PTO shaft and then you can start grinding.

What Stump Grinders are Compatible with My Tractor?

PTO stump grinders require your tractor to have a PTO and 3-point hitch at the rear, as well as a live or independent transmission.

Check to see what your tractor's horsepower output is at the PTO, which can differ from your tractor's regular horsepower output. You can either check your tractor's owners manual, the manufacturer's website or the Woodland Mills Tractor Compatibility Tool to see what horsepower you have at the PTO.

Once you know what your PTO output is, look for models which have a compatible range. For example, if you have a PTO output of 60 HP, then you would be looking at the WG28 or WG28 PRO Stump Grinders, which have a compatibility range of 35 to 80 HP.

Are There Alternatives to Stump Grinding?

There are, but if you own a PTO compatible tractor then owning a stump grinder is likely your best option.

Some smaller property owners who don't have a tractor and have more limited options sometimes opt for chemical agents which help break down the stump's material to make it easier to chip away. This can be a cumbersome and time intensive process that requires much more manual labour to physically remove the stump.

Another option is burning the stump, such as by drilling holes in it then pouring a chemical accelerant inside and lighting a fire. While some people say they've had success with this, it can potentially become a fire hazard, as you have little control of the burn inside the stump. Fires can also spread underground through root systems, and because you can't see or access the fire, it can be extremely difficult to put out.

If you own a tractor then your best bet is a PTO stump grinder to remove pesky stumps.

So what is the best stump grinder for large acreage owners?

When it comes to large property owners looking to do property maintenance by removing stumps, there's one machine that stands above the rest.

The Woodland Mills WG28 PRO

The WG28 PRO was the first Woodland Mills PRO Series stump grinder, launched in 2024. It introduced features that everyday stump grinder owners will appreciate like patent-pending shock absorption and dampening technology to our PTO-powered lineup, delivering smoother, more controlled stump grinding. Designed for tractors with 35 to 80 HP at the PTO, it applies even pressure, prevents kickback, and features a built-in draw speed indicator to help set the optimal working range for tractor speed.

Heavy duty and made for professional-grade performance, the WG28 PRO comes with a solid-steel grinding flywheel and 44 tungsten carbide cutting teeth, delivering powerful, efficient cutting. It connects seamlessly to your tractor’s 3-point hitch system and includes a chain-equipped chip deflector to keep debris contained to your work area.

Specifications:

• • 8.5" Maximum Grinding Depth

  • 28" Diameter Flywheel

  • 44 Tungsten Carbide Teeth

  • Cat 1 and Cat 2 3-point Hitch Compatible

  • Patent-Pending Shock Absorption System

So when it comes down to which is the best Woodland Mills unit for your setup, the WG28 PRO is the machine equipped best for the job.

If you're looking for a stump grinder that isn't as feature rich, but still had a 28" diameter flywheel and 8" maximum grinding depth, you can also look at the base model WG28, proven by thousands of landowners grinding hundreds of stumps. The only differences are the absence of shock absorption and dampening technology as well as chain chip deflectors. Either model will help greatly when clearing land.

How Many Stumps Can I Grind in an Afternoon?

Stumps are ground in minutes, not hours. On average it only takes about 15 minutes or so, depending on the size of the stump and the depth of the roots. The difficulty of the terrain may also had a few extra minutes to your grinding time too.

Because of that you can easily grind out dozens of stums in an afternoon, if they're relatively easy stumps on level terrain. Since professional stump grinding companies can sometimes charge hundreds of dollars for stump removal, some landowners are able to justify the cost of a stump grinder in just a single day.