--- title: "Stump Grinding vs. Stump Removal | Zeigler Tree & Timber" url: https://zeiglertree.com/blog/stump-grinding-vs-stump-removal/ --- [Tree care guides](https://zeiglertree.com/blog/) # Stump Grinding vs. Stump Removal: Which One Does Your Yard Need? By Zeigler Tree & Timber · October 22, 2026 The tree is gone, and now there is a stump in the middle of the yard you mow around every Saturday. You have two ways to deal with it: grind it down or pull it out. They leave very different things behind, so the right choice depends on what you want to do with that spot next. ## The short answer For most St. Tammany Parish yards, **grinding** is the faster, cleaner choice: the stump is chipped down below the soil line and you can sod over it or plant nearby. **Full removal** makes sense when you need the ground clear of roots, for example where a slab, a driveway or a new structure is going in. ## What stump grinding does A grinder chips the stump away into wood chips, down below ground level. The University of Illinois Extension calls a grinding machine “often the quickest and most satisfactory means of removal,” and says it “can chip out a stump to 8 or 12 inches below ground level in minutes.” The larger roots stay in the ground. The same Extension answer says the grindings can go back into the hole. At Zeigler, the stump is ground **below grade so you can sod over it, plant something new, or reclaim the space**, and cleanup is included in the quote, not billed as an add-on. ## What full stump removal does Full removal digs or pulls the stump out together with its main roots. That leaves the area free of the stump’s root mass, and it leaves a hole that has to be filled and settled before you build or plant on it. It is more disruptive to the lawn around it, because the equipment has to get under the stump. ## Side by side | | Stump grinding | Full stump removal | | --- | --- | --- | | What is left in the ground | The roots, below a ground-down stump | A hole to fill | | Disturbance to the yard | Limited to the stump area | Wider: equipment digs around and under the stump | | What you can do with the spot | Sod, mulch beds, plant nearby | Build, pour, or replant in the same spot once filled | | Debris | Wood chips (usable as fill or mulch) | The stump and root ball, hauled off | ## Choose grinding if - You want the spot level with the lawn so you can sod over it or mow straight across. - The stump sits in a finished yard and you want as little torn-up turf as possible. - You plan to plant **near** the old stump, not exactly where it stood. ## Choose full removal if - A slab, a driveway, a pool, a shed or an addition is going in where the stump is. - You want to replant in the exact same spot and do not want old roots under the new tree. ## Neither, yet, if - **The tree was still alive when it was cut.** The Extension answer warns that the stump of a tree that was “not completely dead when it is cut down” may “produce sucker growth.” Ask your tree company how they will handle sprouts before you schedule the grinding. - **There is still a standing tree you are unsure about nearby.** Deal with the hazard first; a risk assessment gives you a written list of what to remove now, what to monitor, and what to leave alone. - **The stump is in a ditch line, near a buried utility, or on a lot line you share with a neighbor.** Get the utility locate and the neighbor conversation done before any machine shows up. ## Questions to ask before you pay for either 1. How far below grade will you grind, and is that written into the quote? 2. Is cleanup of the chips included, or is it extra? 3. If the stump sprouts, what do you do about it? 4. Are you licensed? In Louisiana, the Department of Agriculture and Forestry says “arborist licenses are required if you work on trees for a fee.” 5. Can I see your certificate of insurance before you start? Zeigler’s answers: below grade, written in the quote; cleanup included, always; Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry License #2168; certificate of insurance on request, before work begins. ## Get a stump quoted Text a photo of the stump to **985-893-0991** or call the same number. We serve all of St. Tammany Parish, the Northshore, the Southshore and Baton Rouge from our yards in Madisonville and Covington, and you get a free written quote before any work begins. ## Frequently asked questions **Is stump grinding or stump removal better for my yard?** Grinding is the usual choice for a finished yard you want to sod over or mow across. Full removal fits a spot where something will be built or where you want to replant in the exact same place. **How deep does stump grinding go?** The University of Illinois Extension says a grinder "can chip out a stump to 8 or 12 inches below ground level." Zeigler grinds below grade so you can sod over the spot; ask for the depth in your written quote. **Will a tree grow back after the stump is ground?** It can. A stump from a tree that was not completely dead when it was cut "may produce sucker growth," according to the University of Illinois Extension. Ask your tree company how it handles sprouts. **What happens to the roots after stump grinding?** The larger roots stay in the ground below the ground-down stump. If you plan to build on the spot, ask about full removal instead. **Is cleanup included with Zeigler's stump grinding?** Yes. Complete cleanup is included in every Zeigler quote, not billed as an add-on. ## Get a free written quote Call or text a photo to 985-893-0991. Office hours Monday–Friday, 8 AM–4 PM. [Call 985-893-0991](tel:+19858930991) [Text a photo](sms:+19858930991) [Request a quote](https://zeiglertree.com/#quote) ## Sources - [University of Illinois Extension via Ask Extension: What to do with tree stump underground after tree is removed?](https://ask.extension.org/kb/faq.php?id=826134) - [Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry: Arborist Licensing](https://www.ldaf.la.gov/land/arborists)