The tree is gone. The stump is still there, and it's going to be there for a long time unless it gets dealt with.
Stumps rot slowly — we're talking decades before a large hardwood stump breaks down on its own. In the meantime, it sits in your yard, trips people up, blocks where you want to mow or plant or build, and depending on the species, may keep putting up root sprouts.
Grinding it out is the clean solution.
How Stump Grinding Works
Ryan's crew brings a dedicated stump grinder to the job. The grinder works down through the stump and the top portion of the root flare — typically 6 to 12 inches below ground level. What's left is a pile of wood chip grindings, which you can leave to decompose in place, spread as mulch, or have hauled away.
The deep lateral roots don't come out — that's not what grinding does, and any company that tells you otherwise is misinforming you. Those roots will break down over time on their own, typically 3 to 7 years for a large hardwood depending on conditions. Regrowth from the stump is no longer possible once it's ground below the root collar.
The job is finished when the site is cleaned up. Grindings can stay or go — your call.
What Happens to the Grindings?
The grindings that come out of the stump are a mix of wood chips and soil. You have a few options:
Leave them in place. The pile will be 6 to 12 inches above grade immediately after grinding — it settles as the wood breaks down. You can rake it smooth and let it decompose over one or two growing seasons. Most homeowners do this.
Spread them as mulch. Fresh wood chip grindings work as a garden bed mulch. They tie up some nitrogen as they break down, so avoid spreading a thick layer directly against plant roots — a few inches out from the plant base is fine.
Have them removed. If you want the site clean and ready for sod or new planting immediately, ask Ryan about hauling the grindings. That's a separate cost but fully available.
Planting or Seeding Over a Ground Stump
If you want to plant grass or put a new plant in the stump's location, the grindings need to break down first — or be removed. Seed won't establish well in a pile of fresh wood chips.
Best approach: grind in early spring, let the grindings break down through summer, seed in late summer or early fall when ground temperatures and moisture favor germination. If you want to seed in the same season, have the grindings hauled and bring in topsoil to backfill.
How Long Does It Take?
Most residential stumps are done in 15 to 45 minutes. A large white oak or black walnut with a wide root flare takes longer — up to a few hours. Multiple stumps get done in a single visit.
If you had Gouger's handle the tree removal and want the stump ground the same day, that's the most efficient way to do it. Stumps can also be done as a standalone job.
What It Costs
Stump grinding in the Stroudsburg and Monroe County area typically runs $100–$210 for the first stump, with additional stumps coming down in price. Larger stumps with wider diameters cost more. Multiple stumps at the same address get bundled.
Ryan gives free estimates. You'll know the number before any equipment rolls.
The Lawn Underneath
The crew uses ground-protection mats on all heavy equipment, same as every job. Your grass and landscape around the stump don't get chewed up in the process.
Meghan Voccia's family saw this firsthand: "They cleaned up all of the mess and stacked the leftover wood that wasn't chipped. The price was beyond reasonable compared to other local quotes."
Service Area
Monroe County and West End Poconos: Saylorsburg, Brodheadsville, Kunkletown, Pocono Lake, Effort, Sciota, Gilbert, Tannersville, Stroudsburg, East Stroudsburg. Call to confirm.
Get a Free Estimate
Call Ryan: (570) 620-7631 or use the contact form.
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