Achieving the right grinding depth for what you plan on doing with the stump removal site after job completion is vitally important. If your stump removal company did not ask what you plan on doing with the area after the job, then you need to tell them. Make it clear to your stump removal contractor what you need to do with the area after the stump removal job. If your contractor is still not discussing options for grinding depth for your application and why then you need to find a different contractor. If you need a specific depth of grind for planting grass, building a fence, installing a driveway, replanting a tree etc it is a must that your stump removal contractor know what depth to grind and be able to skillfully operate the stump grinder to grind to that specific depth.
If you plan on growing grass or placing sod back over the area of the stump removal, then a grind depth of 4-6 inches is recommended and all mulch chips from stump grinding needs to be removed. A depth of grind shallower than 4 inches may not grow grass as well as it should. A grinding depth deeper than 6 inches may settle more than necessary. When stump removal area is filled back in with topsoil, the soil will settle. The deeper the void in the ground that needs to be filled the more you will have to battle with excessive settling of the soil over time.
If you plan on putting a fence over the stump removal area, then complete removal of stump to full depth may be needed. All mulch chips need to be removed. Before the stump removal takes place, it is best to have the fence posts plotted out clearly, so your stump removal guy knows where to take to full depth, complete removal. Sometimes depending on the stump size complete removal may only be achieved with an excavator. A fence post cannot be poured below frost line if the stump isn’t completely removed to full depth. Some stump machines have a maximum grind depth of 12 inches. Your stump removal contractor should know the maximum depth they can go.
A flower bed needs at least 6-12 inches of grind depth. The grind depth will depend on what types of flowers are going to be planted in flower bed, so it is usually a safe bet to go the full 12 inches of depth with this one.
A complete full removal of the tree stump is needed if you want to plant tree back over top of stump removal area. All the left-over wood mulch chips from the stump grinding also needs to be removed and new fertile topsoil ideal for tree growth needs to be put back in stump removal area. Sometimes it might be better to plant a new adjacent to stump removal area just be safe.
If you plan to have a concrete or asphalt driveway installed over the stump removal site, then a grind depth of at least 10 inches is recommended. For a concrete pour the thickness is usually 4 inches with another 4 inches of substrate. With asphalt the asphalt thickness is usually around 2-3 inches with another 4 inches of substrate. It is always a good idea to keep in mind stump removal area may also significantly settle. A concrete driveway can crack or settle in stump removal area if soil in the stump removal area settles more than surrounding area.
If nothing will go back over stump removal area it is easiest and most cost effective to just form a neat pile with left over stump removal chips and let nature takes it’s course. After a year or two area will settle out and grass may begin to grow back.
So now you know why you need to discuss grinding depth with your stump removal contractor. A grind depth of about 4-6 inches is usually standard for stump grinding and included in the standard quoted price. For most stump removal companies there will be an extra charge for additional custom depth beyond their standard grind depth. If your stump removal job is not ground deep enough for your application the first time you may be stuck with paying for the job twice. The stump grinding company will probably charge the customer again for a trip fee and extra grind depth for coming back out to grind deeper. It’s much cheaper for the customer to get it ground to the correct depth the first time.