Stump Grinding vs. Removal: Which Is Better?

A dead stump in your yard is an eyesore (and a tripping hazard). Whether a strong storm has toppled a tree or you’ve had a professional tree removal service near you cut one down, you’re often left wondering how to remove that pesky stump that’s left over.

There are a few ways to remove a tree stump, but your two main options are grinding and removal. Both have benefits and drawbacks, depending on your budget and what you hope to do with the space afterward. If you’re stumped on which is right for you, compare stump grinding vs. stump removal so you can spruce up your yard.

Stump Grinding vs. Stump Removal: Key Differences

Once a tree has been cut down, you can either have the stump ground down or removed completely. The route you choose depends on how you intend to use the area, your budget, and the job's complexity. 

Stump Grinding 

With stump grinding, a professional tree trimming service will use a machine with a rotating disk to grind the remains of the tree into small wood chips. Stump grinding is generally less expensive than stump removal and even provides you with natural mulch that you can use in the rest of your yard. However, it will likely leave roots behind, so if you want no remaining evidence of a tree, it may not be your best option. 

Stump Removal 

A pricier process, stump removal includes extracting the roots and the stump from your yard so that no tree remnants are left. This is especially beneficial if you use the space for landscaping or construction purposes. However, just know going into it that stump removal is more labor-intensive and time-consuming than stump grinding, so it’s a process that likely won’t happen overnight. 

What Is Stump Grinding?

Stump grinding is a process arborists or tree removal experts use to remove stumps after a tree has fallen or been cut down. Professionals use a machine called a stump grinder to cut the stump down into small chips that can later be used as mulch. Stump grinding removes the visible part of the stump but does not get rid of the tree’s roots beneath the surface. It’s often a more efficient and cost-effective way to reduce the visibility of a stump.

Pros of Stump Grinding

Stump grinding is a fairly simple process that suits those with tighter budgets and timelines.

• More affordable: Stump grinding costs between $170 and $500, depending on how tall and wide the stump is. For smaller stumps, it’s usually quite a bit less expensive to grind instead of remove.

• Faster turnaround: Stump grinding can be done much quicker if time is of the essence. Stump removal is a much more involved project, requiring the removal of roots and the implementation of chemicals. 

• Immediate hole filling: Stump grinding automatically fills that hole with stump chips that will decay over time. If you don’t want to wait long, you can remove all the chips and fill the hole with soil.

Cons of Stump Grinding

Although it’s a more budget-friendly option and can be done quickly, stump grinding is cheaper for a reason. Notably, you’ll still be left with evidence of the tree on your property.

• Less attractive: A grinded-up stump can be somewhat unsightly, which may affect your property value.

• Unusable space post-project: You can’t successfully plant new trees or safely build a foundation or patio in the same area as a ground stump—meaning that spot is pretty much off-limits after the project. 

• Potential pest problem: Leaving wood chips and roots may lead to pest issues, like termites or fungi. If termites find the grindings, they could make a colony in them.

What Is Stump Removal?

Stump removal, on the other hand, takes out the stump and root system completely. It’s more work but might be a better solution for homeowners who can comfortably afford the higher price.

Pros of Stump Removal

Stump removal comes with its benefits, especially if you are looking to put new landscaping or building on the ground that your tree once lived on.

• Better for future projects: Removing the roots and filling the space with new soil offers flexibility for future projects, like building a new deck or planting a garden.

• More thorough solution: Stump removal takes out the stump and the roots, which means you can be confident that there won’t be any costly surprises down the road—like your foundation.

• Prevents regeneration: With complete stump removal, there’s less chance for new shoots or sprouts to emerge, so you won’t have to deal with regeneration down the line. 

Cons of Stump Removal

You may not be able to have a professional perform stump removal if you don’t have the funds for it or if you’re concerned about the impact stump removal has on the planet.

• More expensive: It’s more expensive to remove a stump, as the project is much more in-depth. Instead of just removing the surface-level stump, stump removal takes out the roots, too—which surprisingly can equal more than a third of the tree’s total biomass!

• May require chemicals: Stump removal may require certain chemicals to speed up the decaying process. There are some more natural ways to kill a tree stump, but they’re not as efficient. 

• Requires post-project steps: There are many follow-up steps after the removal that make this project a bit more complicated, including filling the hole with soil, hauling the old stump away, and cleaning up chemicals.

Stump Removal vs. Stump Grinding

It can be difficult to determine when you should grind your stump vs. when you should remove your stump. Here are factors to help you decide what will work best for you.

Price: Stump Grinding

Stump removal is more expensive than stump grinding. Tree stump removal costs $100 to $200 more than stump grinding, as the process is a lot more involved. Also, the resulting hole is pretty large after removal, which must be filled with soil afterward. With grinding, the hole is automatically filled with stump chips when you grind it down.

Land Recovery: Stump Removal

With stump grinding, you can’t plant any new trees or build a foundation or patio in the same area, making that spot unusable for the foreseeable future. If you decide to eradicate the stump, you can successfully replant or build in that same area without issue once the soil is filled. If you have big plans for your yard in the future, stump removal is the right choice.

Time: Stump Grinding

Stump removal is more time and labor-intensive than stump grinding. Plus, after the removal, you’ll be left with many steps to take care of afterward, including filling the large hole with soil and hauling away the old trunk and roots. If you’re looking for a quicker turnaround, grinding will be the best option.

Pest Control: Stump Removal

When you leave the roots in place, you also leave a tasty buffet for fungi, pests, and critters to feed on. With stump removal, there is no risk of attracting these pests since the stump and roots are completely gone.

Eco-Friendliness: Stump Grinding

Stump grinding will leave the stump in the ground, eventually decomposing. Stump removal, however, is more invasive and may involve chemical use that can disturb the surrounding soil.

Taylor Sansano contributed to this piece.