A stump grinder is a wheeled or tracked machine with a spinning toothed wheel that chews the stump into chips, working side to side and a few inches deeper with each pass. A typical job takes the stump four to eight inches below the surrounding grade, enough to cover with soil and grow grass. The machine does not pull the roots out: the large roots radiating from the stump stay in the ground and decay over the following years.

  • Grinding below grade so the spot can be seeded or sodded
  • Surface roots chased out where they would catch a mower
  • Chips raked back into the hole or hauled away, your choice
  • Deeper grinding on request where a tree, a fence post or a slab is going in
  • Multiple stumps priced together in one visit

How stump grinding is priced

Width is the main factor. Companies measure the stump across its widest point at ground level, including the flare of the roots, and many charge by the inch. HomeAdvisor's cost guide puts the usual rate at about $2 to $5 per inch of diameter, with a typical job landing between roughly $120 and $500. Most companies also have a minimum charge to bring the machine out, which is why a second or third stump on the same visit costs much less than the first.

Things that raise the price: a stump the machine cannot reach through a standard gate, rocks or old concrete around the base, a request to grind deeper than usual, and hauling the chips away rather than leaving them.

Grinding or full removal?

Grinding is the right choice for almost every yard. It is quick, it leaves the lawn largely undisturbed and it costs far less. Full removal means digging out the stump and the root ball with an excavator, which leaves a large hole and tears up the surrounding ground. It is worth it mainly when you are pouring a foundation or a driveway over the exact spot and need the roots gone.

Will the tree grow back?

Pines do not resprout from a ground stump. Many hardwoods common around Fayetteville can — sweetgum, crape myrtle and some oaks send up shoots from the roots for a season or two. Mowing them off as they appear is usually enough; they stop once the roots run out of stored energy.

Common stump grinding & removal situations in Fayetteville

  • A stump left in the lawn that the mower has to steer around
  • Old pine stumps attracting ants or termites near the house
  • Sprouts coming up around a hardwood stump every spring
  • A stump in the way of a new fence line, shed or driveway
  • Several stumps left behind after storm cleanup

Keep in mind: Stump-killing chemicals and Epsom salt are slow — they take many months to soften a stump and do not remove it. If you want the spot usable this season, grinding is the practical route.

Stump Grinding & Removal FAQs

How long does stump grinding take?

A single average stump usually takes between 15 minutes and an hour once the machine is in position. Large or multi-trunk stumps, hard-to-reach back yards and cleanup can stretch a visit to a couple of hours. A crew with a full-size grinder can often work through a dozen ordinary stumps in a day.

What is left afterward, and what should I do with it?

A mound of wood chips mixed with soil, usually more than the hole will hold. The chips make good mulch for beds. If you want grass, rake most of them out, fill the hole with topsoil and seed it — chips left in the hole settle as they decay and can leave a dip.

Do I need to mark anything before the grinder comes?

Yes. Call 811 a few days ahead so buried utility lines are marked — it is free. Also point out sprinkler lines, landscape lighting wire, invisible dog fence and septic components, which the 811 service does not locate.

This content is reviewed by the The Fayetteville Tree Service editorial team and informed by licensed-contractor sourcing, manufacturer documentation, and established industry standards for Tree Service. Read our editorial standards.