A stump can be a trip hazard, a mower obstacle, and a home for insects. There's more than one way to get rid of it. Here's how each option really works.
Before Any Method: Call 811
In Wisconsin, contact Diggers Hotline (811) before digging or grinding so buried gas, electric, and cable lines are marked. It's free and required.
Option 1: Dig It Out by Hand
Best for: small stumps, a few inches across.
Expose the roots with a shovel, cut them with a root saw or axe, and pry the stump loose. Expect a full afternoon or more of hard work. Large stumps are rarely practical.
Option 2: Chemical Stump Remover
Best for: patient homeowners with an older stump.
Drill deep holes into the top, fill with a potassium nitrate product, and keep it moist. The wood softens over many months, then you chop it out. Cheap, but slow.
Option 3: Burning
Not recommended. Stumps can smolder below ground and burning may be restricted in your municipality.
Option 4: Rent a Stump Grinder
Rental machines can handle small to medium stumps, but they're heavy to haul, throw chips and rocks, and take practice. Wear eye and ear protection and keep people well back.
Option 5: Professional Stump Grinding
Fastest and cleanest. We grind below grade, handle utility locates, and leave the area ready for soil and seed. Learn more about our stump grinding and stump removal service, or see how it fits with tree removal on the same visit.
After the Stump Is Gone
Rake out most wood chips, fill with topsoil, and seed. Chips left behind can be used as mulch around other plants.
