Stump grinding is an important part of the removal process. It is performed by a machine with carbide-tipped teeth, which shaves a stump down to a pre-determined depth below the soil level, depending on the future use of the area. We will grind as deep as deemed necessary.
Some stumps have shallow root systems and can be ground completely. Others have very deep roots and therefore cannot. Normally, if a stump is ground six inches or more below grade, you'll have no problem getting grass to grow over the entire area.
Occasionally the stump will wrap itself around rocks as the tree grows. Rock can damage the carbide teeth of the grinder, and in these rare cases we may be limited as to how deep we can grind.
We have two different types of grinder: the larger "tow-behind" and the smaller portable. The larger unit is towed behind a pickup truck. The portable is designed to fit through a three-foot gate, allowing us to get into smaller back yards.
The grinder creates a root mulch as it grinds the stump. Typically we rake the shavings back into the hole and pile the extra mulch on top. We can also remove the mulch (at an additional cost) but we encourage you to either use the mulch in your yard and garden, or pay a landscaping service (which will have a lower labor cost) to remove it and plant your grass.