Old and Rotted Stump Grinding: Hollow, Soft and Grown-Over Stumps
A stump left to rot does not leave on any schedule. It goes soft, hollow and full of ants, and it is still there. JB grinds old and rotted stumps below grade, including the ones the grass has grown over.
Old & Rotted Stumps: What the Job Involves
Most people leave a stump expecting it to rot away. It does, slowly. Iowa State University Extension says a stump can take ten years or more to decay enough to break up, and soil moisture, the fungi at work and the species all change that. In between comes a long middle stage: soft outside, hard at the core, hollow in places, and home to whatever moves in. That is the stage most old stumps are in when someone finally calls about them.
Rot does not make a stump small. The outer wood softens and the middle may hollow out, but the root flare at ground level is still as wide as it ever was, and the heartwood and big roots below often stay sound. So an old stump is measured like a fresh one: straight across the top at soil level, through the hollow, edge to edge at the widest part. Soft wood does go faster under the wheel than live hardwood of the same width, which helps with time on site.
The Carlton grinder takes an old stump down in passes like any other, until it sits four to eight inches under the surrounding soil, as a rule. Rotten wood is often damp, so grindings from an old stump tend to be darker and heavier than fresh chips. By default they are raked back into the hole and topped. They can also be left in a pile, or hauled off, which is quoted separately. The main stump grinding page covers the basics of a visit.
What old stump grinding includes
- Soft, hollow and crumbling stumps ground below grade
- Sound heartwood and the full root flare too
- Grown-over stumps found and ground, not mowed around
- Ant-riddled and fungus-covered wood ground out
- Grindings raked back, left in a pile or hauled
- Removal whole where a footing or slab goes
What moves into an old stump
Damp, decaying wood is a home. Carpenter ants, according to N.C. State Extension, commonly nest outdoors in tree stumps and like wood holding fifteen percent moisture or more. Clemson Extension says subterranean termites find moist or decayed wood more attractive than dry wood, and advises clearing wood debris from near a house. Mushrooms sprouting on an old stump show fungi at work on the wood and the dead roots. Grinding below grade takes away the wood above and just under the surface. If you have seen ants or termites indoors, have a pest professional look at the house as well. More in do stumps attract termites.
Stumps the grass has grown over
A stump cut low and left for years disappears into the lawn until a mower blade finds it. Some show only as a ring of sunken ground, where the stump and roots underneath have rotted and the soil has dropped. Before the visit, push a flag or a stake into the middle of the stump, and probe around it with a steel rod to find the edges. Then take the photo with the flag in it. The grinder takes out what is left below the surface, and the grindings help fill the dip. Why a stump hole sinks explains the rest.
Some old stumps never go soft
Not every species rots on the same clock. N.C. State Extension describes eastern red cedar heartwood and black locust wood as naturally rot-resistant, which is why both have been used for fence posts. A cedar or locust stump on an old fence line can be nearly as hard after many years as it was when cut, and it grinds like it. Fungus is the other thing to mention. N.C. State Extension says Armillaria, the honey mushroom fungus, persists in old roots and stumps and can spread to nearby plants. Tell Jordan if mushrooms are also showing at the base of living trees. Old field stumps are covered under pasture and fence line stump grinding.
Old & Rotted Stumps Questions
Not seeing yours? Call (828) 574-4474 and ask Jordan, or read the common questions.
Is it worth grinding a stump that is already half rotten?
Usually, yes. Half rotten can still mean years before it breaks up on its own, and in the meantime it is a trip hazard, a mower hazard and a home for ants. The soft wood grinds faster than a fresh stump, and once it is below grade the spot can go back to lawn or a bed straight away.
My old stump is hollow in the middle. Do I measure the hole or the outside?
The outside. Run the tape from outer edge to outer edge at soil level, flare and all, straight over the hole. The grinder still has to take down the whole ring of wood and the flare around it. Leave the tape lying there and photograph it from above, then add a second picture of the way in.
Will grinding an old stump get rid of the carpenter ants living in it?
It takes away their nest wood. Stumps are one of the places N.C. State Extension names for carpenter ant nests, and grinding removes the stump above and just below the ground. Ants may move on to other damp wood nearby, such as a woodpile or an old fence post. If they have turned up inside the house, a pest professional should look at that.
How do you find an old stump that is level with the ground or under the grass?
With your help. Push a flag or a stake into it before the visit, and probe around it with a steel rod or a long screwdriver to find the edges. A ring of sunken ground often marks where it is. Send a photo with the flag in it, and say roughly how long ago the tree came down.
Does a rotted stump take less time to grind than a fresh one?
Often, because soft wood comes off faster than sound wood. It is not the whole story. Width at soil level, the number of stumps, how the machine gets there and where the chips end up still set the job. A cedar or locust stump can stay hard for years, so species matters too. Send two pictures and the name of your town for a firm figure.
5.0
5.0 on Google · 24 reviews
What People Say Afterwards
Word for word from the Google profile. The same three things keep coming up: he shows up when he says he will, the work is clean, and the ground is left tidy.
“Jordan with JB Stump Grinding & Land Management did an excellent job from start to finish. He was professional, courteous, respectful, and showed up exactly when he said he would. His work was very clean and neat, and he took the time to make sure everything was cleaned up and the property looked great before he left.”
“Exceptional job from start to finish — he was professional, efficient, and clearly takes a lot of pride in his work. His pricing was very fair and reasonable, and the quality of the work was excellent. He showed up, worked hard, and left the area looking great when it was finished.”
“I have used JB Stump Grinding multiple times and I couldn’t be more impressed! Jordan did a great job, showed up when he said he would, and left everything clean when he was finished. Professional, dependable, and easy to work with.”
“I have used JB twice and will use him again anytime. He is a pleasure to work with and also does a fantastic job. He cuts, cleans up and delivers. Definitely deserves 5 stars.”
“Jordan is a stand up guy! Can’t thank him enough! Would highly recommend him to anyone!”
“Best stump removal in the area!”
How a Job Runs
Send two photos
One of the stump with something for scale, one of the way in, plus your town. Call, use the form, or email the photos.
Get your quote
Jordan quotes every job himself. Estimates are free, and you have the number before any work starts.
Lines get marked
Public utility lines are located through 811 before grinding near them. 811 does not mark private lines, so point out irrigation, lighting, invisible fence and septic parts.
The grind
The stump is ground in passes to below grade, usually four to eight inches under. Tell us first if you are planting or laying turf and it goes deeper.
Clean ground
Grindings are raked back into the hole and topped, left in a pile for your beds, or hauled off. Any marks on the lawn get raked.
Stump Grinding & Removal
Stumps ground out below grade, grindings dealt with, and the ground left clean.
The full serviceFull Stump Removal
The whole stump and root ball lifted out and hauled off, for spots that will be built on.
DetailsLarge Stumps
Big oak, pine and old hardwood stumps ground below grade, wide root flare included.
DetailsTight Access
A narrow tracked grinder for stumps behind gates, beside houses and up against patios.
DetailsStorm Root Balls
Blow-downs, lifted root plates and storm root balls lifted out, hauled off and the hole filled.
DetailsCommercial & Builders
Stump grinding and removal for builder lots, HOA common ground, golf courses and rentals.
DetailsPasture & Fence Lines
Paddock, field and fence-row stumps ground below grade so you can mow and fence.
DetailsSteep Slopes
Stumps on banks and hillside yards ground in place, with the slope left stable.
DetailsStump grinding near you
Need Old & Rotted Stumps?
Send two photos and your town, or call Jordan. You get a real number before any work starts.