After a removal you are left with a stump and a ring of surface roots. We grind those down 6 to 12 inches below grade depending on what you plan to do with the spot. Sod or grass needs 6 inches of clean soil over the grinds. A new tree needs 12+ inches and the chips removed. A patio or shed needs the stump fully gone and the chips hauled.
What's included
- Stump ground 6 to 12 inches below the surrounding grade
- Surface roots within 3 feet of the stump ground out as well
- Chips left in the hole as fill (free), or hauled away if you prefer
- Final rake-out so the area is level
Why this matters
Stumps regrow if you do not grind them. The roots send up suckers for years. Grinding kills the regrowth and clears the spot for whatever you want to do with it next.
Want a quote on this?
On-site visit, written quote, no obligation. Usually within 24 hours of your call.
Where we provide stump grinding
We offer stump grinding across south Ontario. Most of our work is in:
Frequently asked: stump grinding
How much does stump grinding cost in Ontario? +
Most single-stump grinding jobs in south Ontario land between $100 and $400 depending on diameter and access. A 12-inch diameter maple stump in an open backyard is usually $100 to $175. A 30-inch diameter oak in a tight side yard with fence-gate-only access can run $300 to $400 because the smaller grinder makes the job slower. If we are already on site for a removal, stump grinding is a same-day add-on and prices drop 20 to 30 percent versus a standalone trip. Multi-stump jobs (3 or more) get a per-stump discount. We give a written quote on site before any grinding starts.
How deep do you grind the stump? +
6 inches below grade if you plan to sod or seed grass over the spot, and 12 or more inches if you plan to plant a new tree in the same hole. The deeper grind on a replant matters because old root chips draw nitrogen out of the surrounding soil as they decompose, which stunts new tree roots for the first 2 to 3 years. For a patio, shed, or concrete pour over the spot, we go deeper still and haul the chips out. Tell us the goal when we quote and we set the grinder depth accordingly.
What is the difference between stump grinding and stump removal? +
Grinding turns the stump into wood chips in place. The visible stump is gone and 6 to 12 inches of soil can cover it, but the larger roots stay in the ground and decompose over the next 5 to 10 years. Full stump removal digs the entire root ball out with an excavator. That is a much larger job, leaves a much bigger hole, and runs $500 to $2,000 or more. The honest answer for almost every homeowner is grinding. Full extraction only makes sense when you are pouring concrete, building a foundation, or installing an in-ground pool over the spot.
What happens to the wood chips after grinding? +
By default we leave the chips in the hole as fill. They decompose, settle, and you top up with topsoil for grass. That is free and what most homeowners want. If you want them hauled away (because you are planting a new tree, pouring concrete, or just do not want them on site) say so when we quote and we will load them out. Some homeowners take the chips for mulch on paths or around mature shrubs. Fresh stump chips work fine there. Skip them around vegetable gardens or recent plantings because of the same nitrogen-draw issue.
Can I plant a new tree where the old one was? +
Yes, but plan for the chips. Either grind extra deep (12 or more inches) and haul the chips out, or pick a spot 3 to 4 feet away from the old stump location. If you replant directly into the ground-out hole and leave the chips, the new tree's first 2 to 3 years are slow because the chips are decomposing and pulling nitrogen out of the surrounding soil. The fastest path to a successful replant is: grind deep, haul the chips, backfill with clean topsoil mixed 50/50 with compost, then plant. Skip planting the same species in the same spot if the original tree died of a soil-borne disease like verticillium wilt.
Do I need a permit to grind a stump? +
No. Municipal tree bylaws across south Ontario cover live-tree removal, not stump work after the tree is already down. Once a tree has been legally taken down (whether by you with a permit or by a previous owner before you bought the house), grinding the leftover stump is treated as landscaping and needs no city approval. One edge case: if the stump is from a heritage-designated tree and the bylaw required a replacement planting, grinding too early can complicate that paperwork. Rare in practice. We check the address before quoting if you flag any uncertainty.