After the tornadoes in Fayette and between Waterloo and Seneca Falls, a lot of trees in Seneca County became stumps almost overnight. Some were cut fast to clear a driveway or a road, and now they sit in lawns, gardens and pastures. Other stumps have been there for years, slowly rotting and catching the mower.
Tubbs grinds stumps as an add-on to any removal or as a job on its own. Jason Tubbs looks at the stump, the roots around it and what you want the spot to become, then lists grinding on your itemized plan from the $50 on-site consultation. The $50 is credited once you accept, and the plan says exactly how the area will be left when the crew is done.
Storm stumps versus old stumps
A fresh stump from the September storms is solid wood, often with a root plate that tipped and lifted soil. The grinding is slower, and the hole may need some leveling. An old stump in Seneca Falls or Ovid may be partly rotted and grind fast, but it can hide stones and debris that the roots grew around. Jason looks at both before quoting.
Grinding near septic fields and shorelines
Lake homes and camps in Lodi and Covert often have stumps close to septic systems, wells, retaining walls or a slope down to the water. Grinding is a good choice here because it removes the stump without pulling the root ball out of the ground, so the bank stays held together. Tell Jason where your septic lines and buried utilities run, and plan to call 811 before any digging.
What happens to the grindings
- Leave them in the hole to settle and break down.
- Spread them as mulch around beds and other trees.
- Have them removed and the hole backfilled with soil if you plan to seed or plant.
What drives the cost of grinding
Grinding is priced by the stump, not by a flat rate. Diameter matters most, followed by how far the surface roots spread and whether the stump sits in an open lawn or tight against a foundation, fence or garden wall. Access counts too: a stump behind a house on a narrow Seneca Falls lot takes more time to reach than one in an open pasture in Fayette. Several stumps on one property usually make each one more efficient.
Stump Grinding Questions From Seneca County
How deep do you grind, and do the roots come out too?
Grinding takes the stump below the soil line so you can mow, seed or cover it. The larger roots outside the stump area stay in the ground and break down over time. If you need surface roots cut back for a patio or path, mention it at the consultation and Jason will include it on your plan.
Can I plant a new tree where the old stump was in my Waterloo yard?
You can, but it helps to clear the grindings and bring in topsoil first, since fresh wood chips are a poor planting mix. Many people plant a few feet to one side to avoid the old roots. Jason can mark a good spot while he’s there.
Do you grind stumps on a sloped lake lot in Covert?
Yes. Slopes down to Cayuga Lake can be tricky for equipment, so Jason checks access and footing during the consultation. Grinding is often better than digging on a lake bank because the old roots keep holding soil. The plan will note how equipment reaches the stump and how the area is cleaned up afterward.
Want the full picture? Read our stump grinding guide, or see everything we do in Seneca County.