Have an unsightly stump in your yard you would live removed? We have  specialized equipment to grind stumps down to the roots. This helps your lawn grow back beautifully. Our special machinery grinds the whole stump and eliminates it from your property immediately instead of having to wait years for it to naturally decay on its own.

Call us for a free estimate: 509-216-8188.  Be sure to take a moment to read our frequently asked questions at the bottom of this page.

State of the art Vermeer 372 rips into large maple stump!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is stump grinding?

Stump grinding is a method in which the stump is ground into mulch and dirt by a machine made strictly for that purpose. It is in most cases a cosmetic solution to a ugly or dangerous stump. I use the word cosmetic because the whole stump is not removed, but it is ground below ground 4-8 inches depending on soil type, type of stump and desired end product. The word dangerous applies to stumps in that they pose trip hazards, can do damage to lawn mowers, snow plows, and cars.

How much do you charge?

Every stump is different. It is hard to base prices strictly ” by the inch of diameter”. If you call me about a stump I will ask you a few questions- “Is the stump in the front yard or back?” ” If I have to go through any gates. how wide are they?” What is the diameter of the stump?” “Is the ground next to the stump level with surrounding terrain or does it have a mound?” “If so, do you want the mound removed as well?” “Do you want me to do the clean up, or do you wish to save money and do it yourself?” “Are there any roots you want ground?” Other factors come into play as well, such as soil type, age of stump, number of stumps, and what kind of tree it was. Pines grind very fast, locust and maples are tough ones to grind. Once I have this information I can quote you a price, in most cases over the phone.

What is clean up?

This is a great and very important question. To some companies clean up is raking chips into a pile. There is nothing wrong with this as long as the homeowner is made aware of this, and that they will have to deal with the haul off of the chips. Stumps do generate a surprising amount of chips. In my opinion the best way to clean up is to remove all the chips, for a couple of reasons. First, as they decompose the pull nitrogen from the soil. Secondly, decomposing chips encourage fungus growth, and can breed lawn diseases like necrotic ring spot.

Can the chips be used as decorative “beauty bark” in my shrub beds?

No- the chips are a combination of wood, dirt, sod. There is nothing beautiful about them.

Can the chips be spread in my garden?

Yes as long as the chips are spread over a large area. If they are tilled in they will decompose rapidly.

Can I pour concrete over it when you are done?

Another great question and one with no easy answer. Truth be told, while quite a bit of the stump is removed by grinding there is still a lot left below ground. This will decompose and settle over a long period of time. The other option is to take an excavator and dig out the entire stump. This is a service I can provide as well. It takes quite a while, leaves a huge hole that can not be backfilled with the dirt that was dug up during the removal. ( too much organic matter-roots, chips)

How deep can you grind?

Best case 15 inches, it is a lot more work to go this deep however.

Can I plant a tree in the same spot when you are done?

This one gets asked often. The answer in most cases is no. If the surrounding ground is really good, ( no rocks), the stump not to big, then yes you can. Please let me know in advance if this is something you want to do and I will plan to grind to maximum depth.