Stump grinding vs. stump removal in Tallahassee

Short answer: grinding chews the stump into chips a few inches below the ground and leaves the roots to rot in place. It is the most common and cheaper option, and it is enough if you just want to mow, lay sod or get rid of a trip hazard. Full removal digs out the stump and its major roots. It costs more and leaves a big hole, but it makes sense if you want to plant a new tree in the same spot, the tree died of a root rot, or the stump is right against the house. Either way, call 811 first. (HomeGuide, Stump removal cost; Sunshine 811)

Tallahassee Tree Match is a free matching service, not a tree company or an arborist. This page summarizes public guidance from UF/IFAS, Sunshine 811, Florida law, the City of Tallahassee and Leon County, plus published cost estimates. It is not a quote or legal advice.

Grinding vs. removal at a glance

	Stump grinding	Full stump removal
What happens	A grinder cuts the stump into chips. HomeGuide says standard grinding goes 4 to 6 inches below ground; a Tallahassee company, Coste Tree Service, says 6 to 12 inches.	The stump and major roots are dug or pulled out, usually with a backhoe or excavator.
Roots	Stay in the ground and decay over time	Major roots come out with the stump
Hole	Small, mostly filled with chips and soil	Large; HomeGuide says up to 12 feet wide or more, needing a lot of topsoil
Regrowth	Some species can sprout from what is left	Much less likely, since the roots are gone
Replanting in the same spot	Not recommended by HomeGuide unless the roots are gone	Possible after backfilling
Cost	Lower (see below)	Higher, with equipment minimums

Sources: HomeGuide, Stump grinding cost (2026); HomeGuide, Stump removal cost (2026); Coste Tree Service, Tallahassee cost guide (2026).

What it costs (estimates, not quotes)

We don’t set prices and we don’t invent local averages. These are published planning ranges:

Grinding, national (HomeGuide): $120 to $400 for the first stump and $30 to $60 for each extra one, or $2 to $6 per inch of diameter, with minimum fees of $80 to $160. Extra-large stumps run $300 to $800. Cleanup and hauling of the grindings can add $2 to $4 per inch. (HomeGuide)
Grinding, Tallahassee area (Coste Tree Service, 2026): about $2 to $5 per diameter inch with a minimum of around $100 to $150; a typical single stump $150 to $400, sometimes $40 to $75 each for extra stumps on the same visit. (Coste Tree Service)
Digging a stump out, national (HomeGuide): about $80 to $190 per stump by backhoe, but backhoe work has a $150 to $350 minimum, and because digging leaves a large hole, backfilling with new dirt costs extra. HomeGuide lists stump removal service at $75 to $200 per hour. (HomeGuide)

What moves the price, per HomeGuide: stump diameter (measured including the base wherever it comes out of the ground, not just the cut surface), hardwood versus young softwood stumps, how many stumps, how deep you want it ground (grinding out the whole stump and large roots up to 18 inches deep costs more), access and slope (stumps near a foundation or in tight yards cost more), and whether cleanup is included. Coste notes that grinding during the same visit as the removal is usually cheaper than calling a crew back later. (HomeGuide; Coste Tree Service) For the tree itself, see our Tallahassee tree removal cost guide.

What happens to the roots and the hole

After grinding, the roots stay put. HomeGuide says roots remain after grinding and not all of them die until years later, a grinder alone can’t remove them all, and only an excavator or similar machine gets them all out. Its advice after grinding is to fill the spot with chips, topsoil or sod, and not to plant a new tree in the same place unless the roots are gone and fresh soil is added. (HomeGuide) Expect the ground to settle a little as the wood underneath breaks down, and top it up with soil.

If you’re not in a hurry, UF/IFAS says letting a stump rot is probably the cheapest and easiest method, and regular watering speeds it up. Digging it out by hand is possible but can take many hours. UF/IFAS also suggests simply reusing a stump, for example as a stand for potted plants or as a seat. (UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions, Removing Trees) HomeGuide puts a full natural rot at roughly 3 to 10 years. (HomeGuide)

Will the stump grow back?

It depends on the tree. UF/IFAS says species vary in their ability to sprout after stump grinding, and some can regrow from any part of the stump or side roots left behind. If sprouts appear, UF/IFAS says they can be controlled with herbicide. For invasive trees such as Chinese tallowtree, UF/IFAS says stumps of almost all invasive woody plants will sprout if not treated with an herbicide right after cutting, while the stump is fresh. (UF/IFAS AG259, Herbicides to Kill Invasive Trees in Home Landscapes)

If you use an herbicide yourself, apply it according to the label instructions, as UF/IFAS stresses. It also notes that anyone applying pesticides to lawns and ornamental plants as a business must be licensed under Chapter 482, Florida Statutes, so if a crew offers to treat the stump, ask about that license. (UF/IFAS AG259)

Termites and root rot: when full removal is worth it

Termites. UF/IFAS says most Florida termites are subterranean and reach new wood through dead roots, so termite prevention should focus mainly on the soil around your house. It recommends leaving at least three feet between your house and any dead wood. (UF/IFAS FOR411, Woodpecker Poles and Habitat Wood) UF/IFAS’s Formosan termite guide also advises removing dead trees and plants, including the roots and stumps, from the yard if possible, and cutting back on mulch and wood chips around the foundation. (UF/IFAS ENY-216, Formosan Subterranean Termite) So a stump a few feet from the house is a stronger case for digging it out, and the chips from grinding shouldn’t be piled against the foundation.

Armillaria (mushroom) root rot. If the tree died of Armillaria root rot, UF/IFAS says the fungus can live in dead stumps and roots for years, and the infected tree should be completely removed, including the stump and major roots, before replanting with a resistant species. Laurel oak and turkey oak are among the susceptible trees UF/IFAS lists, and clusters of honey-colored mushrooms at the base are a sign of it. (UF/IFAS EDIS, Armillaria Root Rot; UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions) An ISA-certified arborist can confirm what killed the tree.

Call Sunshine 811 before anyone grinds or digs

Sunshine 811 specifically says to call 811 before you take a stump grinder to a stump, and warns that buried utility lines can be tangled in the roots of a fallen tree. (Sunshine 811, After the Storm)

Timing. Florida law requires notice at least 2 full business days before excavation, not counting weekends and holidays, and a ticket is valid for 30 calendar days. (Fla. Stat. 556.105; Sunshine 811 FAQs)
The homeowner exemption is narrow. It covers the owner of a single-family lot digging on that lot no deeper than 10 inches, with due care and no encroachment on a utility’s right-of-way or easement. (Fla. Stat. 556.108(1)) Pulling out a stump and its roots goes deeper than that. Sunshine 811 recommends that every excavator get their own ticket, so ask the company you hire whether they have one. (Sunshine 811 FAQs)
Marks are approximate. Sunshine 811 says the tolerance zone runs 24 inches from the outside edges of a buried line, so work near the marks has to be careful. (Sunshine 811, Excavator instructions) If the response is “clear” but you know lines are there, Sunshine 811 says they may be private facilities, which need their own locate. (Sunshine 811 FAQs)

You can request a locate by calling 811 or online through Sunshine 811. If a line is hit, stop and contact the line’s owner; if gas or another hazardous material is released, call 911 and leave the area. (Sunshine 811 FAQs)

What to do with the grindings and wood

Grinding a big stump leaves a pile of chips mixed with soil. You can keep them as mulch away from the house (see termites above) or have the crew haul them off. Make sure the quote says which.

Inside Tallahassee city limits: regular yard waste pickup takes grass, leaves, pine straw and shrub trimmings in heavy-duty bags or small boxes, and small limbs stacked no longer than 6 feet, no thicker than 4 inches, in piles no higher than 4 feet. Residential customers with limbs or trees larger than that need a special pickup. (City of Tallahassee, What items are considered yard waste?) The City lists the special pickup at $110.46 per quarter hour (that is also the minimum), plus $50.18 per ton for clean yard waste, and asks you to allow 3 to 5 business days. (City of Tallahassee, Special Pickup)

Unincorporated Leon County: residents can drop off one free load per day of yard debris (a level pickup bed) at the County’s Rural Waste Service Centers with proof of an unincorporated address. A tree company you hire can’t use those centers, even for debris from your home; professionals take it to the Solid Waste Management Facility at 7550 Apalachee Parkway. (Leon County, Rural Waste Service Centers) The County lists yard debris at that facility at $50.18 per ton for City residents and commercial haulers. (Leon County, Tipping Fees)

Neither page says how a whole dug-out stump is handled at the curb, so if you’re removing one, ask the crew to haul it, or call the City or Waste Pro (County curbside) first.

Questions to ask before you hire

Is the stump included in the removal price, or is it a separate line? Grinding or full removal?
How deep will you grind, and is it deep enough to lay sod or plant grass?
Will you also grind the surface roots I can see?
Do you submit your own Sunshine 811 ticket? When can work start after the locate?
Who hauls the chips, or will you leave them for mulch? Will you backfill with topsoil?
If you offer to treat the stump with herbicide, are you licensed for that?
Are you insured? Will you send a certificate of insurance straight from your insurer?

HomeGuide’s own hiring checklist asks several of the same things, including whether the company calls to locate underground lines first. (HomeGuide) Our guide to choosing a tree service has the full checklist. If the tree is still standing, check the Tallahassee tree permit guide before it comes down, and if it fell in a storm, see our storm damage guide and insurance guide.

Questions

Is it better to grind a stump or remove it?

For most yards, grinding is enough: it is the most common method, it is cheaper, and it leaves a small hole you can fill and cover with grass. Full removal (digging out the stump and major roots) costs more and leaves a much bigger hole, but it is the better choice if you want to plant a new tree in the same spot, if the tree had a root rot such as Armillaria, or if the stump is tight against your foundation.

How much does stump grinding cost in Tallahassee?

HomeGuide’s national figures are $120 to $400 for the first stump and $30 to $60 for each extra one, or $2 to $6 per inch of diameter, with minimum fees of $80 to $160. Coste Tree Service, a Tallahassee-area company, publishes $2 to $5 per diameter inch with a minimum of about $100 to $150, and $150 to $400 for a typical single stump. These are planning estimates, not quotes.

What happens to the roots after stump grinding?

They stay in the ground and decay slowly. A grinder only removes the stump to a few inches below the surface. HomeGuide says standard grinding goes 4 to 6 inches below grade and that only an excavator or similar machine removes all the roots. UF/IFAS notes that some species can sprout again from what is left of the stump or from side roots.

Will a stump left in the ground attract termites?

It can be a food source, but UF/IFAS says most Florida termites are subterranean and reach new wood through dead roots, so prevention should focus on the soil around your house. UF/IFAS advises removing dead trees, including roots and stumps, when possible, and cutting back on mulch and wood chips around the foundation.

Do I need to call 811 before stump grinding?

Sunshine 811 says to call 811 before you take a stump grinder to a stump, because gas, electric or communications lines can run near or under it. Florida law requires notice at least 2 full business days before digging. The only homeowner exemption is for the owner of a single-family lot digging no deeper than 10 inches with due care. Ask your contractor whether they have their own locate ticket.

Will the City of Tallahassee pick up a stump or stump grindings?

Regular City yard waste pickup takes small limbs no longer than 6 feet and no thicker than 4 inches, in piles no higher than 4 feet, and grass, leaves and trimmings in bags or small boxes. Trees and limbs larger than that need a paid special pickup. Put hauling of the stump grindings in your written quote, or keep the chips for mulch away from the house.

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