Stump Grinding & Lot Clearing in Sugar Land, TX

We grind to 8–12" below grade as standard — deep enough to plant grass on top, pour a slab, or build a deck. If you need deeper (for a foundation, pool, or large landscape feature), we can grind 18–24" below at a small additional charge.

A small ornamental stump under 12" in diameter takes 20–30 minutes of grinding. A large oak or pecan stump at 24" or more — common in Sugar Land's mature neighborhoods — is a 1–2 hour job, because hardwood density and wide root flares slow the cutter wheel. If you have several, we can grind 6–10 average stumps in a single day when they're at the same property, which makes per-stump pricing cheaper than booking them separately. The visit runs longer than the grinding alone: we confirm gate access first (our standard machine needs 36" of clearance), file 811 utility locates for any stump near sprinkler, gas, or electrical lines — that's standard and free — then grind, collect the wood chips unless you want them for mulch, fill the hole with dirt, and tamp it flat. Most sites are ready for sod the same week, and grinding starts at $150 per stump.

For most species, no. Once we grind the stump 8–12" below grade and take out the surface roots, the tree has no living crown left to feed its root system, so the remaining underground wood simply decays into the soil over a few years — harmless under a lawn or garden bed. The exceptions are a handful of aggressive re-sprouters: mulberry, hackberry, and some sweet gums can push new shoots from deep root remnants even after a thorough grind, and Houston's long growing season gives them plenty of chances to try. If your tree is one of those species, we'll flag it during the free estimate so there's no surprise later, and we can apply a targeted stump-killer to the ground-out root tissue that stops regrowth without harming nearby plantings. Either way the hole gets filled and tamped ready for sod, and any chips you don't want are hauled away.

It depends on gate width. Our standard grinder needs 36" of clearance; we have a smaller 26" walk-behind for tight gates. If neither fits, we can hand-disassemble the gate, grind, and reassemble it — quoted on the estimate.