Stump grinding: your questions answered

What is the difference between stump grinding and stump removal?

Grinding uses a machine to shred the stump below the surface, leaving wood chips and the roots underground to decay. Stump removal takes the stump and the main roots out, which leaves a bigger hole and more soil to deal with. Both are on our service list. Which one fits depends on what you plan for the spot. Tell the arborist at the visit. Our guide on grinding versus removal compares the two.

Is stump grinding included in a tree removal?

Not automatically. All of our estimates are tailored to each client and their needs, so the estimate lists what is included. If you want the stump ground, say so at the visit and it is written in. If you would rather have the stump left for now or ground later, that works as well, since stump grinding is also a stand-alone service. See stump grinding for the service details.

Do I need to call 811 before grinding?

Call 811, the USA North 811 line, before any digging or grinding below grade. It is standard practice, and 811 gets public utility lines marked. Private lines such as sprinkler lines, low-voltage lighting and a septic system are different, so point out anything buried at the estimate visit. A few minutes of preparation protects the lines under your yard. Our guide call 811 before stump grinding has the steps.

How deep do you grind?

The depth is set by what you plan for the spot, and we have not published a standard depth, so ask when you call. A lawn needs less than a place where something will be built or planted. Tell the arborist your plans at the visit, and the estimate is written for that result. Reviewers describe stumps ground below grade, but treat the estimate as the agreement. The estimate form lets you add a note about your plans.

Full answer: How deep do you grind a stump?

What happens to the chips?

Grinding leaves a mound of wood chips in the hole. Ask at the estimate whether you want them left to fill the spot, spread or hauled off. Battle Born Tree Service also sells wood chips, so call the office about availability and pricing. We have not published delivery terms, so ask when you call. Our guide on what happens to the wood and chips covers common choices.

Full answer: What do I do with the hole and the grindings after stump grinding?

Can I plant where a stump was ground?

Often you can, but ask the arborist first. Ground chips and remaining roots affect the soil, and a new tree is best placed with that in mind. Tree planting is not a service we offer, so the planting is up to you or a nursery. Tell the arborist what you intend, and they can say what is left in the ground. Our guide can you plant after stump grinding goes into more detail.

Can you grind a stump from a tree someone else cut?

Yes, stump grinding is a separate service, and a stump does not have to come from one of our removals. Call 775.232.8243 or send the estimate form with a photo. The arborist will want to see the stump and how a machine can reach it. Gate width, slope and landscaping all matter, so mention anything unusual about the spot. Tell the office how many stumps there are, since several can be written into one estimate. The estimate is free.

Full answer: Can you grind a stump from a tree someone else cut down?

Can the machine reach a stump in a tight backyard?

Sometimes, and sometimes the answer is a smaller approach. Access is the first thing the arborist checks: gate width, fences, slopes and what is planted around the stump. Tell the office about narrow gates and steps when you call. We cannot promise a method before seeing the site. Our guide on removing a tree in a tight backyard covers the same access questions for whole trees.

How much does stump grinding cost?

We do not quote prices over the phone or on the site, because stump size, number of stumps and access change the work. The estimate is free and written after the arborist sees the site. For general context, our guide on stump grinding cost cites national public figures, clearly labeled as national, and explains why local jobs vary. Ask for grinding of several stumps to be written as a single estimate.

Will grinding harm my sprinklers or nearby plants?

It can if the lines and plants are not planned for. Point out sprinkler heads and lines, drip tubing, low-voltage lights and any buried pipe at the visit. Mark them if you can. The grinder works close to the stump, and the arborist will talk through what is nearby before work starts. Shrubs and walls close to the stump are part of the access check. Call 811 for public utilities, as described above.

Full answer: Will stump grinding harm my sprinklers or nearby plants?