Stump Grinding & Removal
The last step of a tree removal, and the one people skip until they hit it with a mower.
After a tree comes down, the stump left behind is both an eyesore and an obstacle. It is something to mow around, a genuine hazard where children play, and over time it attracts insects and decay organisms into that part of the yard.
We handle stumps for residential and commercial clients across Chesterfield, Macomb, Macomb Township, Shelby Township, Rochester, and surrounding areas of Southeast Michigan.
What we offer
Grinding versus complete removal
Grinding is the usual choice. A machine grinds the stump down into fine sawdust — typically well below grade — while leaving the root system in the ground to decay naturally. It is faster, far less disruptive to the surrounding lawn, and less expensive.
Full removal excavates the stump along with its root mass. It leaves a much larger hole and disturbs more of the surrounding area, but it is the right call where something is going to be built on the spot or where the roots themselves are the problem.
What happens after grinding
You are left with a pile of wood chips and a depression. The chips can be hauled off or spread as mulch. The hole gets backfilled and graded so it is level with the surrounding grade rather than settling into a low spot that collects water.
One thing to know if you plan to replant: ground-up wood in the soil ties up nitrogen as it decomposes, so the spot is not ideal for a new tree right away. Where a replacement tree is going in, it is usually better to plant nearby or to excavate the material out.
Common questions
- How deep do you grind a stump?
- Standard is several inches below grade — enough that it disappears under backfill and you can grow grass over it. Deeper grinding is possible where something is being planted or built on the spot.
- Will the roots grow back?
- No. Once the stump is ground out below grade the tree cannot regenerate. The remaining roots simply decay in place over the following years.
- Can I plant grass or a new tree over it?
- Grass, yes — backfill with soil and seed or sod it. A new tree in the exact same spot is trickier, because decomposing wood chips tie up nitrogen. Better to shift the planting a few feet or have the material excavated.
- Do you grind stumps you did not remove?
- Yes. Old stumps left by another contractor or a previous owner are common calls, including ones that have been sitting for years.
Get a free quote
Tell us about your property and what you need. We'll walk the site and put a written estimate in front of you — serving Macomb, Oakland, and St. Clair counties since 1993.