Stump grinding: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What stump grinding is

Stump grinding uses a grinder to chew a stump and the surface roots into wood chips below ground level, then the hole is backfilled with chips or soil so the area can be planted or mowed. People book it after a tree has been removed, when an old stump is in the way, or when a stump is a trip hazard or an eyesore.

Signs you need it

  • An old stump sits in the lawn, a bed or a walkway and is in the way of mowing or planting
  • Sprouts keep coming up from a stump that was cut but not removed
  • A stump is a trip hazard or is rotting into the soil and attracting insects
  • You want to plant a new tree or shrub in the same spot as an old stump
  • A recent removal left a stump that you want gone so the area can be used

What the pro does

  • The crew locates buried lines and marks the stump and any roots that run toward structures
  • The grinder is set up on a firm, level spot, with the stump and the surface roots in reach
  • The stump is ground in passes, with the cutter wheel moving side to side and down until the grind reaches the depth agreed
  • The chips are raked out of the hole, and the hole is filled with chips or soil and tamped down
  • The area is raked and cleaned, and any leftover chips are hauled or spread where the customer asks

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Stump diameter and how many stumps need grinding
  • Depth of the grind, which depends on whether you plan to plant or mow over it
  • Roots near the surface and how much of the root system must be ground
  • Access for the grinder, such as a side yard without a path or a stump on a slope
  • Obstacles, such as fences, walls, sprinkler heads or rock near the stump
  • Whether the chips are hauled away, left in place or spread on the lawn
  • Whether the hole is backfilled with soil or left with chips

What a written quote should spell out

  • The number of stumps covered and the diameter of each one
  • The depth of the grind, measured below grade
  • What happens to the chips, whether they are hauled, left or spread
  • Whether the hole is backfilled and with what material
  • Cleanup and restoration of the surface, including any turf damage
  • Locate and damage responsibility for buried lines or sprinkler heads

Questions to ask before you hire

  • How deep will you grind the stump, and is that deep enough for planting?
  • What do you do with the chips, and will you leave some for mulch?
  • Will you grind the surface roots, and how far out do they go?
  • Do you backfill the hole, and with what material?
  • How will you protect sprinkler heads, lines and the lawn while you work?
  • Can you grind more than one stump on the same visit?
  • What do you do if the grinder hits a buried object or a rock?

Red flags

  • They grind only the top of the stump and say the rest will rot out
  • They do not locate buried lines or sprinkler heads before the grinder starts
  • They leave a deep hole full of loose chips with no backfill or cleanup
  • They cannot say how deep the grind will go
  • They drive the grinder across the lawn without protecting the turf

What you can do yourself

A homeowner should not operate a stump grinder, since the cutter wheel throws chips and can kick back, and it can strike buried objects. A homeowner can cut a small stump down near ground level with a hand saw and dig out the root ball by hand, if the stump is small and no lines are nearby. Call a pro for any stump that is large, has roots under a structure, or that you cannot dig out safely.

Licenses and permits

Stump grinding may fall under tree service or contractor rules in some areas, and crews working near structures or buried lines often need insurance. Check with your state or local licensing agency about any rules for tree and stump work, and locate buried utilities before the crew starts.

Stump grinding questions

How deep should a stump be ground?

Ask the crew to grind below the surface by the depth you need. If you plan to plant or mow over the spot, the stump must be ground low enough that the roots and chips do not rise into the new bed. Confirm the depth in the quote.

Can I plant right after grinding?

Not right away. Ground chips break down in the soil over time and can tie up nutrients, so give the hole time to settle and backfill it well. Ask the crew what they recommend for your planting plan.

Will the stump come back?

Grinding removes the stump and the surface roots, which stops sprouting from the stump itself. Some species resprout from roots that were left behind, so ask the crew whether they will grind the roots that run toward the surface.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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