Stump Grinding in Springfield, MO

Stump grinding turns a stump into a pile of wood chips using a machine with a spinning, carbide-toothed wheel that chews down through the wood a few inches at a time. It is the usual way to get rid of a stump in Springfield because it is quicker than digging, does not leave a giant hole, and works on stumps from old trees and new removals alike. A ground stump lets you mow over the spot, put in a flower bed, set a fence post nearby or replant a few feet away.

Why rock matters here

Much of the Springfield area sits on soils loaded with chert gravel and cobbles over limestone, and limestone ledges sometimes come right up to the surface. Grinder teeth do not like rock. Before we start, we probe around the stump and tell you how deep we expect to go. In deep soil, four to six inches below grade is typical for lawn. Where rock is close, the grind may stop at the rock, and we say so in the quote rather than surprise you afterward.

Roots and what is left

Grinding takes out the stump and the root flare. Big surface roots that run across the lawn can be chased out with the grinder for a few feet, which is common with silver maples and sweetgums. Deeper roots stay in the ground and rot slowly. The hole fills with chips; you can keep them as fill and let them settle, or have them pulled out and replaced with topsoil if you plan to seed or sod the spot.

Sprouting stumps

Some trees try to come back from the stump and roots, Callery pears and some maples among them. Grinding below grade removes most of the tissue that sprouts. If a few shoots come up afterward, cutting them back repeatedly usually wears out the roots.

Before we grind

Grinding goes down into the soil, so buried lines matter. Missouri 811 marks underground utility lines for free, and we make sure locates are requested before a grinder touches the ground. Sprinkler lines, invisible dog fences and landscape lighting are not marked by 811, so tell us about any you know of.