Garrett Tree Service
Stump Grinding in Colorado Springs, CO
Get rid of the stump — and the trip hazard, the sprouts, and the mower-killer.
Grind the stump below grade so you get your yard back — no trip hazard, no sprouting, no sunken hole.
What is stump grinding?
Stump grinding is the mechanical removal of a leftover stump and its surface roots, ground several inches below grade so the area can be leveled, seeded, or replanted. Garrett Tree Service grinds the stump, backfills with the grindings or hauls them off, and leaves the spot ready to use.
A stump left in a Front Range yard doesn't quietly rot away — it's a trip hazard, it wrecks mower blades, it sprouts suckers, and the decaying wood becomes a hub for carpenter ants, termites, and wood-boring beetles that can move on to healthy trees or the house. Our grinder uses a high-speed carbide-tooth wheel to chip the stump and its surface roots into mulch, working from the outer edge inward until the trunk flare is gone. Colorado Springs' rocky Pikes Peak soil is hard on light-duty machines, so we bring professional-grade equipment that handles embedded stone as easily as green or weathered wood. Grinding is faster and far less destructive than full stump excavation — no crater to backfill, no heavy machinery tearing up the lawn.
Who needs stump grinding?
- Stumps left behind from an older removal or a storm-snapped tree
- Stumps in the path of new sod, a patio, a fence line, or a driveway
- Aspen, elm, and cottonwood stumps throwing suckers across the lawn
- Surface roots humping up under the grass and catching mower decks
- Multiple small stumps left from a thinning or mitigation project
How the work actually goes
Every stump grinding job follows the same four steps so there are no surprises on price, schedule, or cleanup.
- 01
Locate and clear
We check for irrigation, marked utility lines, and hardscape before the grinder gets close — service lines in older neighborhoods can sit shallower than current code.
- 02
Grind below grade
Stump, trunk flare, and surface roots ground four to eight inches below soil level — deeper if you're setting a fence post or planting a new tree in the same spot.
- 03
Backfill or haul
Grindings used as mulch or void fill, or hauled off and topped with imported soil if you're seeding.
- 04
Clean and level
Area raked flat and blown clean so it's ready for seed, sod, or gravel.
What affects the cost of stump grinding?
We quote a fixed scope in writing after seeing the tree. These are the factors that move the number up or down.
- Stump diameter measured at the widest point, plus any flare
- Access — a machine that fits through a 36-inch gate works differently than a full-size grinder
- Root spread, since surface roots often need grinding too
- Grinding depth, which goes deeper for fence posts, patios, or replanting
- Whether grindings stay on site or get hauled away with imported topsoil
Stump Grinding service area coverage
Garrett Tree Service provides stump grinding across the Colorado Springs metro and surrounding pine corridor. Find your city below to confirm you're in range and see local details.
El Paso County · Home Base
ZIPs: 80903, 80904, 80905, 80906, 80907, 80909, 80917, 80918, 80919, 80920, 80921, 80923
Stump Grinding in Colorado Springs →
El Paso County · ~20 miles north
ZIPs: 80132, 80133, 80921
Stump Grinding in Monument →
El Paso County · ~15 miles northeast
ZIPs: 80908, 80921, 80106
Stump Grinding in Black Forest →
El Paso County · ~10 miles north
ZIPs: 80921, 80924, 80923
Stump Grinding in Flying Horse →
El Paso County · ~18 miles northeast
ZIPs: 80831, 80808, 80928
Stump Grinding in Falcon →
El Paso County · Woodmen to the Palmer Divide
ZIPs: 80908, 80921, 80132
Stump Grinding in Hwy 83 Corridor →
El Paso County · ~7 miles west
ZIPs: 80829
Stump Grinding in Manitou Springs →
Why homeowners keep calling us back
Licensed and insured in Colorado, locally owned, and known for assessing a tree before removing it. Full cleanup on every job — brush chipped, wood hauled, work area raked.
Honest assessment first — we say when a tree can be saved
Rigging and crane work for tight, high-risk removals
Complete cleanup every visit, not a pile left behind
Stump Grinding FAQs
- How deep do you grind the stump?
- Typically four to eight inches below grade — enough to seed grass or set shallow-rooted plants over it. If you're installing a structure or planting a tree in the same spot, we grind deeper. Tell us the plan and we'll grind to suit it.
- How long does one stump take?
- Most residential stumps grind out in thirty to sixty minutes depending on diameter and wood hardness. Mature trees with wide surface root systems take longer.
- Can you grind a stump you didn't remove?
- Absolutely. Plenty of our grinding work is old, weathered stumps from previous contractors or storms — the carbide teeth handle hardened wood fine.
- Will the grindings be left in my yard?
- Your choice. They make good mulch for garden beds or backfill for the void, or we haul them off and bring in soil so the area can be seeded.
- What about the roots left underground?
- Anything below grinding depth decomposes naturally into organic matter. It won't resprout and it won't leave you with an ongoing problem.
- Why do stumps attract insects?
- Decaying wood feeds and shelters termites, carpenter ants, and wood-boring beetles. Left in place, that colony can spread to nearby trees, mulch beds, or wooden structures.
- Can grinding hit underground utilities?
- We have lines marked before we start and adjust grinding depth around any buried infrastructure, which matters most in older Colorado Springs neighborhoods with shallow service lines.
- Can you get into a fenced backyard?
- Usually yes — we size the machine to the gate. We confirm access during the free estimate.
Get Your Free Estimate
Call or text for immediate help, or send the form and we'll get right back to you with a straight answer on your trees.
719-696-0787Serving Colorado Springs, Monument & Manitou Springs, CO