A stump grinder uses a spinning steel wheel fitted with carbide teeth to chip a tree stump down into mulch, usually a few inches below ground level. It's the fastest way to get rid of the stump left after a tree is cut, without digging or chemicals.
How a typical job goes
- Clear rocks, debris, and loose soil from around the stump — rocks are the fastest way to dull or chip the teeth.
- Position the machine over the stump and lower the cutting wheel onto the top edge.
- Sweep the wheel side to side, taking a couple of inches at a time, then advance forward and repeat.
- Grind 4–6 inches below grade if you plan to replant grass or lay sod over the spot.
- Rake out the mulch — you'll usually have more than you expect — and backfill with topsoil.
Before you start
- Call 811 (in the U.S.) a few days ahead so utilities can mark buried lines. Never grind over unmarked ground.
- Wear protection: safety glasses or a face shield, ear protection, gloves, and closed boots. Grinding throws chips and grit hard.
- Check the size: a small yard stump is a good first DIY job; large trunks, big root flares, or stumps near foundations and fences are slower and riskier.
If you're weighing renting a machine against calling a pro, see Rent a grinder or hire a pro?