Old stumps and new ones
Stump Grinding in New Orleans, LA
Ground below the surface so the spot can be replanted, sodded or covered, with the grindings dealt with your way.
- Free estimates, in person, for homes in New Orleans and nearby towns
- Itemized written price before any cutting
- Logs left or hauled, your call, agreed up front
Getting Rid of the Part Left Behind
Stump grinding in New Orleans comes up after nearly every removal and every hurricane season. A stump left in a small backyard takes up space you need, trips people, gets in the way of mowing, and in this climate it can become a home for termites as it rots. Grinding turns the stump into wood chips with a rotating cutting wheel, working down below the soil surface so you can cover it and move on, without digging out the whole root ball.
How deep and how wide
Most stumps are ground several inches below grade, which is enough for sod or a new bed. If you plan to plant a new tree in the same spot, set pavers or pour a slab, tell us, because that changes how deep and how wide we go. Grinding takes out the stump and the top of the main roots near it. It does not remove every root in the yard; HomeGuide notes that stump grinding does not include full root removal, which is a separate job usually charged by the hour.
Access in old neighborhoods
In much of the city the challenge is getting to the stump, not grinding it. Backyards behind shotgun houses are often reached through a gate three feet wide, past an air conditioner and a water heater. Smaller grinders fit through narrow gates, and we ask about gate width when you call so we bring the right machine.
Before the wheel goes in the ground
Buried lines are common in older city yards: gas, water, sewer laterals and low-voltage wiring for lights. We have utilities located through 811 before grinding and look for anything private, like sprinkler lines or yard lighting, that 811 will not mark. Sewer laterals in particular can run right beside old trees, which is often why the tree had to go.
The grindings
A grinder turns a stump into a pile of chips and soil much bigger than people expect. You can keep it to fill the hole and use as mulch, or have us rake it out and haul it off. Grindings settle as they break down, so a little topsoil on top before sod gives a flatter finish. Stumps of trees that were full of Formosan termites are worth grinding out and removing rather than leaving to rot in place near the house.
What Stump Work Covers
We price stumps one by one, with the cleanup written next to each.
Single and multiple stumps
One stump after a removal, or several left over from past storms, ground on one visit.
Surface root grinding
Exposed roots near the stump ground down so the lawn can be leveled.
Narrow-access grinding
Compact machines for backyards reached through gates and side alleys.
Grindings cleanup
Chips left as fill and mulch, or raked out and hauled away.
Stump Grinding Costs at a Glance
| Job | Published range |
|---|---|
| Stump grinding, New Orleans average (LawnStarter) | about $250 |
| First stump (HomeGuide, national) | $120 to $400 |
| Each additional stump (HomeGuide, national) | $30 to $60 |
| Extra-large stump (HomeGuide, national) | $300 to $800 |
| Priced by diameter (HomeGuide, national) | $2 to $6 per inch |
| Minimum job fee (HomeGuide, national) | $80 to $160 |
| Root removal (HomeGuide, national) | $75 to $150 per hour |
Ranges from LawnStarter's New Orleans price page (2026) and HomeGuide (2026). HomeGuide notes that debris haul-off can add $2 to $4 per inch where it is not included. Your written estimate is the price.
How Stump Grinding Works
1. Measure and check access
Stump diameter, surface roots, gate width and what is nearby.
2. Locate utilities
811 marks public and utility lines; we ask about private lines like sprinklers and lighting.
3. Grind below grade
The wheel works across the stump and down to the agreed depth.
4. Finish the spot
Grindings left as fill or hauled away, and the area raked level.
Why Choose Us for Stump Grinding
Right-size machine
We ask about gate width up front so the grinder fits.
Depth set by your plans
Sod, a new tree or pavers each need a different depth, and the quote says which.
Cleanup in writing
Whether grindings stay or go is on the quote, not decided on the day.
Stump Grinding Questions
How much does stump grinding cost in New Orleans?
LawnStarter's New Orleans average is about $250. HomeGuide's national figures put the first stump at $120 to $400 and each additional stump at $30 to $60, so several stumps on one visit cost less each. Diameter, hardwood versus softwood, surface roots and access change the price. We give a written price.
Can I plant a new tree where the old stump was?
Yes, but grind deeper and wider, remove most of the grindings and bring in good soil, because decaying wood chips tie up nitrogen. Offsetting the new tree a few feet from the old stump is often easier.
Will the roots keep growing after grinding?
Some species, including Chinese tallow and some elms, can send up sprouts from roots after the stump is gone. Cutting sprouts back as they appear usually wears the roots out over a season or two.
How long does it take to grind a stump?
Most residential stumps take well under an hour of grinding once the machine is in place. Very large stumps, big surface roots and hard-to-reach backyards take longer.
Stump Grinding Service Areas
- Tree Service in New Orleans, LA
- Tree Service in Uptown, LA
- Tree Service in Lakeview, LA
- Tree Service in Gentilly, LA
- Tree Service in Algiers, LA
- Tree Service in New Orleans East, LA
- Tree Service in Metairie, LA
- Tree Service in Kenner, LA
- Tree Service in Harahan, LA
- Tree Service in River Ridge, LA
- Tree Service in Jefferson, LA
- Tree Service in Gretna, LA
- Tree Service in Terrytown, LA
- Tree Service in Harvey, LA
- Tree Service in Marrero, LA
- Tree Service in Westwego, LA
- Tree Service in Chalmette, LA
- Tree Service in Arabi, LA
- Tree Service in Meraux, LA
- Tree Service in Belle Chasse, LA
- Tree Service in Destrehan, LA
- Tree Service in Luling, LA
- Tree Service in Mandeville, LA
- Tree Service in Slidell, LA
Get a Stump Grinding Estimate
Send the stump size and gate width, or call (504) 384-7694 for a free estimate.