Stump grinding: what should you expect?

Once a tree is gone, the stump is left behind. This is what happens when a stump is ground out, and what the spot looks like afterward.

Grinding versus pulling

There are two ways to get a stump out:

• Pulling digs out the stump and its root ball. That leaves a big hole and a lot of torn-up yard, and it takes heavy equipment.
• Grinding uses a machine with a spinning cutting wheel to chew the stump down below the ground. The roots stay underground and break down on their own over time.

For most yards, grinding is the cleaner, simpler choice.

What the job looks like

A stump grinder is a compact machine. Ours works right next to walkways and planting beds, like the paver walk in the photo above. The grinder chews back and forth across the stump, lowering it a little at a time, until it’s below the ground.

What’s left afterward

Where the stump was, you’ll have a pile of wood chips mixed with soil. A few things to know:

• It will settle. The chips break down over time, and the spot will sink a little.
• Add soil before you plant. If you’re laying sod or planting there, top it off with some soil first.
• Roots stay down there. That’s normal. They break down slowly underground.

Getting the spot ready for something new

If you’re turning that corner of the yard into something new, our landscape division can take it from stump to finished: soil, sod, beds, or a new tree.

Want a stump gone? Call 941-504-8190 or send a photo with the estimate form. More on our stump grinding service.