Stumped by Tree Troubles? We're Here for You! - Get Your FREE Estimates!
Stumped by Tree Troubles? We're Here for You! - Get Your FREE Estimates!
Most stumps in Hammond yards got there the same way: a tree came down, the wood was hauled off, and the stump stayed behind to catch the mower. Stump grinding in Hammond clears that leftover so the ground is usable again. A grinder with a toothed cutting wheel works back and forth across the stump and chews it into chips until it sits below the surface of the lawn.
Big Easy Tree Removal grinds stumps across the city, whether the tree was taken down last week or years ago. To see the rest of what we do in town, visit our tree service in Hammond page.
Grinding removes the visible stump and the top of the root flare. It does not dig up the root system. The roots that spread out underground stay in the soil and break down slowly over time, which is why grinding is usually quicker and leaves far less of a crater than pulling a stump out. If your project needs the stump and root ball lifted out entirely, such as a slab or pool going in on the same spot, our stump removal service covers that separately.
After grinding you are left with a pile of chips roughly where the stump was. Some homeowners rake the chips back into the hole and let them settle. Others use them as mulch around beds. If you want a clean patch for sod or seed, the chips can be pulled out and the hole filled with topsoil. Tell us which you prefer when you ask for the estimate so it is written into the job.
Hammond’s development code lists loblolly pine, live oak, bald cypress, southern magnolia and water tupelo among its native trees, so pine and hardwood stumps are both part of the mix. Pine stumps are often the simpler grind. A big oak stump with a wide flare and thick surface roots running across the lawn takes longer, and those surface roots can be ground a short distance out from the stump if they trip the mower.
Chinese tallow stumps are part of the picture as well. LSU AgCenter ranks tallow first among invasive woody plants in Louisiana, and Hammond’s code gives it no preservation credit, so there is little reason to let a cut tallow come back. Grinding clears the spot so something you chose can take its place.
Then there are storm stumps. Hurricane Ida’s winds downed trees and power lines across Tangipahoa Parish in 2021, and some yards may still hold stumps from trees that were cut flush during that clean-up. Big storm removals and crane work are handled by our fulfillment partner, Gulf Coast Tree Service, but grinding the stumps that remain is routine work, and an old storm stump can usually be ground the same way as a fresh one.
Access is often the biggest question on a Hammond grinding job. Many backyards sit behind a fence, and the grinder has to fit through the gate. During the walk-through we look at gate width, slopes, soft ground and anything the machine needs to roll past, like a patio, a septic area or garden beds. If the gate is too narrow, a panel or section of fence may need to come off for the day, and we will talk that through with you before the job is scheduled.
Stumps close to a house, a fence post or a driveway edge can be ground too. The operator works slowly in those spots and keeps the cutting wheel clear of the foundation or slab.
A grinder cuts below the soil line, and gas, water, electric, cable and irrigation lines can all run closer to a stump than you might expect. Louisiana’s dig law asks for notice through Louisiana 811 at least 48 hours but no more than 120 hours before excavation, not counting weekends and holidays. Stump grinding is not spelled out in that definition, but because grinding cuts below the soil line, a locate request before grinding is a sensible step. Point out any private lines you know about too, like sprinkler pipes or a wire run to a shed.
If the tree is a live oak that is still standing, the stump is the second question. Hammond’s Unified Development Code protects live oaks measuring eight inches in diameter at breast height and larger and calls for a clearing permit before removal. Whether that applies to a single tree on an existing home lot has not been confirmed, so call the Hammond Building Department at (985) 277-5655 before the tree comes down. Our page on tree removal in Hammond explains that rule in more detail.
A stump in the strip between the sidewalk and the street may sit in the public right-of-way, where the code requires a city permit to remove trees. Check with the city before work starts there.
If you are not sure whether a declining tree can be saved before it becomes a stump, our Hammond arborist services page is a good place to start. For background on how we grind stumps everywhere we work, see the main stump grinding services page, and if you also own property across the lake, there is a page on stump grinding in Mandeville.
You can, though it helps to plan for it. The ground chips break down and settle over time, and the old roots are still in the soil. For a new tree, many homeowners clear out the chips, backfill with good soil, or shift the planting hole a few feet to one side. Tell us you plan to replant so we can grind that spot a little wider.
Often it can, but every gate is different, so we check the width and the path during the walk-through. If the machine will not fit, a fence panel may need to come off for the day. We will talk that through with you before the job is booked.
It is a sensible step. Grinding cuts below the soil line, and Louisiana 811 is where locate requests for buried lines go. The state dig law asks for notice at least 48 hours ahead, not counting weekends and holidays, so plan the request before grinding day. Also tell us about any lines you put in yourself, like irrigation or a wire to a shed.
If it is in the way of mowing, planting or a project, usually yes. An old stump that has started to rot can still be ground like a fresh one. Grinding it below grade clears the tripping hazard and lets grass fill back in over the spot.
If a stump is catching the mower or sitting where you want a bed, a patio edge or a new tree, call 504-732-1166 or request a free written estimate. Let us know how many stumps you have and where they sit, and we will plan the access and the clean-up with you.
A credentialed arborist scopes the work and signs off the plan before a saw leaves the truck.
General liability and workers' compensation in force. Certificates sent before we start.
New Orleans, the Northshore and the coast — through hurricane seasons, not just fair weather.
No call-out fee, no obligation, and a fixed price in writing before any work begins.
Tree down or leaning? Call us first.
Storm and hazard crews dispatch 7 days a week across New Orleans, the Northshore and the coast.
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