Stump grinding in Des Moines, one visit and it is gone.
A stump grinder is a cutting wheel on the back of a machine that chews the stump into chips. We take it 6 to 8 inches below the surface, rake the hole level, and leave you a spot you can mow over. What the wheel does not do is leave a finished lawn, and we are honest about that part.
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Get a free estimate
Three fields. We call you back with a price, usually the same day.
Grind, rake, fill, blow off.
Every grinding quote covers the same four things. The add-ons are separate so you can see what you are paying for.
The stump, 6 to 8 inches down
Cut to grade first, then ground below it. The depth is written on your quote in inches, because "ground down" means nothing when you are trying to grow grass or set a post.
The root flare, not just the trunk
A stump is widest where the roots spread, often 6 to 10 inches past the trunk. We grind the flare so the mower stops catching it.
Grindings raked back in
The hole gets filled with the grindings, tamped and raked level with the surrounding grade. Plan on it settling an inch or two over the first season.
Hard surfaces blown off
Driveway, sidewalk, patio and the street in front of the house. Chips travel, and nobody wants to sweep up after us.
| Stump size | What it usually takes | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Under 12 in | Mostly ornamental and builder stumps. 15 to 30 minutes, half a wheelbarrow of chips. | Cheapest per stump, especially several in one yard. |
| 12 to 24 in | The most common residential stump in the metro. 30 to 45 minutes, about one wheelbarrow. | Standard 6 to 8 inch grind, grass comes back over it. |
| 24 to 36 in | Mature yard trees. 45 to 90 minutes, two to three wheelbarrows. | Ask about hauling if the chips would sit in view. |
| 36 in and up, or multi-stem | Old silver maple, elm, walnut, and multi-trunk ornamentals. One to three hours, three or more barrow loads. | Depth matters here. Replanting or setting a post means grinding deeper. |
When grinding is the wrong answer.
You are building there
Patio, garage, addition, or a fence post in the same spot. Grinding leaves the roots, and roots settle. That is a removal job.
You are replanting a tree
A new tree in the same hole needs the old root ball gone, or at least ground much deeper. We will tell you which one your spot needs.
The stump is heaving concrete
Surface root grinding can buy you time, but if the stump has lifted a driveway or a foundation edge, removal is the real fix.
What to expect, marks and all.
Honest version: a grinder is heavy equipment, the hole will settle, and the lawn is not a golf course when we leave. Here is what is normal and what is not.
Track and tire marks
Expect them on the approach and around the stump. Turf recovers in a week or two, and wet ground is the one case where we reschedule rather than chew up a yard. Wet ground is the one case where we reschedule.
Chips on the lawn
Grinding throws chips a few feet past the hole. We rake the bulk up and blow off hard surfaces. A light scatter in the grass is normal and disappears with the next mow.
A hole that settles
We fill and rake it level, then it drops an inch or two over the first season. That is ground wood breaking down, not a bad fill job. Top it off before seeding.
No seed, no sod
We leave it graded and ready. Seeding is yours, and on a deep grind you may need extra soil first. We tell you the depth so you know what you are working with.
All 24 metro cities.
Pick your city for local detail, or skip it and send your ZIP.
Stump grinding, answered.
How long does stump grinding take?
Most single stumps take 30 to 60 minutes, including the raking. A 36 to 48 inch hardwood runs an hour to an hour and a half. Groups of small stumps are usually done inside a morning.
How much does stump grinding cost?
It depends on diameter, count, access and depth. We quote per stump, give you a firm number before we start, and the price does not move while we are on site. Send your ZIP and a photo and you will have a number, usually the same day.
Do you grind in the rain or snow?
Rain is usually fine. Snow is fine. Frozen ground is the limiter, and wet spring ground is when we reschedule rather than leave ruts. We will call you if the weather changes the plan.
Will grinding kill the roots?
The stump will not come back. The roots stop growing and decay in place, which takes years for oak and elm. Surface root grinding handles the ones that hump the lawn.
Can you grind a stump I cannot see, like one under mulch or a deck?
Under mulch, usually yes, we find it and grind it. Under a deck or a shed, no. The machine needs to reach the stump and throw the chips somewhere.
What about the roots under my lawn?
They stay and decay. If they are pushing up through the turf and catching the mower, that is root grinding, which is a separate pass with the same machine.
Send your ZIP, get a firm price.
Free estimate across the Des Moines metro. Most jobs scheduled within the week, and the number you approve is the number you pay.
Three fields. Takes about 15 seconds.