--- title: "Stump Grinding Questions and Answers | Cincinnati Stump Grinding" description: "34 answers about stump grinding: cost, how long it takes, how deep it goes, roots, regrowth, wood chips, 811 and street tree rules, plus how we work." url: https://cincystump.multisites.ai/faq publisher: Cincinnati Stump Grinding phone: +1-513-587-6772 quote: https://cincystump.multisites.ai/contact --- # Questions people ask Short answers first. Each one links to the full guide. ## Cost and quotes ### How much does stump grinding cost? It depends on the stump, and Cincinnati Stump Grinding publishes no price. Iowa State Extension says arborists charge by the size of the stump, measured at its widest point. Illinois Extension says deeper grinding often costs more. For a real number, ask for a free quote. The business can usually give one very quickly without an in-person visit. [Read more](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/stump-grinding-cost) ### Do you charge per inch? Many pros price by stump size, but ask each company how it quotes. Iowa State Extension says arborists charge by the size of the stump, measuring it at its widest point. Cincinnati Stump Grinding publishes no rate, so ask about its pricing method when you request your free estimate. [Read more](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/stump-grinding-cost-per-inch) ### Is there a minimum charge? Ask each company, because a minimum charge is the company's own policy. The sources checked for this site give no standard minimum. Iowa State Extension says arborists charge by the size of the stump. For Cincinnati Stump Grinding, ask about it when you request your free estimate. [Read more](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/stump-grinding-minimum-charge) ### Is $220 fair for five 6-inch stumps? A fair price depends on the stumps, the access and what the quote includes, so no single number settles it. Iowa State Extension says arborists charge by stump size, measured at its widest point. Get written quotes that list the same work, including chip cleanup, and compare them side by side. [Read more](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/stump-grinding-cost) ### Can you give me a quote from photos? A quote can usually be given without an in-person visit. Cincinnati Stump Grinding says on its Angi listing that it can usually provide a free quote very quickly without a visit. You can send photos of the stump for a free estimate. Ask what details it needs. [Read more](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/blog/get-a-stump-grinding-quote-from-photos) ### How do you measure a stump? Measure across the stump at its widest point. Iowa State Extension says arborists charge by the size of the stump, measuring it at its widest point. Use a tape measure across the cut surface, and note whether roots flare out above the ground, because a quote may treat them differently. [Read more](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/blog/how-stump-diameter-is-measured) ### Is it cheaper to rent a stump grinder? Renting changes who does the work, not whether it costs money. You pay the rental fee and do the work yourself. Iowa State Extension calls hiring an arborist to grind the stump the quickest, easiest and safest way. Compare a rental quote with a free professional quote. [Read more](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/stump-grinder-rental-cost) ### Does stump grinding cost extra when I have the tree cut down? Often yes. Illinois Extension says many tree companies offer stump grinding as an additional service charge when removing a tree. Ask for the stump to be listed as its own line in the tree removal quote so you can compare it with a separate grinding quote. [Read more](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/tree-removal-vs-stump-grinding-prices) ## The job ### How long does stump grinding take? Grinding one stump often takes only hours. Iowa State Extension says the stump is gone within a matter of hours and the process requires little manual labor. Your time depends on the stump and the site, so ask when you request your free estimate. [Read more](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/how-long-does-stump-grinding-take) ### How deep do you grind? Depth varies by company and job. Iowa State Extension says grinders typically go down 8 to 12 inches. Illinois Extension says depth ranges from flush with the soil line to over a foot, and deeper work often costs more. Ask Cincinnati Stump Grinding about depth when you request your free estimate. [Read more](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/how-deep-does-stump-grinding-go) ### Is stump grinding necessary? No. You can leave a stump in place. Iowa State Extension says dead stumps give food and shelter to insects, birds and other wildlife, and suggests leaving them where the risk to property or people is low. Grind it if it is in the way, trips someone, or blocks planting. [Read more](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/is-stump-grinding-necessary) ### Can you grind a stump close to my house? Ask the company about your site, because it depends on what is nearby. OHIO811 says private utility lines may need to be marked by you or your excavator. Point out any lines near the stump before work starts. Ask about close-in work when you request your free estimate. [Read more](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/stump-grinding-near-house-foundation) ### Should I grind or remove the stump? Grinding suits most stumps. Iowa State Extension says digging out a stump is very labor-intensive and practical only for smaller stumps, and that digging or pulling a larger tree's stump is not practical. Grinding is the quickest, easiest and safest way to remove one. [Read more](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/stump-grinding-vs-stump-removal) ## After grinding ### What do I do with the wood chips? You can compost them, keep them, or have them removed. Iowa State Extension says shavings or soil removed after stump grinding can be composted or sent to a municipal composting site. Cincinnati Stump Grinding offers to haul the wood chips away. Ask about it when you request your free estimate. [Read more](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/what-to-do-with-stump-grindings) ### Do you haul the wood chips away and bring topsoil? Yes. Cincinnati Stump Grinding says on its Angi listing that if you want the wood chips hauled away and replaced with fresh topsoil, it offers those services too. Ask for them when you request your free quote so the estimate covers the whole job. [Read more](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/services/chip-haul-away-topsoil) ### What should I do after stump grinding? Deal with the chips, then fill and plant when ready. Iowa State Extension says the shavings are ideally removed before new topsoil is added and the area is replanted. Purdue Extension says the ground settles as the stump decays, so add soil and mound a little extra. [Read more](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/after-stump-grinding) ### Can I plant grass after stump grinding? Yes, with preparation. Illinois Extension recommends hauling off the chipped debris and filling the hole with quality topsoil before planting turfgrass. Purdue Extension advises adding soil, planting sod or seed, and using slow-release turf fertilizer, because ground wood ties up nitrogen. [Read more](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/can-you-plant-grass-after-stump-grinding) ### Can I plant a tree after stump grinding? Not right away, and not directly over the old stump. Purdue Extension says it generally does not want new trees or turf planted immediately over existing stumps. The spot has limited soil and rooting depth, and settling follows as the wood decays. [Read more](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/can-you-plant-a-tree-after-stump-grinding) ## Roots and regrowth ### Do tree roots die after stump grinding? Usually, over time. An Ask Extension reply says that without leaves to produce food, the root system will eventually die, and the dead roots rot. Focus on removing any shoots that appear. Some trees send up sprouts from roots first, so watch the area. [Read more](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/do-roots-die-after-stump-grinding) ### Does stump grinding remove the roots? It removes the stump and the large roots near the surface, not the whole root system. Iowa State Extension says grinders chew away the stump and any large lateral roots, typically down 8 to 12 inches. Roots below that stay in the ground and decay over time. [Read more](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/should-you-remove-roots-after-stump-grinding) ### Will the stump grow back? Some stumps send up sprouts. Purdue Extension says sprouts may form because the roots act as energy storage for the tree, and advises treating them with a typical lawn herbicide at the label recommended rates. Always follow the product label. Ash stumps can regrow as multi-stemmed bush ash. [Read more](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/will-a-stump-grow-back) ### Does stump grinding attract termites? A stump in the yard does not by itself mean termites are in your house. University of Kentucky Entomology says swarms of termites emerging from tree stumps and woodpiles in the yard are not necessarily cause for concern. Swarmers next to the foundation are a different matter and need a pest professional. [Read more](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/do-tree-stumps-attract-termites) ### Why are mushrooms growing on my stump? Mushrooms show that fungi are breaking down dead wood. Illinois Extension says spring and late summer or early fall are the prime times for decay fungi to show as mushrooms, and that this happens even where a stump was ground out. They are a sign of decay, not of a problem with the grinding. [Read more](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/mushrooms-on-tree-stumps) ### Does Epsom salt rot a stump? No source found supports it. An Ask Extension reply says that if research has been done on this claim, it is not readily accessible, and would not support the recommendation. Iowa State Extension says drilling holes and adding fertilizer can break a stump up in one to three years. [Read more](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/does-epsom-salt-rot-a-stump) ### Can you grind honeysuckle stumps? Ask about it when you request your free estimate. Honeysuckle is a shrub that sprouts back. Ohio State says simply cutting the shrub off at the base will cause prolific sprouting and increase the number of stems, so cutting or grinding alone may not stop regrowth. [Read more](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/honeysuckle-stumps-and-roots) ### What do I do with a dead ash tree stump? Treat it like any stump: leave it, grind it, or remove it. Expect regrowth, though. Ohio State BYGL reports that in southwest Ohio, dead ash trees and stumps formed multi-stemmed bush ash, so watch for sprouts and remove them promptly. [Read more](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/dead-ash-tree-stump) ## Rules and safety ### Can I burn a stump? Burning is not recommended. Iowa State Extension lists burning first among methods to avoid, because stump fires can burn for days and are difficult to control, and many cities and counties do not allow burning. Check local rules first, and consider grinding instead. [Read more](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/can-you-burn-a-tree-stump) ### Do I need to call 811 before stump grinding? Ask the company, and read what the 811 centers say. OHIO811 says to contact it any time the soil is disturbed, and Kentucky 811 says its law requires everyone who digs to contact it at least two full business days before breaking ground. Neither page names stump grinding. [Read more](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/do-you-need-to-call-811-for-stump-grinding) ### Do I need a permit to grind a stump? It depends on where the stump is. On private land, the pages checked name no permit for grinding. For trees in the public right of way, some cities require approval. The City of Hamilton, Ohio, requires written approval before removing any tree in the public right-of-way. Ask your city. [Read more](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/before-you-grind-811-tree-lawn-permits) ### Who removes the stump in front of my house? In Cincinnati, the city may. The City of Cincinnati 311 service accepts requests to remove a stump from a public tree, meaning one in the right of way or tree lawn that the city maintains. Check who owns the tree before you hire anyone. [Read more](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/who-owns-the-stump-on-the-tree-lawn) ## About us ### Do you offer emergency service? No. The Angi listing for Cincinnati Stump Grinding states that the business does not offer emergency services. For a regular job, ask for a free quote, which can usually be given very quickly without an in-person visit. ### Do you offer a warranty? No. The Angi listing for Cincinnati Stump Grinding states that the business does not offer warranties. Ask what the quote covers before you agree, and keep a copy of your written estimate and your receipt for your records. ### What forms of payment do you take? The listings differ in detail. The Arbor Compass listing says you are welcome to pay your invoice by credit card, check, or cash. The Angi listing names only credit card. Ask the business which forms of payment it takes when you request your free estimate. ### What areas do you serve? Cincinnati Stump Grinding grinds tree stumps in Dayton, Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. The service area page lists the towns and regions covered. If your town is not listed, ask when you request your free estimate. [Read more](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/service-area) Something else? Call [(513) 587-6772](tel:+1-513-587-6772) or [send a message](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/contact).