Professional Stump Grinding Done Right — Protecting Your Property, Every Grind.

TCI’s ISA-certified arborists estimate every job and direct each stump grinding project from start to finish. Our trained crews handle the work while the arborist identifies and protects your underground utilities, irrigation lines, lighting, and hardscaping before the grinder ever touches the ground — saving you from costly repairs and unexpected damage.

Introductory Pricing

Service Type Stump Diameter Typical Range Notes
Hourly Rate Any size $125 / hour 2-hour minimum applies
Small Stump Under 12″ $50 – $100 Quick grind, minimal setup
Medium Stump 12″ – 24″ $100 – $250 Standard residential setup
Large / Mature 24″ – 36″+ $250 – $450 Wide root flare, multi-pass
Chip Haul Away Any size Add-on fee Includes disposal & topsoil backfill
Multi-Stump Discount 2+ stumps Discounted Ask about volume pricing

Every Stump is Different — Here’s What We Look At

Service Type Stump Diameter
Stump Size & Root Flare A 40” stump is roughly 4x the work of a 20” stump — volume scales with the square of the radius, not linearly.
Wood Species / Density Hardwoods (Oak, Walnut, Hickory, Eucalyptus) take longer and wear equipment faster than softwoods (Pine, Fir, Cedar).
Grinding Depth Required TCI’s recommended standard depth is 4–6 inches below grade — sufficient for most lawn and landscape restoration. Shallower grinding means less material removed, a smaller chip pile, less backfill needed, and reduced long-term soil settling. Deeper grinds (12–18”+) are available when required for concrete, driveways, or new tree installation.
Site Access & Gate Width Large track grinders need 35–36”+ clearance. Tight spaces require smaller walk-behind units, adding labor time.
Soil Conditions Rocks, bricks, or metal embedded in roots can shatter carbide grinding teeth instantly — priced in for risk.
Proximity to Utilities Gas, water, electric, or communication lines near the stump require extra caution, hand-digging, and utility locate (Call 811).
Irrigation & Lighting Private irrigation lines, low-voltage landscape lighting, and drainage must be identified before grinding begins.
Debris Removal Chip pile is 3-4x the original stump volume. Haul away, dump fees, and topsoil backfill are billed separately.

How It Works

Step 1
Free On-Site Estimate by a Certified Arborist

A TCI ISA-certified arborist visits your property to assess the stump’s size, species, root flare, access constraints, and any nearby utilities or infrastructure. The arborist prepares a clear, itemized quote and will oversee the grinding crew on the day of the job — ensuring the work is done correctly and your property is protected.

Step 2
Utility Locate & Site Safety Check

Before any machine touches the ground, we coordinate a public utility locate (Call 811 in California) to mark gas, water, electrical, and telecom lines. We also interview the homeowner to map private infrastructure: irrigation, landscape lighting, septic, and drainage systems.

Step 3
Equipment Selection & Access Setup

A TCI ISA-certified arborist visits your property to assess the stump’s size, species, root flare, access constraints, and any nearby utilities or infrastructure. The arborist prepares a clear, itemized quote and will oversee the grinding crew on the day of the job — ensuring the work is done correctly and your property is protected.

Step 4
Precision Stump Grinding

Under arborist supervision, our grinding crew systematically reduces the stump using carbide-tipped grinding wheels. TCI’s recommended standard depth is 4–6 inches below grade — enough for clean lawn and landscape restoration while minimizing the chip volume, backfill required, and long-term soil settling. When the project calls for it (concrete, driveways, or new tree planting), deeper grinds of 12–18+ inches are available.

Step 5
Cleanup & Site Restoration

The stump leaves a chip-and-soil mixture 3–4x the original volume. By default, chips are mounded and left as mulch (Grind & Go). For full cleanup, TCI offers chip excavation, haulaway with green-waste disposal, and topsoil backfill to restore a clean, plantable grade.

Step 6
Post-Grind Guidance

We walk you through what’s next: how long to wait before planting, whether to expect regrowth, what the chip pile is good for, and how to properly plant a new tree nearby (offset and use fresh topsoil).

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes — and TCI handles this for you. By law, underground utilities must be located before any mechanical digging. We coordinate with Call 811 (California) to mark public utility lines and independently survey for private lines like irrigation, landscape lighting, and septic systems.

A: TCI recommends a standard depth of 4–6 inches below grade for most residential jobs. This is sufficient for lawn and landscape restoration and has a practical advantage: less depth means a smaller chip pile, less backfill required, and less soil settling over time — reducing your long-term repair costs. If you’re planning concrete, a driveway, or a new tree in the exact same spot, we’ll specify a deeper grind (12–18+ inches) in your estimate.

For most species, no. However, aggressive species like Mulberry, Poplar, Eucalyptus, Willow, Tree of Heaven, and certain Elms can send up suckers from lateral roots left underground. For these species, TCI recommends applying a targeted systemic herbicide to the fresh cut before grinding to prevent regrowth.

A: Grinding creates a pile of wood chip and soil mixture 3–4 times the original stump volume. Our standard “Grind & Go” service leaves this mounded over the hole — great for use as landscape mulch. Full cleanup with haulaway and topsoil backfill is available as an add-on service.

Yes, with precision. Our operators can maneuver within inches of hardscaping, but always leave a buffer to protect your property and equipment. If a stump has grown into concrete footings or metal fencing, full grinding may not be possible without structural damage.

It’s not recommended. Fresh wood chips and decomposing roots deplete soil nitrogen, which starves new plantings. The dense underground root plate also blocks root establishment. Best practice: offset the new tree from the old stump center, and backfill with fresh organic topsoil.

Large grinders need 35–36 inches of gate clearance and relatively flat terrain. Walk-behind units can fit through gates as narrow as 24–30 inches, though they take longer on large stumps. We’ll assess access during your free estimate.

Yes. TCI uses volume/tiered pricing: the first stump is billed at full rate; additional stumps receive a significant discount. We also offer savings when stump grinding is combined with the same-trip tree removal or other scheduled TCI services.

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Why Tree Care Incorporated?

  • ISA-Certified Arborist Estimates & Directs Every Job — expert eyes on your property from quote to completion
  • Private Utility Identification Before We Grind — irrigation, lighting, septic, and drainage
  • Property Protection Protocol — windows, pools, cars, and landscaping shielded from dust and debris
  • Right Machine for the Job — large grinders to compact for any access constraint
  • Transparent, Itemized Pricing — no hidden fees, no surprise invoices
  • Multi-Service Savings — combine with tree work for discounts

Ready to Reclaim Your Yard?

TCI arborists and technicians are highly skilled at identifying and preventing damage or unnecessary cost during the stump grinding process. Contact us for a free estimate today.