Stump Grinding in Ocala, FL

Stump grinding turns a stump into wood chips with a machine that has a spinning, toothed wheel. The wheel cuts the stump and the main roots down below ground level so the spot can be covered with soil and sod, planted or paved over. In Ocala's sandy soils, an oak stump left in place can take years to rot, sends up sprouts, and becomes a trip hazard and a mower obstacle; pine stumps break down faster but attract termites and other insects while they do.

How deep and how wide

Most residential stumps are ground roughly 6 to 12 inches below grade, deeper if you plan to plant a new tree in the same spot or lay pavers. The grinder also follows surface roots out from the stump for a few feet when asked. Grinding is not the same as digging out the entire root system; roots further out are left to decay underground, which is normal and causes no harm in most yards.

Palm stumps

Palms do not have woody root systems like oaks; their roots are many thin fibers. A palm stump grinds quickly. If the palm died of Ganoderma butt rot, UF/IFAS advises removing as much of the stump and root mass as possible and not reusing the chips as mulch, because the fungus lives in the soil and can affect a new palm planted in the same spot.

Before the grinder starts

Underground lines are marked first through Sunshine 811, Florida's call-before-you-dig system. We ask about septic tanks and drain fields, which are common on larger Marion County lots, and about irrigation lines, which often run right past a stump. Gate width matters too: we measure it at the estimate so the right size machine comes.