Blog
Answers for homeowners, plus local posts on the tree and yard rules in the towns we serve.
20 posts
- Ault Park Honeysuckle Cutting Event: Nov 14, 2026Cincinnati Parks lists an Ault Park Invasive Removal volunteer event on Nov 14, 2026, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM. The work involves cutting back invasive plants such as honeysuckle, privet and burning bush and treating the stumps. Volunteer Group Leaders provide an orientation and direct the work. Registration is on the Cincinnati Parks page.Oct 26, 2026
- Black Plastic Honeysuckle Method From a UC BotanistA University of Cincinnati botanist, Denis Conover, kills honeysuckle by cutting it low, covering the stump with black plastic and pinning the plastic to the ground. The 2024 UC News article says this effectively kills honeysuckle without chemicals. It gives no kill time, and Ohio State Extension favors herbicide for mature shrubs.Oct 26, 2026
- Can I Use Stump Grindings as Mulch? What the Sources SayYou can use stump grindings as mulch in beds and paths away from the stump hole. Keep a thin layer, 2 to 4 inches per the ISA, and keep it off tree trunks. Do not mix grindings into soil where you want grass or a tree to grow, because wood ties up nitrogen.Oct 26, 2026
- Cincinnati Street Tree Removal Permit Cost: Who Pays WhatCincinnati Parks Urban Forestry says that if a public tree is removed because a resident asked, the requesting party pays the appraised value of the tree, plus the cost for removal and stump grinding, before permit approval. The page lists no dollar amounts. A forester inspects the tree first.Oct 26, 2026
- Covington Street Tree Permit: What It Means for Your StumpCovington asks you to fill out a Street Tree Permit before you plant, prune or remove a tree in the strip between the sidewalk and the street. Some permits carry a nominal fee. Trees on private property generally fall outside city regulation, except in a historic overlay zone or on certain hillsides.Oct 26, 2026
- Dayton Urban Forest Master Plan and Your Tree LawnDayton is writing an Urban Forest Master Plan, with work running from April 2026 to June 2027. The city page says Ohio was among the first states hit by emerald ash borer. The page sets no new tree lawn rule. It says the city will review regulations, so rules could change after the plan is done.Oct 26, 2026
- Emerald Ash Borer in Southwest Ohio: A Timeline to 2026Emerald ash borer was confirmed in Hamilton County in 2007, according to Ohio State University Extension. Ash trees died quickly, beetle numbers crashed, and dead stumps sent up shoots called bush ash from 2008. OSU Extension reported in 2023 and again in 2026 that the beetle is back and still infesting trees.Oct 26, 2026
- Forest Park Dead Tree Program: Stump Removal Is Not CoveredForest Park's Residential Dead or Dying Tree/Limb Removal Program pays 60% of the removal cost, up to $1,000 per household. Cosmetic work such as stump removal is not part of the subsidy and is paid by the resident. The page says registration runs the entire month of August.Oct 26, 2026
- Get a Stump Grinding Quote From Photos: What to SendCincinnati Stump Grinding's Angi profile says: "we can usually provide one very quickly without an in-person visit." Send a few photos of the stump with a tape measure or familiar object for scale, plus its width in inches. Ask what could change the price when the machine arrives.Oct 26, 2026
- Great Parks Calls Honeysuckle Weed Enemy Number OneGreat Parks of Hamilton County says that in Hamilton County, without any natural predators or controls, bush honeysuckle is weed enemy number one. It says the shrub leafs out earlier than most native plants and shades out wildflowers and young trees. Its trained staff and volunteers use cutting, hand pulling, mowing, burning and herbicides.Oct 26, 2026
- Hamilton County Yard Trimmings Drop-Off: What Fits, and StumpsHamilton County has three public yard trimmings drop-off sites. Brush and branches must be cut no longer than 4 feet and be no larger than 12 inches in diameter, bundled under 50 pounds. The county page does not mention stumps, so a stump is not listed as accepted or refused.Oct 26, 2026
- Hamilton, Ohio Street Tree Removal: Approval and the StumpHamilton's Tree Ordinance requires written city approval before you prune or remove a tree in the public right-of-way, usually the strip between the curb and sidewalk. The application is free. The city's FAQ names the property owner as responsible for removal and stump grinding of trees in that strip.Oct 26, 2026
- How Stump Diameter Is Measured for Grinding QuotesStump diameter is the width straight across the stump at its widest point, in inches. Iowa State Extension says arborists charge by stump size measured there. Some measure the root flare at ground level, which can be wider than the cut face. Ask a company where its quote measures.Oct 26, 2026
- How to Get Ready for Stump Grinding Day: A ChecklistBefore the crew arrives, clear the area around the stump, open gates, move cars, secure pets and mark anything private that is buried, such as sprinkler lines. OHIO811 says private utility lines are the owner's to mark and may need a locating service. Utility marks cover public lines only.Oct 26, 2026
- Stump vs Tree Removal: What the Quote Should ListA tree removal quote should say whether the stump is included. Angi says a standard tree removal does not include stump grinding. Look for separate lines for removal, grinding depth, wood chips and fill. If the stump is missing from the quote, ask for it as its own line.Oct 26, 2026
- The Epsom Salt Stump Myth: What Sources Do and Do Not SayThe Iowa State and Illinois Extension pages we opened do not list Epsom salt as a stump treatment. Illinois Extension says chemical treatment speeds decay by about 25%, while improving natural decay can reach 50%. Drilled holes, nitrogen, moisture and a cover are the steps they back.Oct 26, 2026
- What Cincinnati Yard Waste Pickup Won't Take (Stumps Included)Cincinnati's curbside yard waste service does not accept logs or stumps thicker than 6 inches in diameter. It also refuses treated wood, dirt, rocks, sand, concrete, animal feces, and yard waste in plastic bags or garbage carts. Pickup runs every other week from April 20, 2026, through the second week of January.Oct 26, 2026
- What Is a Turf-Friendly Stump Grinder? Tracks vs WheelsA turf-friendly stump grinder is a machine meant to cross a lawn with little damage to the grass. One maker says tracks spread ground pressure for soft terrain, while wheels offer transport speed. Tracks do not guarantee an undamaged lawn, so ask the company how it plans to reach your stump.Oct 26, 2026
- Who Grinds the Stump in Front of My Cincinnati House?In Cincinnati, a stump on a city-maintained tree lawn or right of way goes through the 311Cincy tree stump request, which routes to Cincinnati Parks Urban Forestry. Staff check whether the stump is already on the grinding list. If it is not, a forester investigates and reports back. A stump on private ground is the owner's to handle.Oct 26, 2026
- Why Cutting Honeysuckle Makes It Worse (OSU, UK, UC)Cutting bush honeysuckle at the base leaves the roots alive, so the stump sends up new shoots. Ohio State Extension says it causes prolific sprouting and increases the number of stems. University of Kentucky says plants re-sprout and grow back even denser. Control needs the stump and roots killed or removed.Oct 26, 2026