Stump Grinding on Grand Island and in Niagara Falls: Why It Matters and What Happens

Once a tree is down, the stump is the part people tend to leave. That is usually a mistake. A stump is a trip hazard, a mower-breaker, and a place for pests and fungus to settle in. Grinding it out is quicker and tidier than most people expect.

Why grind it instead of leaving it

• Safety. Stumps are low and easy to miss, and a real hazard for kids, mowers and trimmers.
• Pests and decay. Old wood can host carpenter ants, termites and fungus that may spread to nearby wood.
• Regrowth. Many species send up suckers from the stump and roots, and keep doing it for years.
• Space. You cannot plant, build, pave or sod over a stump.

How stump grinding works

1. Locate. Before the grinder starts, we check for sprinkler heads, buried lines and edges. Call 811 a few days ahead so utilities can mark what is underground.
2. Grind. A compact grinder with a cutting wheel chews the stump and the large surface roots down below the lawn line.
3. Backfill. The chips go back into the hole. You choose: leave them as mulch, haul them away, or finish with topsoil so you can seed.
4. Tidy. The area is cleaned up and ready for grass, mulch or a new tree.

How deep does it go?

Typically 6 to 12 inches below grade, which is enough for grass or mulch. If you plan to put a new tree in the same spot, tell us so we can go deeper and leave room for the root ball. Deep roots are left in the ground to break down naturally, which is normal and harmless.

What affects the price

• Stump diameter and how many large surface roots there are.
• The number of stumps. Several at one visit cost much less each than a single call-out.
• Access. A stump behind a gate or beside a fence is slower to reach than one in an open lawn.
• Whether you want the chips hauled away and the hole topped with soil.

If you are having a tree removed, ask us to quote the stump with it. It is cheaper to do both at one visit. See our stump grinding service and our tree removal service.

What to do before we come

• Mark sprinkler heads, invisible dog fences, and anything you know is buried.
• Move vehicles, kids’ toys and anything else that is near the stump.
• Make sure we can get to the stump through a gate at least 3 feet wide, or tell us if we cannot.
• Tell us what you want to happen next: reseeding, a patio, a new tree.

Working in Niagara Falls? Call (716) 599-8733 for a free quote.