The tree is gone; the stump is still there. Grinding is the standard finish — faster and far cheaper than excavating roots, and it leaves the ground ready for lawn or a new planting.
A stump grinder chews the stump to 6–8 inches below grade, turning it into chips mixed with soil. That depth is enough to reseed, sod, or plant a replacement tree nearby. The surface roots in the immediate area go with it; the deeper root system decays underground over a few years, which is normal and harmless.
Most stumps run $150–$400 depending on diameter: under 12 inches at the low end, 12–24 inches in the middle, over 24 inches at the top. Surface roots, rocky soil, and stumps hard against a fence or foundation add cost. A quote should state the depth and whether chips are hauled or left.
Before any grinding, the operator must call 811 (Call Before You Dig) so utilities mark buried gas, electric, water, and communications lines. Stumps frequently sit over service lines, and a grinder through a gas line is a catastrophe, not an inconvenience. If a grinder operator says marking isn't necessary, stop the job.
On lots with septic systems, grinding near a leach field needs care: heavy equipment compacts the field, and deep grinding near distribution lines can damage them. Tell the crew where the system is before they roll the grinder in — a good operator routes around it or grinds shallow over it.
Three options, and the quote should name one: chips hauled off-site (cleanest, costs more), chips left as mulch (fine for beds, but the pile settles and the area sinks as chips decay — top it with soil if you plan lawn), or chips left level for you to handle. If you plan to replant in the same spot, ask for the grind to go deeper and the chips to be hauled, since fresh chips rob nitrogen from new plantings as they decay.
Yes, with a caveat: grind deeper than standard and haul the chips, or plant a few feet to the side. Fresh wood chips pull nitrogen from the soil as they decay, which starves a new planting in the exact same hole.
The chip-and-soil mix settles over several months as chips decay. Expect to top-dress with soil once or twice in the first year if you want a level lawn.
Almost always. Excavation tears up a large area, risks utilities and irrigation, and costs multiples more. Grinding is the standard finish for a reason.
Two minutes. Matched with a local tree service. Free written estimate, no obligation.