After a tree comes down, the stump is the last decision. Some people leave it, some pull it out, and most grind it. Here is how to decide.

What grinding does

A stump grinder chews the stump down to about 6 to 12 inches below the soil, leaving a pile of wood chips. The roots stay in the ground and rot away over a few years. Most stumps take under an hour, and the machine fits through a standard garden gate.

When it is worth it

• You want to plant grass, a bed or a new tree in the same spot.

• The stump is a trip hazard or gets in the way of mowing.

• The tree was diseased, or the stump keeps sending up new shoots.

• You are worried about termites or carpenter ants moving in.

When you can leave it

If the stump is at the back of the property, out of the way, and the tree was healthy, leaving it is fine. Some people turn a wide stump into a planter or a seat. It will rot down on its own over ten years or so.

What it costs

Grinding is priced mostly by the width of the stump and how easy it is to reach. It is much cheaper to add it to a removal than to book it on its own later, because the crew and machine are already on site. We always list it as a separate line on the quote so you can choose.