Stump Grinding in Dayton, OH

Stump grinding in Dayton is the usual way to deal with what is left after a tree comes down. A grinder, a machine with a spinning, toothed wheel, chews the stump into chips a few inches at a time until it sits well below the soil surface. It is faster and far less disruptive than digging a stump out, and it leaves a hole of loose chips and soil that can be leveled, topped with soil and seeded.

Why not just leave it?

A stump left in the lawn is a mowing obstacle and a tripping hazard, and some species sprout from the stump and roots for years. Decaying stumps can also draw insects and fungi. Ash stumps are a common sight around the Miami Valley after emerald ash borer, and while they do not spread the borer once the tree is dead, they are still in the way. If you plan to plant a new tree, it is best to pick a spot a few feet from the old stump, because the ground there is full of decaying roots.

Utilities come first

Grinding goes below the surface, so buried lines matter. Ohio's call-before-you-dig system, reached by dialing 811, has underground gas, electric, phone and cable lines marked before digging. We arrange the locate ahead of the grinding date. Private lines the utilities do not mark, such as a line to a lamp post, a sprinkler system or an invisible pet fence, should be pointed out to us before we start.

Access and clay soil

Compact grinders can pass through a standard backyard gate, which matters on Dayton's older, fenced city lots. In the heavy clay common across the area, the ground can stay soft for days after rain, so we use mats over the lawn or wait for firmer ground if the job is not urgent.