Get the stump out of the way

Stump Grinding in Reno, NV

Stumps ground below the surface so you can replant, lay rock or reuse the space.

Free on-site estimates across Reno, Sparks and the Truckee Meadows
Each tree listed with its own price in writing
You choose what stays: chips, logs or nothing

What Stump Grinding Leaves Behind

Stump grinding turns a stump into a pile of wood chips. A grinder with a toothed wheel chews the stump down several inches below the soil line, along with the surface roots nearby, and the hole is backfilled with the chips or with soil. It is faster and far less destructive than digging a stump out, and in Reno it is usually the only practical way to clear a stump on a lot with block walls, rock beds and drip irrigation all around.

Why bother with an old stump

Sprouting. Siberian elm, cottonwood, willow, Russian olive and similar trees can send up suckers from the stump and roots for years.
Trip hazards and mowing. A stump in a lawn or along a path is something to walk around for years.
Replanting. You cannot plant a new tree in the same spot until the old stump is gone.
Landscaping. Rock, pavers and artificial turf need a flat base.
Decay. An old stump slowly rots and can attract wood-boring insects.

Before the grinder starts

We call 811 before grinding so buried utility lines are marked. Underground electric, gas, water and irrigation lines are common near stumps in Reno yards, since many trees were planted next to driveways and walkways where utilities also run. Drip lines and sprinkler pipe are not marked by 811, so tell us where your irrigation runs and we will work around it or note any lines that will have to be repaired.

How deep, and what about the chips

Most stumps are ground several inches below grade, enough for sod, rock or a planting bed. If you want to plant a new tree in the same spot, deeper grinding and removing the chips helps, because a mass of decaying wood chips ties up nitrogen as it breaks down. Chips can be raked back into the hole, spread as mulch in planting beds or hauled away. In Reno, a layer of wood mulch over drip-irrigated beds helps hold moisture in the soil.

Stumps left from earlier work

Many calls are for stumps from trees someone else cut down years ago. We grind those too. Price depends mostly on the diameter, how many stumps there are, how hard they are to reach (a narrow gate or a slope behind the house) and whether rocks or old hardscape are buried in the root zone.

Call (775) 600-6504 for a free estimate. Tell us how many stumps and roughly how wide they are; photos with a tape measure help.

Stump Work We Do

Each line is priced separately on the quote.

Single stump grinding

One stump ground below grade, with the chips raked back or removed.

Multiple stumps

Several stumps in one visit, usually at a lower price per stump after the first.

Surface root grinding

Grinding exposed roots running across a lawn or bed back to below the surface.

Chip removal and backfill

Hauling the chips and filling the hole with soil, ready for planting or rock.

Old and leftover stumps

Stumps from past removals, including ones that are sprouting.

How Much Stump Grinding Runs

Job	Published range
Stump removal, average range (Lawn Love)	$180 to $525
12-inch stump (Lawn Love)	$70 to $165
24-inch stump (Lawn Love)	$115 to $330
36-inch stump (Lawn Love)	$185 to $500
Each additional stump (Lawn Love)	$45 to $100
Per diameter inch (Lawn Love)	$2 to $5
Debris haul-away, per inch (Lawn Love)	$2 to $3

National ranges from Lawn Love's stump removal cost guide (2026). Diameter, access, rocks in the soil, the number of stumps and whether chips are hauled away decide the price. Your written estimate is the price.

How Stump Grinding Works

1. Measure and check access

We measure each stump, look at gate widths and slopes and note irrigation and hardscape nearby.

2. Utility locate

811 is called so buried utility lines are marked before grinding.

3. Grind

The stump and nearby surface roots are ground below grade.

4. Finish the spot

Chips raked into the hole, spread as mulch or hauled away, and backfilled with soil if agreed.

Stump Grinding Questions

How deep do you grind a stump?

Usually several inches below the soil surface, enough for lawn, rock or a bed. If you plan to plant a tree in the same spot, ask for deeper grinding and chip removal. The depth is written on the quote.

Will the roots keep growing after grinding?

Most trees will not regrow once the stump is ground. Some species that sucker from their roots, such as Siberian elm, cottonwood and Russian olive, can still send up shoots for a season or two; cutting them off as they appear usually ends it.

Can you get a grinder into my backyard?

Usually. Smaller grinders fit through standard side-yard gates. Tell us the narrowest opening on the way to the stump, and whether there are steps or a slope, and we will plan around it.

What happens to my sprinklers or drip lines?

811 marks utility lines but not private irrigation. Point out where your sprinkler pipe and drip lines run near the stump, and we will grind around them where possible and tell you beforehand if any will need repair.

Is stump grinding cheaper than stump removal?

Usually, yes. Grinding leaves the deep roots to decay in place, while digging out the whole root system takes much more labor and leaves a large hole. Lawn Love puts full root removal at about $2 to $4 per inch of diameter on top of the stump work.

Get a Stump Grinding Estimate

Free estimate on stump grinding.

Call (775) 600-6504 Free Estimate