ServicesStump Grinding
Stump Grinding in Lake Mary
An old stump trips people, trips up the mower and draws termites. We grind it below the soil line, chase the big surface roots, clean up the chips and leave you level ground you can plant, sod or build on next season.
Get the Stump Out of the Way
Cutting a tree down leaves the hardest part behind. A stump can sit for years. It rots slowly, sends up suckers and gives termites and fungus a home right next to your house. Grinding is the fastest way to deal with it without tearing up the yard.
Our grinder chews the stump into chips, a few inches at a time, until we are well below grade. We do not pull the whole root ball. That would leave a crater and wreck the lawn around it. The roots left underground break down on their own over time.
Timing matters here. If you want new sod down before the summer rains, or a bed planted in fall, the stump has to come out first. We like to grind a few weeks ahead so the soil can settle before anything new goes in.
What Our Stump Grinding Includes
Grinding below the soil line
We usually grind 6 to 12 inches below grade, deeper where you plan to plant a tree or pour a slab. Tell us what goes there next and we set the depth to match.
Surface roots
Big roots that snake across the lawn get ground out along their run. This is what stops the mower from hitting them again.
Chip cleanup
Grinding leaves a pile of chips bigger than the stump. We rake them out of the hole and off the lawn. You can keep some for a path or a bed, or we haul them off.
Backfill and level
We fill the hole with soil and tamp it so it sits flush. Fresh fill settles a bit, so we leave it slightly crowned.
Utility locate
Before we grind, we make sure underground lines are marked through Sunshine 811 and we flag your sprinkler heads and lines.
Protecting what's around it
We set up shields to catch flying chips near windows, cars and pool screens, and we pick an access path that keeps the grinder off soft turf.
Signs It's Time to Grind That Stump
- Shoots coming back
- Laurel oaks, camphor and some other trees keep sprouting from the stump. Cutting the suckers just makes more. Grinding stops it.
- Termites or ants
- A rotting stump is soft food for termites and a nest for ants. If it is close to the house, get it out.
- Mushrooms and soft wood
- Fungus on the stump means it is decaying. That decay can spread to nearby roots and plants.
- Mowing around it
- If you trim around a stump every week or keep hitting roots with the blade, you are losing time and blades.
- A project is coming
- New sod, a patio, a bed or a fence line all need clear ground. Grinding is step one.
How a Stump Grinding Job Goes
- 1
Walk the yard with you
We come out, look at each stump, measure it and check access. We ask what you want in that spot next, then give you a written price by stump.
- 2
Locate and prep
Utilities get marked. We flag sprinkler heads, clear rocks and debris from around the stump and set up chip shields.
- 3
Grind
A narrow grinder fits through most backyard gates. We work the stump down in passes, then follow the larger surface roots.
- 4
Clean up and fill
Chips get raked up. The hole gets backfilled and leveled. We blow off the driveway and walks before we leave.
What Moves the Price
Stump grinding is priced by the stump, not by the hour. You get your quote by phone after we walk the yard and see each one. If you are pairing it with sod or a new bed, we can price it all together, and financing up to $100,000 on 2–12-year terms, no prepayment penalties, is available on larger projects.
- Stump size
- Diameter at ground level is the main driver. A wide oak stump takes far longer than a small ornamental.
- Wood and roots
- Hardwoods grind slower than softer wood. Palm stumps are fibrous and grind differently. Long surface roots add time.
- Access
- A stump behind a narrow gate, on a slope or tight against a fence or foundation takes more care and setup.
- Depth and cleanup
- Grinding extra deep for a new tree, hauling all the chips away and adding topsoil each add to the job.
- How many stumps
- Several stumps in one visit cost less per stump than one at a time, since setup happens once.
Stump Grinding Questions
- Will the roots grow back after grinding?
- Most trees will not regrow once the stump is ground below grade. A few sprouting species may push up a shoot or two from leftover roots. If that happens, cut it off at the ground and it will give up.
- Can I plant grass right over the spot?
- Yes, once the chips are out and fresh soil is in. Leftover chips rob nitrogen from new grass, so we clear them well. Give the fill a couple of weeks to settle, or plan on a little top-up soil, and you can lay sod. Our sod installation crew can handle that part too.
- Do you remove the whole root system?
- No. Digging out the full root ball tears up a big area of yard. We grind the stump and the main surface roots. The rest stays underground and breaks down over a few years.
- Will the grinder damage my lawn or sprinklers?
- We flag sprinkler heads and lines before we start and choose the route in that keeps the machine off soft ground. In the rainy months we may lay down boards. The area right around the stump will be disturbed, and we level it when we're done.
- Can you grind a stump left by another company?
- Yes. Plenty of stumps we grind were left by someone else. If you still have a standing tree to deal with, our tree trimming and removal or palm tree pruning and removal service can take it down, and we can grind the stump as part of the same job.
Let's Clear That Spot for Next Season
Tell us how many stumps you have and what you want in their place. We will come walk the yard, look at access and give you a clear price at no cost.