That stump isn't going to rot away on your schedule. Jason Lewis and his crew grind it out below grade, haul the debris, and leave the spot ready for grass or a new tree. Diversified Tree Company is owner-operated, Black-owned and family-focused, based on Paris Avenue in south Grand Rapids — ten years in business, and the same person who quotes your job is the one accountable for it.
Jason grinds it out, then rakes the turf behind him
Stump grinding uses a carbide-toothed wheel to chew the stump into chips, typically 6–12 inches below grade — deep enough to replant grass, lay sod, or set a new tree beside it. Every Diversified grind includes surface roots within the machine's reach, backfill of the hole with the grindings (or clean topsoil on request), and cleanup of the surrounding turf.
Grinding is faster, cheaper and far less destructive than full stump removal, which excavates the entire root ball and leaves a crater. Unless you're putting a foundation or a driveway over the spot, grinding is almost always the right call.
Reasons people stop putting it off:
- Carpenter ants and termites nest in rotting stumps
- Fungal fruiting spreads to healthy trees nearby
- Mower blades and ankles lose against hidden stumps
- Suckering regrowth sprouts from live stumps every year
- A stump kills the resale photo of an otherwise great yard
- Replanting is impossible until the old root flare is gone
How the grind goes, start to finish
- Measure and quote. Stump diameter at the widest point, count, and access — we can often quote from a photo and a tape measure.
- Utility check. We confirm irrigation lines, invisible fence and shallow utilities near the stump before the wheel touches soil.
- Grind below grade. Stump and flare come down 6–12 inches below the surrounding grade, with surface roots chased as far as the machine allows.
- Backfill and cleanup. Chips backfilled and mounded so they settle level, extra debris hauled, turf raked clean.
Most single stumps take 30 to 60 minutes. The grinder fits through a standard 36-inch gate, so fenced backyards are rarely a problem. The backfilled chips will settle over a season — top with soil and seed whenever you like. If you plan to replant a tree in the exact same spot, say so when you call and we'll grind deeper and clear more of the old root plate. In soft conditions we lay plywood along the route; expect minor tracking at worst, nothing a season of growth doesn't erase.
What stump grinding costs around Grand Rapids
Tree stump grinding in Grand Rapids typically runs $105–$171 per stumpwith the full range spanning $60 to $350 depending on diameter, species and access. Multiple stumps in one visit price significantly better per stump.
- Typical stump, most jobs — $105 to $171
- Small stump, easy access — from $60
- Large hardwood or tight access — up to $350
- Added onto a tree removal — discounted, quoted together
Estimates are free and we respond within one business day. From the Paris Ave SE yard, most of the metro is within 20 minutes in normal conditions, so scheduling a look at the stump is rarely a production.
Permits, insurance and what happens to the stump
Diversified Tree Company is a BBB accredited business rated 5 out of 5 from 13 reviews. Here's what a couple of those customers said:
Glad I waited for the right professional. Jason was very careful in his approach with my tree fallen after the storm. If not for him I would have definitely damaged my roof. Very happy. — Tom, Google review
We grind stumps across Grand Rapids, Wyoming, Grandville, Byron Center, Caledonia, Moline, Jenison, Hudsonville, Dorr, Ada, Wayland, Alto, Marne and Comstock Park — residential and commercial. Stump grinding is one of nine services we run with one crew, alongside tree removal, tree trimming and pruning, emergency tree service, lot clearing, bracing and cabling, firewood, snow plowing and curbside leaf pickup.
Got a stump in the way? Most are ground, cleaned up and gone in under an hour. Call (616) 407-0044 or email thegreatestwoodchucker@gmail.com for a free estimate by phone or photo — the phone is answered Monday through Sunday, 24 hours.