Stump Grinding | Upstate Tree Removal

Stump Grinding Services

Stump grinding and stump removal services are available upon removal of trees and also if you cut the tree yourself.

Stump grinding is not as cut and dry as tree cutting. There are a lot of factors going into the quality of a job. These include:

Depth of grinding. We typically grind about 6" below grade if the stump will be replaced with grass. Failure to achieve this depth could lead to unhealthy grass and further settling as the stump decays.
Removal of Roots. Called "Root Chasing" - we clearly set expectations as to how far out we will to get exposed roots.
Removal of Grindings. We always offer to take the grindings away as part of our service. We encourage anyone looking for stump grinding services to inquire from the person doing the grinding if they intend to take the grindings away. For a single relatively large stump the amount of grindings can be more than what a pickup truck holds. For larger stumps it can approach close to 3 yards of material (about 3 pickup truck loads). There are many stump grinders out there that just want to do the grinding without regard for the grindings, leaving the home owner with a huge pile of debris in their yard.
Option to bring in topsoil to replace stump cavity. Not many tree service companies offer to do this, but to us it makes perfect sense: often we haul soil from the truck to the stump and fill it with grindings on the return visit.

Currently we have 3 different stump grinders of various size.

Vermeer SC130. My first stump grinder. You can rent grinders like these at Home Depot. Ideal for small shrubs up against a structure but nowhere near the power for stumps larger than 10" in diameter.
Late in the summer of 2020 I purchased a Vermeer SC252 (pictured below) 25HP machine which offers a lot of maneuverability and ability to go through 32" wide fence gates. I use this for mid-range stumps as well as situations where I need to get to a backyard through a gate.
In the Spring of 2021 I drove out to Akron OH and purchased an older Vermeer 665A tow behind grinder. Equipped with a 65HP 4 cylinder gasoline engine it is ideal for larger stumps that are accessible by truck. Makes life a lot easier! See picture below of this beast.