---
title: "What Is Flush cut? Stump Grinding Glossary | Cincinnati Stump Grinding"
description: "A flush cut leaves the stump level with the surrounding ground, so the wood is cut off at the soil line instead of being ground away below it."
url: https://cincystump.multisites.ai/glossary/flush-cut
publisher: Cincinnati Stump Grinding
phone: +1-513-587-6772
quote: https://cincystump.multisites.ai/contact
---

Service

# Flush cut

A flush cut leaves the stump level with the surrounding ground, so the wood is cut off at the soil line instead of being ground away below it.

A flush cut takes the stump down to the soil surface and stops there. Illinois Extension lists this as the shallowest end of the range: stump grinders can cut from flush to the soil line to over a foot deep.

A flush cut is quicker than a deep grind, and it leaves little or no hole. That can cost less, since the deeper you want a stump ground out, the more it will cost. The tradeoff is that most of the underground wood stays and rots slowly. Grass can take a long time to fill in over it.

A deeper cut that goes [below grade](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/glossary/below-grade) removes more wood but needs [backfill](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/glossary/backfill). Match the cut to your plan for the spot. The [grinding depth](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/glossary/grinding-depth) shapes the result.

[From Cincinnati Stump GrindingStump grinding](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/services/stump-grinding)

## Related terms

-   [Grinding depth](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/glossary/grinding-depth)
-   [Below grade](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/glossary/below-grade)
-   [Stump grinding](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/glossary/stump-grinding)
-   [Backfill](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/glossary/backfill)

## Sources

1.  [Illinois Extension, Good Growing: What to do with that tree stump?](https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2025-07-18-what-do-tree-stump-guide-tree-stump-removal)
2.  [Illinois Extension, Good Growing: What to do with that tree stump?](https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2025-07-18-what-do-tree-stump-guide-tree-stump-removal)