The Most Powerful Stump Grinder for Your Tractor's PTO

Tree care is even easier with the best stump grinding machine for your landscaping needs

When it comes to stump removal, most landowners with a tractor consider getting a PTO stump grinder.

A PTO stump grinder is a commanding machine that stands out for its impressive power and reliability, making it a top choice for demanding stump removal tasks. 

That means having access to a large machine capable of handling heavy-duty stump removal, efficiently tackling not only large stumps but also mid-sized stumps, multiple small, and smaller stumps.

So let’s get into the strengths of PTO stump grinders and which model is the best for you.

What is a PTO stump grinder?

PTO stump grinders attach to your tractor's 3-point hitch, and are powered by the tractor's PTO, which is connected to your stump grinder by a PTO shaft. This powers the stump grinder, which spins the flywheel. With impressive cutting power, the tungsten carbide teeth on the flywheel quickly grind down a few inches of stump with each pass, until eventually you have removed the stump and roots underground.

In regards to time grinding stumps, a typical PTO stump grinder only takes a few minutes, but larger or more complicated stumps may take several more.

What should I look out for when purchasing a powerful stump grinder?

There are a few considerations you should make when making a purchasing decision:

• • Grinding Wheel Size: A larger flywheel will take off more material from the stump on each pass, removing the stump more quickly. A smaller grinding wheel can consistently remove bigger stumps, but it will take longer than using a larger stump grinder.

  • Maximum Grinding Depth: The deeper a stump grinder can go underground, the more it can remove stubborn roots.

  • Tractor Compatibility: Since each model of stump grinder has a range of horsepower compatibility, you will want to pick a machine that's compatible with your tractor. Typically, you would want to get the largest model that is compatible with your tractor.

Overall cutting performance will be dependent on your tractor's horsepower output at the PTO as well as the size of your stump grinder's flywheel, but even small stump grinders powered by lighter tractors can still get through tough stumps.

However larger stump grinders powered by larger, more powerful tractors will be able to get through challenging stumps even faster.

What is the most powerful stump removal machine?

When it comes to a great PTO stump grinder for your tractor, here's our recommendation:

The Woodland Mills WG28 PRO

Launched in 2024, the WG28 PRO is a robust and heavy-duty stump grinder engineered for efficiently tackling challenging stumps quickly and easily. With a number of features that make stump grinding even easier, like a patent-pending shock absorption system for smooth and consistent grinding, and a chain-equipped chip deflector for easier cleanup, this stump grinder isn't just powerful but also quick to use and easy to maintain.

The WG28 PRO features:

• • 28" diameter grinding flywheel

  • 44 tungsten carbide teeth

  • 8.5" maximum grinding depth

  • PTO compatibility between 35-80 HP

Even when you're dealing with challenging jobsite terrain, you can rely on the WG28 PRO'S cutting capabilities. Each pass utilizes the maximum shearing force to turn even tough stumps into wood chips, meaning you can easily clear a whole field of stumps with ease.