Stump Grinding in Laplace, LA

A stump in the middle of the lawn is one of those things you stop seeing until the mower hits it again. Stump grinding in LaPlace clears that spot by shaving the stump down below the soil line, so you can lay sod, dig a bed or plant something new where it stood.

Big Easy Tree Removal grinds stumps for homeowners around LaPlace, whether it’s one stump by the driveway or a few scattered across a back lot. For other work in the area, visit our tree service in LaPlace page.

Stumps in LaPlace yards

Some stumps around town trace back to hurricanes. The National Weather Service reported that Ida’s winds downed trees and power lines parish-wide in 2021, and St. John the Baptist Parish’s hazard mitigation plan notes that Hurricane Delta brought several trees down the year before. If a storm cleanup cleared the trunk and left the stump for later, grinding can take care of what remains. If a storm leaves a whole tree on the ground, large removals and storm work go through our fulfillment partner Gulf Coast Tree Service, and grinding can follow once the wood is gone.

Other stumps are left from trees people chose to remove. Chinese tallow is one tree homeowners may decide against keeping, since LSU AgCenter lists it at the top of Louisiana’s invasive woody plants.

The soil matters here too. The parish plan says the entire parish is susceptible to expansive soils, with alluvial clay that has a high shrink-swell capacity. Clay like that can hold tight to a stump and its roots, which can make digging one out by hand slow, heavy work. Grinding takes care of the stump without trying to pry the root mass out of the ground.

Getting ready for grinding day

A little prep makes the visit go smoothly.

• Check the path in. Measure your narrowest gate and note anything between the street and the stump, like steps, raised beds or a soft, low spot that stays wet after rain. If your yard stays soft for a while after rain, keep in mind that rolling equipment over saturated ground can leave ruts.
• Request a utility locate. The grinder cuts below grade. Louisiana 811 asks for notice at least 48 hours but no more than 120 hours before excavation, weekends and holidays excluded. The law’s definition covers digging, augering, boring and grading and does not name stump grinding, but a locate request before grinding is a sensible step.
• Flag your own lines. Sprinkler heads, low-voltage lighting and a line out to a shed are easy to forget. Point them out at the walk-through.

The walk-through is also when you get your free written estimate, so you know the scope before anything is scheduled.

What grinding does to the stump

The grinder’s toothed wheel spins against the top of the stump while the operator swings it side to side, turning wood into chips layer by layer. It keeps going until the stump is below the surrounding grade. The main roots stay in the soil and rot away slowly.

Surface roots that snake across the lawn can be ground along their length, too, as long as you point out the ones that bother you. That can be the difference between a yard that looks finished and one where you still trip over roots.

Grinding suits the usual goal of a flat, usable yard. When a project needs the stump and root ball physically pulled out, such as a new slab or addition, that’s a different job handled through our tree stump removal service.

What’s left afterward

You end up with a mound of chips where the stump was. You can keep them to fill the hole, spread them in beds as mulch or have them hauled off. As the chips and remaining roots break down, the spot can sink a little, so you may need to add topsoil later. In clay that shrinks and swells with the weather, a low spot can show up a season or so after grinding.

Replanting in the same spot is possible, though old roots and chips can crowd a new root ball. Clearing out the chips, backfilling with fresh soil and shifting the new tree a little to one side can give it a better start.

Frequently asked questions

What should I plant where a LaPlace stump used to be?

That depends on the space, sun and how wet the spot stays. For ideas, the parish’s approved tree list for its Major Corridor Overlay includes live oak, water oak, sweet gum, slash pine and longleaf pine. That list was written for a development corridor, so treat it as a starting point for ideas rather than a rule for your yard. Give a big species room away from the house.

Is grinding enough for a Chinese tallow stump?

Grinding takes the tallow stump below grade, which clears the spot. Because LSU AgCenter considers Chinese tallow a serious invasive in Louisiana, it’s smart to keep an eye on the area afterward. If shoots or seedlings pop up, pulling or cutting them early keeps a new tallow from taking hold in the same corner.

Can a stump right against my slab or fence be ground?

Usually, yes, though tight spots take more care and sometimes a slower approach. The walk-through is where we look at how close the stump is to concrete, fencing or siding and whether any part of the job needs a different plan. If the stump has to come out completely for construction, pulling the stump and root ball may fit better than grinding.

Why is the ground sinking where my stump was?

The chips and old roots under the surface break down over time, and the soil above them settles. LaPlace’s clay, which the parish describes as having a high shrink-swell capacity, can make that settling more noticeable as the soil dries and wets. Topping the spot with soil once or twice as it settles usually levels it out.

Schedule stump grinding in LaPlace

Count your stumps, note where they sit and call 504-732-1166 or ask for a free written estimate. If the tree is still standing, start with LaPlace tree removal. If you’d like a tree checked before deciding, see our LaPlace arborist page. Our main stump grinding page has more on the process, and for a nearby comparison, see stump grinding in Kenner.