Is stump grinding included in a tree removal?

Why it is a choice

People want different things once a tree is down. Some want the spot level and ready for lawn right away. Others plan a patio, a raised bed or a retaining wall and want to decide later. A few are happy to leave a low stump as a seat. Writing grinding into every estimate would charge some people for work they did not ask for.

How to get it on the estimate

Say so at the visit. If you want the stump ground, the arborist writes it in. If you want to wait, the stump can be ground later, because stump grinding is also a stand-alone service and a stump does not have to come from one of our removals.

Be clear about what you plan for the spot. Grinding for a lawn needs less than grinding where something will be built or planted. If you want an answer about depth, see how deep we grind a stump.

Grinding versus full stump removal

Grinding shreds the stump below the surface and leaves the roots to decay underground. Full removal takes out the stump and main roots and leaves a larger hole. Both are on our service list, and the arborist can explain which fits. Read stump grinding versus full stump removal for the comparison.

Always ask for the estimate to name the stump, in writing. A good estimate says what is done with the stump, the wood and the brush.

A practical tip for comparing estimates: look for the stump line on each one. If one estimate names the stump and another says nothing, they are not the same job, and the quiet one may leave you with a surprise afterward. Ask each company whether the wood is hauled, whether the chips stay and whether the hole is filled. Our estimates are written to answer those questions in plain words, and the office will walk you through them by phone if you prefer.