Stump Grinding · St. Louis, MO
Stump Grinding in St. Louis, MO
An old stump in the front yard or a ring of them along the alley fence makes mowing harder and gets in the way of replanting. We connect St. Louis owners with independent tree services that grind stumps.
We operate this website and send your request to an independent tree service that grinds stumps in your area. The contractor calls you back, asks how many stumps there are and how big, and gives you a price. You choose whether to book. The request is free.
Call (314) 816-2884St Louis City Tree Removal operates this website and connects local customers with independent local tree services. We don't do the work ourselves and we don't check any tree service's qualifications, so confirming that is up to you before you hire.
Request sent
A local contractor will reach out shortly. Watch for a call from an unknown number.
Quick answer
What Stump Grinding Does
A stump grinder is a machine with a spinning cutting wheel that chews the stump into chips, usually several inches below the surface. It does not pull out the root system. The roots left in the ground slowly rot. Grinding is the most common way to deal with a stump in a city yard, because full root extraction needs an excavator and tears up a lot more ground.
Before any grinding, underground utilities need to be marked. In Missouri, call 811 or 1-800-DIG-RITE to reach the Missouri One Call System. The service is free. Utility markings usually stop at the meter, so private lines such as a buried line to a garage light or an irrigation system are yours to locate.
Count the stumps, measure across the top of each one at ground level, and take photos of how the grinder would get to them. Most grinders can fit through a standard gate, but a narrow gangway or steps can change which machine the contractor brings.
Timing is flexible. A stump does not need to be ground the same week the tree comes down, and some owners wait until spring or fall when the lawn will be reseeded anyway. Angi notes that winter is often the cheapest season for grinding, with savings of up to 20 percent, because demand is lower.
On the job
How a Stump Is Ground Out
The operator positions the grinder over the stump and sweeps the cutting wheel back and forth, lowering it a little with each pass. The chips pile up around the hole. On a large stump, surface roots that run out from the trunk are often ground as well, so the lawn can be leveled over them.
When the stump is gone, you are left with a mound of chips and soil. Some owners keep the chips for mulch. Others have them hauled away and the hole filled with topsoil and seeded. Ask which you are getting, because hauling and backfill are not always included.
If you plan to plant a new tree in the same spot, tell the contractor. Fresh chips and old roots take time to break down, and planting slightly to one side of the old stump is often easier.
Most single stumps in a residential yard take about an hour, according to Angi, while hard or awkward ones can take two or three hours. The machine is loud and throws chips, so the operator will usually ask that people, pets and cars stay well back until the work is done.
Local ground
Grinding Over Limestone and Old City Fill
Much of St. Louis sits on karst terrain over Mississippian-age limestone and dolomite. In some yards the rock is close to the surface, and a grinder can hit stone before it reaches the depth you wanted. Rock dulls the teeth on the cutting wheel, so the operator may stop short if they find it.
Older city lots also carry their share of buried material: old brick, foundation stone, broken concrete and gravel from earlier buildings or walks. A stump that grew up through that kind of fill can take longer to grind. Mention it if you know an old structure once stood nearby.
Stumps near sidewalks and foundations need extra care, since roots often run under the pavement. The operator may grind only to the edge of the walk rather than risk lifting it.
Hardwood also matters. Angi lists oak, walnut and maple among the species that may cost more to grind, and those are the trees that shade most older city yards. An old, partly rotted stump, on the other hand, is often quicker and cheaper to grind than a fresh one.
Watch
See Stump Grinding in Action
Watch a grinder take a hardwood stump down below the grass line.
Before grinding
A Short Stump Grinding Checklist
These steps help the job go smoothly and keep the price close to the quote.
- Call 811 or 1-800-DIG-RITE so public utility lines are marked
- Flag private lines such as sprinklers, landscape lighting or a line to the garage
- Measure each stump across the top at ground level
- Clear rocks, toys and loose objects from around the stump
- Check the gate width the grinder will need to pass through
- Decide whether you want chips left, hauled or used as backfill
- Confirm whether surface roots are included in the price
If the stump is in the strip between the curb and the sidewalk, it is part of a city tree site. Ask the City before work starts.
City angle
Stumps Left After City Ash Removals
The City of St. Louis mapped more than 15,000 public ash trees along streets and in parks, and its Emerald Ash Borer Strategy set out to remove and replant many of them. Removing those trees left stumps in the strip between curb and sidewalk on many blocks.
Because that strip is city property, any private work there, including grinding a stump or planting a new tree, falls under the City's Tree Permit to Maintain. If a city stump in front of your house is a problem, start with a request through the Citizens Service Bureau at 314-622-4800, or ask the Forestry Division at (314) 613-7200 about the schedule for your block.
In your own yard, the stump is yours. Many owners have them ground right after a tree removal, while the crew and equipment are already on site, which can save a separate trip charge.
If you plan to ask for a new street tree, mention the old stump in your request. The Forestry Division takes requests for new trees on the City easement in front of homes, so ask whether the old stump will be cleared before planting.
How it works
Getting a Stump Grinding Quote
Count and measure
Call (314) 816-2884 or use the form with the number of stumps and their approximate width.
Request goes out
We pass it to an independent tree service that grinds stumps in your part of the city or nearby county.
Price by phone or visit
Many contractors can quote from photos and measurements. Some will want to see access and nearby lines first.
Schedule if it suits you
Book the job if the price works, and have 811 marks in place before the grinder arrives.
Ask how deep the grinder will go and whether the chips stay or go.
Pricing
Published Stump Grinding Prices
Angi's stump grinding cost guide gives national figures. They are general context, and the tree service sets the actual price.
Average job
Angi puts a typical job around $250, with small soft stumps as low as about $30 and large hardwood stumps up to about $1,600.
Per inch of diameter
Angi reports a common rate of $2 to $5 per diameter inch, up to about $7 in higher-cost areas.
Minimum charge
Angi says most contractors have a minimum of about $100, which is why one small stump can cost close to the price of two.
Several stumps
Angi lists the first stump at about $100 to $150 and each additional stump at roughly $40 to $75.
Access and terrain
Angi notes extra charges of about $50 per hour, or a flat fee up to $200, for difficult access or terrain.
Cleanup
Angi lists debris removal at about $50 to $200. Leaving chips as mulch avoids that cost.
The independent tree service sets and confirms the price after it knows the size, number and access of your stumps.
Use caution
Renting a Grinder Yourself
Rental stores carry stump grinders, and Angi lists rental at roughly $100 to $300 a day. For one small stump, that can seem like a good deal. But rental machines are heavy, they throw chips and stones, and the cutting wheel can grab a root and jerk the machine.
The 811 call still applies if you rent. Grinding goes below ground, and a gas or electric line can be closer to the surface than you expect. Wear eye and hearing protection, keep people and pets far back, and stop if you hit rock or metal.
If you hire a contractor instead, remember that we do not check licenses, insurance or credentials. Ask for proof of insurance and confirm it with the insurer, and get the scope in writing before the work starts.
Buyer question
Stump Grinding or Stump Removal: Which Do You Need?
Grinding takes the stump down below the surface and leaves the roots to rot. It is quicker, causes less damage to the yard and is what most homeowners need for lawn, garden beds or a new planting a few feet away.
Full stump removal pulls the stump and main roots out of the ground, usually with an excavator. It is typically needed only when something will be built right on that spot, such as a garage slab, addition or driveway. Angi lists root removal by a pro at roughly $100 to $200 per hour.
If you are not sure, tell the tree service what you plan to do with the space. That answer usually decides it.
Some owners leave a stump in place on purpose, cut low and used as a planter base or simply left to rot. That costs nothing, but a stump can sprout, and it stays a trip hazard and a mowing obstacle for years.
Keep exploring
Related Services and Areas
Tree Removal
From dead ash along the alley to oversized maples crowding century-old brick homes, we connect city owners with independent tree services that remove trees in sections where gangways, garages and service lines leave little room.
Tree Trimming & Pruning
Big oaks and maples shade most city blocks, and we connect owners with independent tree services that prune deadwood, lift limbs off brick roofs and clear branches from the alley side without topping the tree.
Emergency & Storm Tree Removal
When storms like the May 2025 tornado drop limbs on roofs and across alleys, we connect city owners with independent tree services that remove fallen trees once Ameren has made any downed lines safe.
Velda City
Velda City covers about 0.16 square miles of north St. Louis County, and its 1,188 residents in 2020 lived at roughly 7,300 people per square mile, so most yard trees grow close to houses.
Northwoods
Northwoods, where Lucas and Hunt Road meets Natural Bridge Road, already counted 733 residents in the 1940 census and grew to 5,831 by 1980, so many of its trees are decades old.
University City
Planning tree removal in University City often starts on its older south side, where the city founded by E.G. Lewis in 1906 keeps 16 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Stump Grinding Questions
How deep does a stump grinder go?
It varies by machine and site. Several inches below grade is common for lawn, and deeper is possible if requested. Rock close to the surface can limit depth.
Do I need to call 811 for stump grinding?
Yes. Grinding cuts into the ground, so call 811 or 1-800-DIG-RITE to have public lines marked first. The service is free.
Will the roots grow back?
Most hardwood roots die and rot after the stump is ground. Some species can send up sprouts from roots for a while, which can be cut as they appear.
What happens to the chips?
You can keep them as mulch or have them hauled. Ask whether hauling and topsoil backfill are included in the price.
Can a stump in the tree lawn be ground privately?
That strip is city property in St. Louis. Private work there requires a Tree Permit to Maintain, or you can ask the Forestry Division through the Citizens Service Bureau.
Is it cheaper to grind stumps when the tree is removed?
Often, because the crew is already on site and the minimum charge is only paid once. Ask for both prices on the same quote.
Talk to a Tree Service Serving St. Louis
Call (314) 816-2884 and we'll pass your request to an independent local tree service who can call you back with a price.
Call (314) 816-2884We operate this website and connect local customers with local tree services. St Louis City Tree Removal doesn't perform tree work, doesn't supervise tree services, and doesn't check any tree service's insurance, licensing, or credentials, so confirm those yourself before hiring.
Disclaimer
How This Website Works
Disclaimer: St Louis City Tree Removal operates this website to connect local customers and businesses in St. Louis, MO and nearby communities with independent local tree services. We are not a tree service, we do not perform, supervise, or warrant any tree work ourselves, and we do not check, verify, or confirm any tree service's license, insurance, bonding, credentials, or qualifications. Confirming those things is the customer's responsibility before hiring. Any price you're quoted comes from the tree service, not from us, and any agreement and the work itself are strictly between you and the tree service you choose. Calls placed through this site may be routed to an available local tree service. See the full disclaimer. Same-day and 24/7 emergency services are subject to provider participation, location, technician availability, and demand. Availability is not guaranteed and may vary by market and appointment capacity.