Stump Grinding in Salem, Oregon

The short version: we grind stumps in Salem 4 to 6 inches below the surface, whether we removed the tree or not, and leave the spot ready for lawn or planting. The estimate is free. Call or text (503) 551-5141.

Can you get a stump grinder into a Salem back yard?

Almost always. City lots mean side gates, fences and tight corners, so we bring the machine that fits. The smaller grinder goes through a standard gate. The tracked grinder handles big fir and oak stumps where there is room to drive it in.

How deep, and what is left?

We grind 4 to 6 inches below ground level. That is deep enough for sod or a flower bed. What is left is a pile of chips mixed with soil, which we can rake into the hole, leave as mulch or haul away.

Old stumps count

You do not need to have hired us for the tree. A lot of our stump work in Salem is stumps left by a previous owner or another company. One customer had us remove six trees and their stumps and grind two more stumps that were already there, all in about four hours.

Why do Salem stumps get ground?

Usually for one of four reasons. The stump is in the lawn and has to be mowed around. It is sending up sprouts every spring, which maple, cottonwood, plum and poplar all do. It is in the way of a project: a fence, a patio, a driveway widening, a new tree. Or the house is going on the market and the yard needs to look finished.

What kinds of stumps are hardest?

Old fir and oak stumps with wide root flares take the most time, because the flare can be twice the width of the trunk. Stumps on a slope, against a retaining wall or surrounded by landscape rock also take longer. Rock and old concrete around a stump chew up grinder teeth, so tell us if anything is buried there.

How long does it take?

A single ordinary stump is often under an hour once the machine is in place. A row of old stumps or one very large one can take a morning. You do not need to be home as long as we can reach the stump and you have told us what to do with the chips.

What can go where the stump was?

Lawn is the easy one: rake out the chips, top up with soil, seed or sod. For a flower bed, mix some of the chips in and add compost. For a new tree, plant a few feet to the side instead of directly on top of the old stump, because the old roots take years to break down and the soil there is mostly wood. For a patio, driveway or fence post, tell us before we start so we grind deeper and wider.

In Salem’s heavy clay, a ground-out stump hole can hold water over the winter. Filling it with soil and mounding it slightly keeps it from becoming a low spot in the lawn.

What should you do before we grind?

Public utilities are located first. Tell us about sprinklers, invisible fences and yard lighting, since private lines are not marked. More detail on the main stump grinding page.