Stump Grinding
A stump left in the ground isn't just an eyesore. The root system continues to decay, and on Lansing's Southside and Eastside, where a lot of the housing stock was built over shallow clay, a collapsing root void can create a soft spot or depression in the lawn within two to three years.
Call (517) 793-5658 - Free Estimate| Stump Diameter | Typical Cost |
|---|---|
| Small (under 12 inches) | $85-$210 |
| Medium (12-24 inches) | $150-$325 |
| Large (24-36 inches) | $240-$480 |
| Very large (36 inches+) | $375-$725+ |
Multiple stumps on the same property are priced at a reduced rate per stump. If you have 4-6 stumps from previous removals, bundling them in one visit is the most cost-effective approach.
Every quote starts with diameter, and almost everyone measures it wrong. Measure across the widest point of the stump at ground level, including the root flare, not the diameter of the trunk that used to stand above it.
A tree that looked like a 20-inch trunk often has a 34-inch flare at the base. That is the number that determines grinding time, and it is the difference between a $300 quote over the phone and a $500 invoice at the end. Give us the ground-level measurement and the quote you get is the quote you pay.
A stump grinder uses a high-speed rotating cutting wheel to chip the stump and major surface roots down to 6-12 inches below grade, depending on what you need the area for.
✓ Reseeding only: 6-8 inches below grade is sufficient.
✓ Paving or building over: 10-12 inches minimum, sometimes more for large stumps.
✓ Full root extraction: Requires excavation. We'll tell you if yours needs it.
People use both terms for the same call, but they describe two different jobs with very different prices.
| Grinding | Full Removal | |
|---|---|---|
| Method | Cutting wheel chips it below grade | Excavator pulls the root ball out |
| Lawn damage | Minimal, contained to the stump | Significant, leaves a crater |
| Cost | $85-$725 | Typically 3-4x grinding |
| Time | 15 minutes to 2 hours | Half day or more |
| Right when | Almost always | Deep footings, pool excavation, full regrade |
For better than nine out of ten Lansing properties, grinding is the correct answer. If a company pushes full extraction for a routine backyard stump, ask what specifically requires it.
Grinding produces a surprising volume of material. A 24-inch stump yields a mound of chips noticeably larger than the stump looked, because the grindings are aerated wood mixed with soil.
By default we backfill the hole with the grindings and rake it level. That is included. If you want the chips hauled away and the void backfilled with topsoil instead, say so when you book. There is a modest charge for the soil and the haul, and it is the right call if you are seeding immediately.
Two things to expect if you leave the grindings in place. The pile will settle over the following months as the wood breaks down, so plan to top it up. And decomposing wood chips pull nitrogen from the surrounding soil, which is why grass seeded straight into fresh grindings comes in thin and yellow. Topsoil over the top solves both.
Stump grinding is excavation under Michigan law. Utility locates are required before the wheel touches the ground, and the notice period is three working days. It is a free call and we handle it on scheduled work.
This matters more than people expect on Lansing's older Southside and Eastside lots, where gas and water services were run decades ago and frequently sit shallower than current code. Old irrigation lines, invisible fence wire, and septic laterals are the other three things a grinder finds the hard way. Tell us about anything you know is buried near the stump.
In the Lansing area, most single residential stumps land between $85 and $480 depending on ground-level diameter. Very large stumps over 36 inches run $375 to $725 or more. Multiple stumps in one visit reduce the per-stump rate.
A small stump takes about 15 to 30 minutes. A 30-inch hardwood stump takes one to two hours. Access is usually the bigger variable. A gate too narrow for the machine changes the job more than the stump size does.
Usually. Our smaller machines fit through a standard 36-inch gate. Tell us the narrowest point on the route when you call and we will bring the right machine the first time rather than rescheduling.
No. Once the stump is ground below grade the tree cannot photosynthesize and the root system dies. Remaining roots decay in place over several years. The exception is species that sucker aggressively, like poplar and some silver maples, which can push shoots from surviving roots for a season or two. Mowing handles them.
Not directly in the ground-out void. Remaining root mass and high-carbon grindings make poor planting soil. Either shift the new tree three to four feet over, or excavate the grindings and backfill with topsoil before planting.
Yes, constantly. Plenty of our grinding work is on stumps left behind by another company or by a storm years ago. You do not need to have used us for the removal.
Yes, until the frost line gets deep. Once Lansing ground is frozen more than a few inches down, grinding below grade gets slow and hard on equipment, and we will usually suggest waiting for a thaw unless the job is urgent.
Rarely. Potassium nitrate products take six months to a year, they only soften the stump rather than remove it, and you still have to dig or burn out the remains. For the cost of the chemicals and the wait, grinding finishes the job in an afternoon.
We grind stumps throughout Lansing, including Southside, Eastside, Old Town and REO Town, plus East Lansing, Okemos, Haslett, DeWitt, Holt, Mason, Grand Ledge, and the rest of Ingham and Eaton County.
We grind across all of Lansing and Ingham County.
Call (517) 793-5658