Stump removal options: how three extension services describe them
Illinois Extension, South Dakota State University Extension and Colorado State University Extension each set out ways to deal with a tree stump. This page lines up what they say about grinding, digging, chemicals, natural decay and burning, without brands or prices.
This page is for tree owners. It reports what the named sources say and is not advice about your tree: for that, ask a qualified arborist or one of the offices under Who to call.
Checked against the sources at the bottom of this page on October 9, 2026. Rules, fees and pay change: the source has the last word.
This page reports what the official source says. It is not legal advice: ask the office named here. It is not training and does not teach the work. Each method below is described as the extension page describes it, and the pages do not agree on every figure. Training for the people who run stump grinders is covered in the guides on chainsaw tickets and certifications by country, and the machines themselves in chippers and stump grinders.
Grinding
The South Dakota State University Extension page How to Remove a Stump calls hiring a service to grind the stump the most effective means. It says grinding usually takes in the entire stump down to 8 to 12 inches, along with surface roots that spread out from it. It says most grinding services charge by the inch, measured across the stump in its longest direction, and that grinding usually does not include removing the ground chips or filling the hole, which some services do at an additional charge. Illinois Extension, in Removing Tree Stumps, dated June 20, 2014, says a grinding or stump-cutting machine is often the fastest and most satisfactory way to remove a stump, able to chip it out 8 or 12 inches under the ground in minutes, and that machines are available from some landscaping firms, tree removal services and community street departments. Colorado State's PlantTalk page on stump removal says a tree specialist uses professional equipment to grind or chip the stump, and that the cost varies with the size and placement of the stump. Buried pipes and cables are covered in the guide on calling before you dig.
Digging out
Colorado State describes digging up the stump with a sharp spade or pick as time- and labor-intensive but effective, depending on the size of the stump. Illinois Extension calls digging or grubbing hard work and says an average person will usually find a stump wider than 15 inches rather difficult to remove.
Chemicals that speed decay
Colorado State and Illinois both say chemicals can speed decomposition, that directions vary from product to product, and that the mixture is left to stand for four to six weeks with repeat applications possibly needed. Colorado State names garden centers, nurseries and hardware stores as places that sell them. South Dakota State says the commercial products are potassium or sodium nitrates, which it describes as fertilizers, and that an accelerated process usually takes one to three years. Product labels and the pesticide rules in each country are covered in the guide on pesticide licences.
Natural decay
South Dakota State says natural decay can take a decade or more. Colorado State says it can take five to 10 years and is inexpensive and chemical-free, and says new sucker growth cut off before it reaches eight inches gradually depletes stored food. Illinois Extension says the cheapest and easiest method, though not the quickest, is to cut the stump at or below ground level, cover it with soil and keep the soil moist so decay organisms rot the wood. Illinois adds that if a tree is not completely dead when cut, the stump may produce sucker growth, and describes an herbicide on the cut surface as the quickest answer.
Burning
Illinois Extension reports a retired University of Illinois educator's view that stumps may be burned out, and says to check local ordinances on whether open burning is permitted. Colorado State likewise says to check local ordinances about burning stumps, and about retaining dead trees, before choosing a method. Rules on burning vary by place and are not covered here.
Leaving it in place
Colorado State and Illinois both describe including the stump in the landscaping, for example as a planter. Colorado State notes a trunk left standing can shelter birds and small mammals, and Illinois says dead trees are an important part of the ecosystem and that many birds and small mammals nest in them.
The methods side by side
| Method | Time the pages give | Named by |
|---|---|---|
| Grinding | Minutes to 8 or 12 inches down | Illinois, South Dakota State, Colorado State |
| Digging out | No time given; hard work | Colorado State, Illinois |
| Decay-speeding chemicals | Four to six weeks standing; one to three years for the fertilizer method | Colorado State, Illinois, South Dakota State |
| Natural decay | A decade or more; five to 10 years | South Dakota State, Colorado State |
| Burning | Quickly with a hot fire | Illinois; Colorado State only says to check local ordinances |
| Leaving it as a feature | Not applicable | Colorado State, Illinois |
Who to call
- Call before you dig: the free utility locate services by country, for work that breaks ground
- Local government ordinance office: the offices that publish local tree and yard rules; burning rules are set locally
- ISA Find an Arborist: finding and verifying individuals who hold an ISA credential