After the June 2026 tornado and years of ash dying off, a lot of Schuyler yards now have stumps where trees used to be. They trip mowers, sprout suckers, and sit right where you want a patio or a new tree. Some were cut by a homeowner with a chainsaw, others by a crew that did not grind, and some date back decades.
Tubbs Tree Service grinds stumps as an add-on to any removal or as a job on its own. Jason Tubbs checks each stump during a $50 on-site consultation, notes access, nearby utilities and what you plan to do with the spot, and gives you an itemized price per stump. The $50 is credited when you accept the plan.
Stumps the storm left behind
When a tree is uprooted, the root plate often stands up on edge with soil and stone packed into it. Those take extra work compared with a clean cut stump: the plate may need to be cut back and set down before grinding, and the hole left behind is larger. If your property in the Montour Falls or Watkins Glen area still has a tipped root plate from June, mention it when you book so Jason can plan for it.
Getting the grinder to tight or sloped spots
Village yards often have gates, fences and narrow side passages. Lake lots have stairs and slopes. Before the grinder comes, we look at the path in, any sprinkler lines or buried cables, and how to protect the lawn on the way. On steep banks, we may suggest leaving a stump to help hold the soil and grinding only the ones in level, usable areas.
What happens to the chips and the hole
- Chips can be left as mulch, raked back into the hole, or hauled away
- For a new lawn, the hole is filled with chips and topped with soil and seed
- Chips break down and settle over a season, so expect a little sinking
- Planting a new tree right in the old spot works better with fresh soil mixed in
- Grinding removes the stump and main buttress roots, not every root in the yard
Pricing a stump job fairly
Cost comes down mostly to stump diameter, how many stumps there are, how easily the grinder can reach them and whether you want the chips hauled off. Grouping several stumps into one visit, say a few old ash stumps along a Burdett hedgerow plus one by the house, is usually more efficient than grinding them one at a time. Your plan prices each stump so you can pick which ones to grind now.
Stump Grinding Questions From Schuyler County
Does stump grinding get rid of all the roots?
Grinding removes the stump and the large roots right around it, but smaller roots farther out stay in the ground and rot away over a few years. That is normal and rarely causes trouble. If you are building a patio or footing nearby, tell Jason so he can plan to grind out specific surface roots as well.
How deep do you grind a stump in a Watkins Glen yard?
For lawns and gardens, we grind several inches below the soil line, deep enough for grass or a planting bed to take hold. If you need it deeper, for example for a walkway, it can be listed on your plan. We check for utility lines before any grinding begins.
Can I plant a new tree where the old one stood in Odessa?
You can, though it helps to offset the new tree a few feet from the old center and to replace some of the chips with good soil. Wood chips use nitrogen as they break down, which can slow a young tree. Jason can talk through placement during the consultation, along with our tree planting options.
Want the full picture? Read our stump grinding guide, or see everything we do in Schuyler County.