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Yes, in most municipalities, arborists or tree surgeons need to hold an arborist’s license, which usually requires specialized education and specific experience. Certified arborists must also pass an exam from the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). In addition to a license, you should always confirm that the tree surgeon you’re hiring is fully insured, as this can help you avoid legal problems if the professional gets injured on your property. Keep in mind that some municipalities require tree removal and other services to be completed by a licensed arborist.

Unfortunately, palm tree stumps are one of the most difficult types to remove due to how their roots grow. Unlike other trees, palm tree roots grow horizontally and vertically. Palm tree roots grow as deep as three feet into the ground, although soil and growing conditions could mean they go as far as 50 inches into the earth. 

If you want to be able to repurpose the grass in the area where you removed a stump later, you’ll have to dig quite deep—and perhaps wide—to trim away all the roots.

Whether it's better to grind or remove a stump depends on your professional tree service’s advice and what you intend for the landscape to look like after removal. Grinding is faster and likely more affordable, but manual removal unearths the root system and leaves the potential for a clean slate for landscape design. 

Leaving a tree stump in the ground poses several potential issues. Firstly, stumps can become a breeding ground for pests like termites or ants, which might spread to nearby healthy trees or structures. They can also attract fungi or diseases that could affect other plants nearby. Stumps left unattended could hinder future landscaping plans, obstructing new growth or making it challenging to mow. Additionally, as the stump decays, it might sprout new shoots, leading to unwanted tree growth. Removing stumps prevents these problems, enhancing the aesthetic and safety of the landscape.