Every tree removal leaves the question of the stump, and in Lakeland the answer is usually to grind it. An oak stump left in place will sprout for years from the roots. A pine stump rots slowly and draws termites toward the house. A palm stump rots fast and leaves a soft hole. Any stump is in the way of a new tree, a fence post, a sod repair or a mower blade. Grinding takes the stump six to twelve inches below grade — deeper if you're planting there — and chases the big surface roots out a few feet so the lawn can be leveled and seeded over it.
The step people skip is the locate. A stump grinder is a spinning wheel of carbide teeth that goes a foot into the ground, and Polk County yards are full of things a foot into the ground: gas lines to the pool heater, the irrigation main, the cable drop, the sewer lateral. Sunshine 811 is free, requires two full business days' notice, and marks public utilities; private lines (irrigation, the line to the pool heater, low-voltage lighting) are yours to point out. We schedule the locate when we book the grinding so the marks are there when the machine arrives. Chips can be hauled or left as mulch; a big oak stump makes more than you'd think.
What's included
Below grade
Six to twelve inches under the surface, deeper for replanting, with surface roots chased out.
811 called first
Sunshine 811 locate requested two business days ahead; private lines flagged with you before we start.
Any species
Oak, pine, palm, camphor, Brazilian pepper — different roots, same machine.
Access
A compact grinder fits a 36-inch gate for back yards and pool-cage lots; a big one for the open front.
Chips & backfill
Chips hauled or raked level as mulch; topsoil and sod on request.
With or without the removal
Same-day with our removal, or on its own for stumps someone else left.
Stump grinding cost in Lakeland, FL
| Job | Typical price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Stump grinding, per inch of diameter | $2 – $5 | Measured at the widest point at ground level |
| Minimum charge | $100 – $175 | Small stumps |
| 24–36 inch oak stump | $350 – $600 | Typical laurel oak |
| Palm stump | $100 – $250 | Fibrous, grinds fast |
| Multiple stumps, same visit | Discounted | One setup |
| Chip haul-off and topsoil fill | $75 – $250 | Optional |
These are 2026 Polk County ranges so you can budget. Your written price is itemized — the climb or bucket work, rigging, chipping and haul-off, stump grinding, crane time, permit check — and good for 30 days.
Recent work
Questions we get about stump grinding
Why do I have to wait two days?
Sunshine 811's locate takes up to two full business days. We book the grinding to land on the third day. For a stump nowhere near any line, we can sometimes go sooner, but we'd rather not find a gas line with a grinder.
Can I plant a new tree in the same spot?
After grinding deeper and removing the chips, yes — but a different spot a few feet over is better, because the old roots take years to rot and the soil there is depleted. We'll grind to planting depth if you tell us the plan.
Will the oak stop sprouting after grinding?
Mostly. Laurel oaks and camphors can push a few sprouts from the remaining roots for a season; mowing them stops it.
Can you get into a fenced back yard?
With a 36-inch gate or a removable fence panel, yes. Through a pool cage door, usually not — we'll find another way in or discuss removing a screen panel.
Do you grind stumps someone else left?
Yes. Bring us a photo and the diameter and we'll quote it over the phone.