Stump Grinding & Removal
Stump grinding uses a machine with a cutting wheel to chew a stump down below ground level so you can plant, mow or build over it. Once a tree comes down, the stump is still in your way. David’s Tree Service grinds stumps of any size across Lynch Station, Lynchburg and the surrounding counties, and leaves the ground smooth.
Stump grinding and removal in Lynch Station and central Virginia
Stump grinding uses a machine with a cutting wheel to chew a stump down below ground level so you can plant, mow or build over it. Once a tree comes down, the stump is still in your way. David’s Tree Service grinds stumps of any size across Lynch Station, Lynchburg and the surrounding counties, and leaves the ground smooth.
Call 540-297-3454 for a free estimate.
Why bother taking the stump out
- You can’t mow over it. A stump at ankle height is something you steer around for the next twenty years.
- It’s a trip hazard. Especially once the grass grows over it and you forget exactly where it is.
- It sprouts. Plenty of species send up suckers from the stump and roots for years. Black locust is a determined offender.
- It attracts insects and decay. A rotting stump is a food source sitting next to your house.
- You want to plant or build there. You can’t put a new tree, a shed or a fence post through an old root plate.
Grinding versus full removal
Grinding is what most people want. The machine takes the stump down several inches below grade, along with the flare roots around it. You’re left with a pile of chips and a hole, both of which we can level off. It’s faster, cheaper, and leaves the surrounding lawn largely intact.
Full removal means excavating the whole stump and root mass out of the ground. It’s a much bigger job, it tears up a much bigger area, and it’s rarely necessary — but it’s the answer if you’re putting a foundation, a pool or a driveway over that spot.
Tell us what’s going in there afterward and we’ll tell you which one you need.
How deep we go
Standard is four to six inches below grade, which is enough to put topsoil and grass over it. If you’re planting a new tree in the same spot, say so up front — that needs to go deeper and wider, because a new root ball won’t establish in a bed of old chips and roots.
What drives the price
- Diameter of the stump, measured across the widest point at ground level. That’s the main one.
- The root flare. Some species spread wide and shallow, so there’s more to grind than the trunk suggests.
- Access. The machine has to get there. A gate too narrow, a steep bank, or a back yard with no side access all change the job.
- What’s buried nearby. Irrigation lines, septic, utilities and invisible fencing all need locating first.
- Whether you want the chips gone. Grinding produces a surprising volume. Leaving them costs nothing; hauling them out and bringing in topsoil is extra.
- How many. Several stumps in one visit costs less each than one at a time, because most of the cost is getting the machine there.
If we’re already on site taking a tree down, grinding the stump at the same time is the cheapest it will ever be. Ask for both when you get the quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have to call before you dig?
What happens to the hole?
Can I plant a new tree in the same place?
Will the roots keep growing?
How long does it take?
Can you grind a stump you didn't remove?
Get a free estimate
Tell us what you are looking at and we will come price it. If a tree is down right now, call our 24/7 emergency line, 540-871-8338, instead.
Call and we'll price it
Send a photo with something for scale if that’s easier, or call and we’ll come look.