--- title: "Pine, Oak and Maple Stump Grinding: Does Species Matter?" description: "Pine, oak and maple stump grinding follows the same steps. Wood hardness and stump size change the time, and sprouting varies by species. See the sources." url: https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/pine-oak-maple-stump-grinding publisher: Cincinnati Stump Grinding phone: +1-513-587-6772 quote: https://cincystump.multisites.ai/contact --- # Pine, oak and maple stump grinding: what changes by tree species The grinding steps are the same for pine, oak and maple. A rental-equipment article says stump size and wood hardness change the time. Species matters more for regrowth: Penn State Extension says all angiosperms can stump sprout, while most conifers have a weaker ability or none. GuideUpdated October 26, 20263 min read ## Same steps A high-speed disk with teeth grinds every species into chips, so the process does not change. ## Hardness changes time A rental-equipment article names stump size and wood hardness as the factors. ## Sprouting differs Penn State Extension says all angiosperms can stump sprout. Most other conifers sprout weakly or not at all. ## Grinding below grade Grinding removes the stump wood. Whether sprouts come back depends on what stays in the ground. ## Does tree species change how a stump is ground? Species does not change the steps. A grinder uses a high-speed disk with teeth to turn the stump into small wood chips, whether the stump was pine, oak or maple. What changes is how long it takes. EquipmentShare, an equipment rental company, says the time can vary from 15 minutes to several hours depending on the stump size and wood hardness. The extension and equipment pages used for this guide do not give separate grinding steps for pine, oak or maple. They also do not rank species by how hard they are to grind. Keep that limit in mind when you read claims about one species on other websites. The full process is in [how stump grinding works](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/how-stump-grinding-works). Factor What the sources say Source Stump size Changes the time a grind takes. EquipmentShare Wood hardness Changes the time a grind takes. EquipmentShare Species and steps No separate steps given for pine, oak or maple. None of the pages used here Sprouting Differs between broadleaf trees and conifers. Penn State Extension ## What is the difference between hardwood and softwood stumps? The glossary entry on [hardwood and softwood](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/glossary/hardwood-softwood) explains the two labels for tree groups. The label alone does not tell you how long a grind will take. EquipmentShare names wood hardness as a factor, along with stump size, and gives a range of 15 minutes to several hours. For a quote, name the tree if you know it. If you do not know, send photos. The company can judge size from a photo even when the species is unclear. See [how to measure a stump for a quote](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/how-to-measure-a-stump-for-a-quote). ## Will an oak or maple stump grow back? It can sprout. Penn State Extension says it is believed that all angiosperms have the ability to stump sprout, and it shows red maple as a prolific stump sprouter. The University of Minnesota Extension says most deciduous trees and shrubs will re-sprout after the trunk is cut. Iowa State Extension adds that some stumps will resprout after the tree is cut down. A [stump sprout](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/glossary/stump-sprout) is a new shoot from the stump or its base. Grinding removes the stump wood. It does not by itself tell you what stays in the soil. If shoots appear later, see [will a stump grow back](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/will-a-stump-grow-back) and [do roots die after stump grinding](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/do-roots-die-after-stump-grinding). Penn State Extension also says the chance of sprouting changes with the tree’s age and size for several eastern hardwoods, with northern red oak the exception it names. ## Will a pine stump grow back? Less often, according to Penn State Extension. It says a few prolific stump sprouting conifers have dormant buds in the root collar similar to those in angiosperms, whereas the other conifers have a weaker ability or none. It names pitch pine and short-leaf pine as pines known to sprout, and says pitch pine’s ability to sprout decays with age. That page does not cover the common yard pines by name, such as white pine or Scotch pine. Do not assume a result from it. If you have a pine stump and see shoots, ask the company or your county extension office. ## What about resin, roots and size? The sources used here say nothing about pine resin. This guide therefore does not claim that resin makes a grind harder or messier. Root spread also varies by tree and soil. Iowa State Extension says grinders take the stump and any large lateral roots typically down 8 to 12 inches. See [how deep stump grinding goes](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/how-deep-does-stump-grinding-go). A [lateral root](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/glossary/lateral-roots) is a main root that grows sideways from the base. ## What should you tell the company about the species? Share the facts that affect the job. A short note helps: 1. The tree type, if known (pine, oak, maple, or “not sure”). 2. The stump width at its widest point. 3. Whether it is a fresh cut or an old stump. 4. Where it sits and how a machine can reach it. 5. Any shoots coming from the stump or roots. Photos of the stump, any shoots and the route to the stump save time. More tips are in [get a stump grinding quote from photos](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/blog/get-a-stump-grinding-quote-from-photos). ## Next step If shoots worry you, read [tree roots, stumps and regrowth](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/tree-roots-stumps-regrowth). Call (513) 587-6772 or [send photos for a free estimate](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/contact). ## Frequently asked questions ### Is grinding a pine stump different from an oak or maple stump? The steps are the same: a spinning disk with teeth chips the stump below the soil line. EquipmentShare says the time can run from 15 minutes to several hours depending on stump size and wood hardness. Ask the company if species changes its quote. ### Will a maple stump grow back after grinding? Penn State Extension says it is believed that all angiosperms have the ability to stump sprout, and it shows red maple as a prolific stump sprouter. Sprouts can appear from stumps. What a grind leaves in the ground varies, so watch the spot and ask your company. ### Do pine stumps sprout? Penn State Extension says the other conifers, outside a few prolific sprouting ones, have a weaker ability or none. It names pitch pine and short-leaf pine as pines known to sprout. Most common yard pines are not covered by name in that page. ### Which is easier to grind, hardwood or softwood? The sources do not rank species by ease. EquipmentShare says wood hardness affects the time a stump takes, along with stump size. For a quote, tell the company the tree type if you know it, and send photos of the stump so the company can judge its size. ## Terms on this page - [Hardwood and softwood](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/glossary/hardwood-softwood) - [Stump grinding](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/glossary/stump-grinding) - [Lateral roots](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/glossary/lateral-roots) - [Stump sprout](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/glossary/stump-sprout) - [Wood chips](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/glossary/wood-chips) ## Sources 1. [Penn State Extension: What Makes Some Tree Species Prolific Stump Sprouters?](https://extension.psu.edu/what-makes-some-tree-species-prolific-stump-sprouters) 2. [University of Minnesota Extension: Controlling unwanted trees and shrubs](https://extension.umn.edu/garden-and-home/yard-and-garden/gardening-in-minnesota/woody-vegetation-control) 3. [Iowa State Extension: How to remove tree stumps](https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/how-remove-tree-stumps) 4. [EquipmentShare: What Is Stump Grinding? How Stump Grinders Work In Practice](https://www.equipmentshare.com/articles/what-is-stump-grinding-how-stump-grinders-work-in-practice) Written by Cincinnati Stump Grinding and checked against the sources above on October 26, 2026. City rules and product guidance change, so check the linked page before you act. ## Keep reading - [What happens to tree roots after stump grinding, and will the stump grow back?Stump grinding removes the stump and large lateral roots, typically down 8 to 12 inches, according to Iowa State Extension. Smaller roots stay in the ground and rot over several years. Some trees send up sprouts from those roots. Termites and mushrooms around a stump are signs of decay, not of grinding.](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/tree-roots-stumps-regrowth) - [Will a tree stump grow back after it is cut or ground?It can. Iowa State Extension says some stumps resprout after a tree is cut, and Purdue says roots can act as energy storage for sprouts. Ohio State describes dead ash stumps that regrew as multi-stemmed bush ash. Cut sprouts early and follow the product label for any herbicide.](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/will-a-stump-grow-back) - [Do tree roots die after stump grinding?Grinding removes the stump and large lateral roots, typically down 8 to 12 inches, per Iowa State Extension. The roots left behind break down over several years, per Purdue Extension. No extension page we found says all roots die, and some trees send up sprouts from roots that stay alive.](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/do-roots-die-after-stump-grinding) - [How to measure a stump for a grinding quote, step by stepMeasure the stump across its widest point, in inches. Iowa State Extension says arborists charge by stump size measured there. Note the height, any surface roots and what is nearby. Photos with a tape measure in view help a company quote without a visit.](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/how-to-measure-a-stump-for-a-quote) - [How deep does stump grinding go, and how deep should you ask for?Iowa State Extension says grinders typically take the stump and large lateral roots down 8 to 12 inches. The University of Illinois Extension says depth runs from flush with the soil line to over a foot deep. Deeper grinding often costs more, so choose the depth that fits your plan for the spot.](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/how-deep-does-stump-grinding-go) - [How stump grinding works, from the first pass to the pile of chipsA stump grinder swings a spinning wheel with teeth across the stump and chips the wood away, usually to 8 to 12 inches below the soil line. Iowa State Extension says the stump is gone within a matter of hours. A pile of chips stays in the hole unless you ask for removal.](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/how-stump-grinding-works)