Service 03 / StumpsStump Grinding · Cullman, AL
Below
grade.
Gone.
Below-grade stump grinding to reclaim the yard.
Pick your depth
How far
below grade.
The right depth depends on what's going where the stump was. We'll ask before we start — and we'll grind deeper if it turns out you need it.
- Grade01
Surface flush
Just the visible stump ground to ground level. Cheapest, but the buried flare and roots are still there — fine for an out-of-the-way corner.
- 4–6" below02
Standard
What most yards need. Deep enough to grass over, walk past, and mow without ever noticing the stump was there.
- 8–12" below03
Replant / Pour
Where a new tree, sod section, or concrete pour is going. Deep enough to give the roots room or the slab a clean base.
Drag to compare
Before the grinder.
After the grinder.
Same yard, same week. Drag the handle to see what disappears below grade — including the visible flare most operators leave behind.
After
Tip: arrow keys move in 5% steps · Home/End jump to either side
What you're reclaiming for
Plant. Sod.
Pour. Plot.
The grind plan changes depending on what you're putting back in the space. Tap your project to see the depth and the lead time.
Replant a tree
Different species, set off-center from the old root ball. We grind deep enough to let new roots establish without fighting the old wood.
- Grind depth
- 10–12" below grade
- Lead time
- Plantable the same season
Lay sod
Standard grinding plus topsoil mixed back into the chip mound. The new sod knits in without the soft spot where the stump was.
- Grind depth
- 4–6" below grade
- Lead time
- Sod-ready in 1–2 weeks
Pour concrete
Deep grind, all visible roots out of the slab footprint, the cavity backfilled with compactable fill before the contractor pours.
- Grind depth
- 8–12" below grade
- Lead time
- Pour-ready immediately
Garden bed
Stump and flare out, chips raked off, the cavity filled with garden soil. Tomatoes and perennials go in the next weekend.
- Grind depth
- 6–8" below grade
- Lead time
- Plantable in 1 week
What the grinder takes — and doesn't
What goes,
what stays.
What the grinder removes
- 01
The visible stump
Everything you see above grade, including the root flare.
- 02
Surface roots
Grinder rolls along the flare, taking the radial roots out a few feet in each direction.
- 03
The grindable mass
Soft and medium-hard wood down to the depth you ask for.
- 04
Stump suckers
Sprouts from the root ball gone with the wood that fed them.
What it doesn't touch
- 01
Deep tap roots
What's three feet down stays three feet down — it'll decompose naturally over a few years.
- 02
Utility lines
We call 811 and mark anything underground before the grinder turns on.
- 03
Irrigation & wiring
Anything you tell us about gets flagged and worked around — not ground through.
- 04
Septic and drain fields
We won't grind over a septic field. We'll surface-cut and walk away if that's the only option.
Common questions
Stump
questions.
What we're asked most often before a stump job.
01How deep do you grind?
Standard depth is 4–6 inches below grade — enough to grass over and walk past without noticing. If you're planting a new tree or pouring concrete, we'll grind deeper.02What happens to the chips?
Your call. We'll pile them and leave them as mulch, or load them out and haul them off. Most people keep enough to mulch a bed and have us take the rest.03Do I need to call before you dig?
Yes — we mark the area and call 811 before grinding when there's any chance of utilities in the area. You don't have to handle that, but it's worth knowing it's part of the job.04Will the area look bad after?
There's a depression where the stump was and chips around the area until you reseed or topsoil it. We can spread topsoil and seed if you want a cleaner finish — just ask when we quote.
Also available
Other. services.
Ready when you are
Let's get the work
scheduled.
Call for the fastest response — usually answered live, often same-day visits.