ServicesStump Grinding
Stump Grinding in Winter Springs
We grind stumps down below the grass line so you can mow, plant or lay sod over the spot. If a storm took the tree, we photograph the stump and write a line-item estimate you can hand to your insurance company.
What Stump Grinding Does for Your Yard
A grinder chews the stump into chips with a spinning wheel of carbide teeth. We take it down several inches below the soil, deeper where you plan to plant or lay sod. The roots that spread out from the trunk stay in the ground and break down over time.
It is the right call when a stump is in the way of mowing, sits where you want a bed or patio, or has started to rot and draw bugs. Grinding is faster and far less messy than digging a stump out, and it leaves your lawn mostly intact.
After a storm, a stump is often the last thing anyone thinks about. Many homeowners policies treat tree removal and stump removal differently, so we document the stump before we touch it. Your adjuster makes the call on coverage. We just make sure you have clear photos and numbers to show them.
What's Included When We Grind a Stump
- Utility and irrigation check
- We have underground utilities marked through Florida's 811 system before we grind. We also ask where your sprinkler lines and heads run, since roots often wrap around them.
- Grinding below grade
- We grind the stump and the big surface roots near it below the soil line. If you want sod or a new bed there, tell us and we go deeper.
- Chip cleanup and backfill
- Grinding leaves a pile of wood chips mixed with sand. We can rake them into the hole, haul the extra away, or leave some for you to use as mulch. Where you want grass, we fill with topsoil instead.
- Photos and a written estimate
- For storm damage, we take dated photos of the stump and the area around it before work starts. You get a written estimate with each stump listed on its own line.
- Protecting the yard
- Before the grinder starts, we stand screens between the stump and anything that can break, like glass, parked vehicles or a screened pool enclosure. If the machine has to roll over soft grass, plywood goes down first.
Signs It's Time to Grind That Stump
You mow around it every week
A stump in the lawn eats mower blades and leaves a ragged patch of grass you have to trim by hand.
Mushrooms or soft, crumbly wood
That means rot has set in. A rotting stump can draw termites and carpenter ants, which you don't want close to your home.
New shoots coming up
Some trees, like camphor and Chinese tallow, push sprouts from the stump and roots. Grinding takes out the growing point so they stop.
A storm left it behind
If the trunk was cut up and hauled off after a storm, the stump is often still sitting there. Grinding it clears the way to fix the lawn or replant.
You're planning new work there
A stump blocks a new patio, bed or sod job. It's easiest to grind it first, before the rest of the project starts.
What Moves the Price of Stump Grinding
Every stump is priced on its own, and we put each one on its own line. The biggest factors are size and how hard it is to reach. We give you the number on site, before any work starts.
Stump width
We measure across the widest point at the ground. A big oak with a flared base takes much more grinding than a small ornamental tree.
Access to the stump
A narrow side gate, a fenced back yard or a stump tight against a wall or slab means a smaller machine and more time.
Depth and surface roots
Going deeper for sod or planting, or chasing roots across the lawn, adds time.
Chips and backfill
Leaving the chips costs the least. Hauling them off and bringing in topsoil adds to the job.
Number of stumps
Several stumps in one visit usually cost less per stump than one at a time, since the setup is already done.
How a Stump Grinding Job Goes
- 1
Walkthrough and estimate
We come look at each stump, check the access and ask what you want in that spot next. You get a written estimate. If it's storm damage, we take photos then.
- 2
Locates and setup
Once the utility marks are in, we bring the grinder through the gate or across plywood. We set up chip guards around anything that could get hit.
- 3
Grinding
Most stumps take less than an hour each. Big oaks with wide root flares take longer. We grind until we hit the depth we agreed on.
- 4
Cleanup and walk-off
We fill the hole, rake the area and blow off your driveway and walks. Then we walk it with you so you can see the finished spot.
Stump Grinding Questions
Will my insurance pay to grind a stump?
Sometimes, but often not. Many policies cover removing a tree that fell on a covered structure and stop short of the stump. We don't decide that and we won't tell you it's covered. What we do is give you dated photos and a line-item estimate so your adjuster has what they need.
Can a palm stump be ground the same way?
Yes. Palm stumps are fibrous rather than solid wood, so they grind differently and leave a stringy mulch. If the palm is still standing, our palm tree pruning and removal crew can take it down and grind the stump in the same visit.
How deep do you grind?
We go several inches below the soil for lawn areas. If you plan to plant a tree or lay sod in that spot, we go deeper. Just tell us what's going there next.
Will the hole sink later?
It can settle a little as the chips and buried roots break down. Filling with topsoil instead of chips cuts down on that. If you want grass right away, we can lay sod over it once it's filled and leveled.
What happens if something gets damaged during the job?
We're a family-owned company, business licensed and fully insured. Our first job is making sure it doesn't come to that, which is why the screens and plywood go down before the grinder ever starts.
Can I pay over time?
Yes. Financing is available up to $100,000, with terms anywhere from 2 to 12 years, and there's no penalty if you pay it off early. Most folks use it when stump grinding is one piece of a bigger project, like replanting a yard after a storm.
Get That Stump Out of Your Way
We'll come look at your stumps, measure them and give you a written estimate on site. If a storm took the tree, we'll take the photos while we're there.