Stump grinding
An old stump trips people, dulls mower blades and sends up sprouts. Here's how grinding works and what to ask before the grinder arrives.
A stump grinder uses a spinning wheel lined with carbide teeth to chew the stump into chips, down below the soil surface. When it's done you can fill the hole with topsoil and lay sod or seed, plant something new nearby, or put in a walkway or patio. It's much faster and less messy than digging out the whole root ball.
What should I ask before grinding?
- How deep? Grass needs less depth than a new planting bed or a footing, so say what you plan to do with the spot.
- What about the chips? Some companies leave them as mulch or backfill, some haul them away, and some charge for it separately.
- Surface roots? Roots running across the lawn may be ground as a separate item.
- Utility locates? Ask whether the company will file a Georgia 811 request before it starts.
Why does Georgia 811 matter for a stump?
Georgia 811 asks for notice at least three business days before digging, and its homeowner material says even small jobs that break ground need a call. Removing tree roots is on its list of projects to call about. A locate ticket expires after 30 calendar days. Inside the tolerance zone, 18 inches on each side of a marked line, digging has to be done with careful methods like hand digging. Gas, water and cable lines often run right past old trees.
Clay, sand and access
Grinders range from compact machines that fit through a backyard gate to large units for big stumps. In north Macon's clay, a heavy machine can sink or rut a lawn after rain. On the sandier south side, ground dries faster. The company will want to know about gates, steps and slopes.
Is the stump part of tree removal?
Not always. When you get a tree removal quote, ask whether grinding is included or a separate line item.
Price is set by the tree company after it sees the tree, what's underneath it and how a truck, lift or grinder can reach it. We don't quote prices, and any figure given over the phone without a site visit is only a rough starting point.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Will a ground stump sprout again?
Some species can sprout from roots left behind. Grinding deeper and cutting new sprouts as they appear usually handles it.
Can I plant a new tree in the same spot?
It's usually better to plant a few feet away from the chip-filled hole. If you plan to replant, ask how deep the company will grind.
Related services
More background: Macon tree removal guide.
Water oak over the bedroom, a pine snapped in the last storm, or a stump in the middle of the yard?
Call and get connected with a Middle Georgia tree service that can come look at it.