Stump Grinding in Lubbock, TX
A stump left after a removal is usually a few inches proud of the ground, right where the mower goes. Grinding takes it below the surface so the spot can be filled and grassed over.
What grinding does
A stump grinder is a heavy cutting wheel with carbide teeth that chews the stump into chips, working side to side and down. A typical residential job takes the stump to somewhere between four and twelve inches below grade, deep enough for sod or a flower bed. It does not pull out the whole root system; the roots left in the ground rot away over years.
Grinding is far quicker and less disruptive than digging a stump out, and far quicker than waiting for one to rot, which in Lubbock's dry climate can take a very long time.
Questions to ask before it is booked
- How deep will the grinder go, and is that deep enough for what you want to put there
- Are the surface roots running across the lawn included, or just the stump itself
- Will the chips be left in the hole, spread, or hauled away
- Can the grinder fit through your gate, or will it come in from the alley
- Have sprinkler lines and any buried cable near the stump been located
Lubbock yards are full of irrigation, and grinders find sprinkler lines the hard way. Mark what you know about before the visit, and ask whether the company will call 811 for buried utility locates. On a stump close to a gas meter or the service line that is not optional.
Siberian elm and other stumps that sprout
Some trees do not die when they are cut down. Siberian elm, cottonwood and mulberry stumps often throw up a ring of shoots around the cut within a season. Grinding below grade usually ends it; a stump left high, or one ground shallow, is the one that keeps sprouting. If shoots do come back, cutting them repeatedly exhausts the roots. Chemical stump treatment for hire, as with any pesticide in Texas, is a licensed applicator's job.
Got a stump, or several, in the yard? Call for a free estimate. A local tree company will tell you what grinding it costs and how deep it needs to go.
Common questions
How much does stump grinding cost in Lubbock?
It is usually priced by the diameter of the stump, often with a minimum charge for the visit. A single small stump may be around a hundred to two hundred dollars; a large old cottonwood stump with big surface roots costs considerably more. Several stumps on one visit bring the per-stump price down. Grinding booked with a removal is usually cheaper than a separate trip.
Can I plant a new tree in the same spot?
Not straight away. The ground is full of wood chips and old roots. Plant a few feet to one side, or have the grindings removed and replaced with soil and give it time.
What do I do with the hole?
Most people have the chips raked out, fill with topsoil, let it settle for a few weeks with watering, top it up and then seed or sod. Leaving the chips in the hole leads to a sunken patch as they break down.
More tree work in Lubbock
- Tree Removal in Lubbock, TX
- Tree Service in Lubbock: Assessments
- Tree Trimming and Pruning in Lubbock
- Storm-Damaged Tree Cleanup in Lubbock
Also serving
Stump Grinding is available beyond Lubbock, across Wolfforth , Slaton , Levelland and Brownfield .
Get an estimate for stump grinding
Tell us about the tree and a local tree company will come and look at it, usually within a few days, sooner for a limb on a roof. Answered Mon–Sat, 7am–6pm · storm calls after hours get a call back first thing Or call (806) 515-3071. If a limb is on a roof or a line, call rather than typing.