Clearing Stumps So Your Yard Works Again

Stump Grinding and Removal in Foristell, Missouri

Stumps left in your yard after tree removal in Foristell create tripping hazards, attract termites and carpenter ants, and send up new shoots that require repeated cutting. Mowing around them damages blades, and grass struggles to grow over surface roots, leaving uneven patches across your lawn.

Patriot Tree Service uses a stump grinder to chew the wood down below soil level, typically eight to twelve inches deep depending on future use. The machine reduces the stump and exposed roots into mulch, which can be raked into the resulting hole or hauled away. This leaves the area ready for sod, landscaping, or new construction without waiting years for natural decomposition.

Contact Patriot Tree Service in Foristell to bundle grinding with tree removal or schedule it separately.

What the Grinding Process Actually Does

The grinder is positioned over the stump and uses a rotating cutting wheel with carbide teeth to shred the wood in passes. In Foristell, access is usually straightforward for front-yard stumps, but grinders can fit through gate openings as narrow as thirty-six inches for backyard work.

Once grinding is complete, you will see a shallow depression filled with wood chips where the stump used to sit, no protruding roots to trip over, and a surface that can be leveled and seeded within days. The grinding also eliminates the food source that attracts boring insects and prevents suckers from sprouting around the old trunk.

Wood chips are usually left on site to fill the hole and decompose naturally, adding organic matter to the soil. If you prefer removal, the chips are hauled and the hole is backfilled with soil. Grinding does not remove the entire root system, but roots below the cutting depth decompose over time without causing issues. The process does not damage nearby plants if the grinder is operated with adequate clearance.

Common Hesitations About Grinding Stumps

Most people wonder how deep the grinding goes, whether the roots will regrow, and what to do with the wood chips afterward.

Hands cupping a tree; environmental protection icon.
How deep does the grinder cut into the ground?
Typically eight to twelve inches below the surface, which is deep enough to plant grass or install a patio. Deeper grinding is available if you are planning construction that requires full root clearance.
Hands cradling a tree, symbolizing environmental protection.
Will the tree grow back after the stump is ground?
Most species will not regrow once the stump is removed below the soil line. A few species like elm or poplar may send up shoots from remaining roots, but those can be treated with herbicide if they appear.
Hands cupping a tree; environmental protection icon.
What should I do with the wood chips left behind?
You can rake them into the hole to fill the depression and let them decompose, spread them as mulch in garden beds, or request that Patriot Tree Service haul them away and backfill the hole with soil.
Hands cupping a tree; environmental protection icon.
Why is stump grinding better than digging out the roots?
Grinding is faster, less disruptive to surrounding soil and plants, and does not require heavy excavation equipment. Digging out a stump often damages lawns and utilities buried nearby.
Hands cupping a tree; conservation icon.
How long after grinding can I replant in that spot?
You can plant grass or ground cover immediately after filling the hole. If you want to plant another tree, wait until the wood chips decompose or remove them and add fresh soil to avoid nitrogen tie-up during decomposition.

Patriot Tree Service grinds stumps throughout Foristell using equipment sized for suburban lots common in St. Charles County. Get in touch to schedule grinding after removal or to clear stumps left from previous work.