“It's a good add-on service, but you have to have the work to justify it,” says Shawn Cressman, president of Cressman's Lawn & Tree Care, Hellertown, Pa. “If you can't operate a stump grinder three days a week, it won't pay for itself.”

Stump grinding, while a convenient solution for removing unwanted trees, can leave homeowners surprised by the cost. Those jagged remnants might seem like a simple removal job, but the reality is, stump grinding involves specialized equipment, skilled labor, and various factors that contribute to the overall price.

Hardwood Stumps – Hardwoods tend to have denser wood, which makes them more challenging to grind down. Examples of hardwood trees include oak, hickory, and maple. Among these, oak stumps are often cited as particularly tough due to their density and extensive root systems.

Stump removal is best used in a handful of situations. For example, if you're clearing a lot to build on it, you'll probably want stump removal. Or, if you want to plant another tree in the exact place where your old tree was, removal is your best bet. But, for most homeowners, stump grinding is the best option.