Stump grinding in Tacoma

Grinding or full removal?

Grinding cuts the stump down below the soil with a spinning toothed wheel and leaves a mound of chips and dirt. It's quick, tidy and the usual choice for yards. Full removal digs out the stump and main roots. It tears up more ground and is mainly for footings, foundations or new utility trenches.

Things to sort out first

• Depth: a few inches below grade works for lawn. Replanting or building over the spot needs deeper grinding.
• Surface roots: big conifers spread roots across the yard. Ask whether they're included.
• Chips: backfill the hole, use them as mulch, or have them hauled away.
• Access: lots of Tacoma backyards are reached through a narrow side yard or the alley. Mention gates, steps and slopes so the right size machine shows up.
• Utilities: buried lines must be located before grinding. Call 811, Washington's free locate service, a few days ahead.

Stumps in the planting strip

A stump between the sidewalk and the curb is in the public right-of-way. If the tree was removed under a city permit, stump grinding and a replacement street tree are often part of the conditions; the city requires replacement as a standard condition of right-of-way removal permits. Check your permit, or check with the city before you plant something new there.

Local stump notes

Fir and cedar stumps can sit for decades before they rot. Big-leaf maple, alder and many ornamental trees will sprout a thicket from a flat-cut stump, so grinding is the cleaner fix. Mushrooms around an old conifer stump can mean root disease, which can spread to nearby trees through the roots. Point it out to the tree pro.