Tree stump grinding in Havana, FL runs roughly $85 to $900 per stump in 2026, and the spread comes down to three things: diameter, access, and stump count. Most people here are not grinding one stump. They are grinding three or four after a storm took down a laurel oak and a couple of pines.
Below is what the work costs, what a fair quote includes, and the part almost nobody explains: what to do with the chip pile and the soft spot it leaves behind.
What Stump Grinding Costs in Havana, FL
Pricing is per stump with a mobilization minimum, so the first stump always carries the trip charge. A 30-inch oak in an open front yard can cost less than an 18-inch stump wedged behind a 34-inch gate.
Cost by Stump Size
| Stump size | 2026 price band | Typical grind time |
|---|---|---|
| Small, under 12 in. | $85 to $150 | 10 to 20 min |
| Medium, 12 to 24 in. | $150 to $300 | 20 to 45 min |
| Large, 24 to 36 in. | $300 to $500 | 45 to 90 min |
| Very large, 36 in. and up | $500 to $900+ | 90 min to 3 hrs |
Figured by the inch, that is roughly $4 to $7 per diameter inch across the Big Bend, with a minimum charge near $150.
Stumps two and up on the same visit typically run 30 to 50 percent less each, because the trailer, the ramps and the locate are already paid for.
A real job from last spring. A 28-inch laurel oak behind a fenced backyard plus three small pine stumps.
- Oak: $420 (narrow-access machine, plywood mats hand-carried through the gate)
- Pines: $60 each
- Chips left on site
- Total: about $600
Hauling the chips off would have added $125. If that oak had been in the open side yard, it would have come down about $75.
Treat every number on this page as an estimate band. The only firm figure is an on-site quote, and we will put one in writing before anything spins. Get a free estimate.
What a Complete Stump Grinding Job Includes
A standard job covers assessment, a written per-stump estimate, a utility locate, grinding 8 to 12 inches below grade, surface root grinding where roots catch a mower deck, chip backfill, and a raked-down site.
Here is the sequence:
- On-site assessment. We measure diameter at the widest point and check slope, gate width and overhead clearance.
- Written per-stump estimate. Every stump is priced on its own line, with add-ons itemized.
- Utility and irrigation locate. Lines get marked before a cutting wheel touches soil. Florida law requires it, and you can submit a free locate ticket through Sunshine 811 at least two full business days ahead.
- Grinding below grade. Standard is 8 to 12 inches. We go deeper for sod, a patio pour or a nearby replant.
- Surface root grinding. We chase the runners that trip people and scalp mower blades.
- Backfill and rake-down. Chips go back in the hole unless you want them gone, and we blow off drives and walks.
Quoted separately: chip haul-away, topsoil and sod, extended root chasing, tight-access equipment, and debris left behind by a separate removal.
One honest limit. Grinding reduces the stump and major surface roots to chips. It does not extract the root ball. If you need clean soil all the way down, that is excavation and grading, not grinding.
Grinding vs. Full Stump Removal
| Stump grinding | Full removal | |
|---|---|---|
| Method | Rotary cutting wheel | Excavator pulls the root ball |
| Depth | 8 to 12 in. below grade | Entire root mass |
| Site after | Chip-filled, rakeable | Open crater, needs fill |
| Time | Under an hour, typical | Half day or more |
| Cost | $150 to $500 | $400 to $1,500+ |
Grinding is enough for sod, mulch beds and regrading.
Pay for full removal when you are pouring a foundation, setting a pool, cutting a driveway or utility trench, or replanting a tree in the exact same hole. Leftover chips and decaying roots make that hole a poor host for a new root system. Larger clearing jobs usually fold into land clearing or site preparation rather than being priced stump by stump.
What to Do With the Hole After Grinding
This is where most Havana yards go sideways, and it is the part competitors skip.
A ground stump leaves a mound of chips over a void. Those chips settle, so the mound you walk away from becomes a dish in the lawn within a few months. We tell customers to plan on a second pass with topsoil, and on our own jobs we schedule the top-dress rather than waiting for the phone call.
The bigger issue is nitrogen. Fresh wood chips are high carbon, and soil microbes pull nitrogen out of the surrounding soil to break them down. Sod laid directly over a chip-filled hole frequently yellows and thins in that one patch while the rest of the lawn looks fine.
Your three options:
| Backfill choice | Typical add-on | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Leave chips, rake level | Included | Mulch beds, back corners, wooded edges |
| Remove chips, fill with topsoil | $100 to $250 per stump | Anywhere you want lawn |
| Full soil swap, deeper grind | $200 to $450 per stump | Replanting, pavers, irrigation runs |
If the bare patch is already there and already struggling, our guide to fixing bare spots and thin turf in Havana walks through repair timing. For a larger area, go straight to sod installation.
Local Conditions That Change the Job
Havana sits in the Red Hills, where red clay over sand behaves very differently from flat Central Florida sand.
- Spring mud. Clay stays greasy for days after rain. We run plywood or track mats on soft ground, and on bad weeks we reschedule rather than rut a lawn.
- May hardpan. The same clay goes brick-hard in dry season, which slows a grind and wears teeth faster.
- Shallow utilities. Septic drain fields, well lines and irrigation laterals run close to the surface on a lot of these acreage lots. Locate first, every time.
- Species mix. Live oak, laurel oak, southern pine, pecan, crape myrtle, and sabal or queen palms. Palms grind fast but pack sand into the base, which eats carbide.
- Clusters, not singles. One storm commonly leaves three or four stumps, which is why multi-stump pricing matters more here than trip minimums.
Oaks and crape myrtles are the local repeat offenders for suckering after a cut. UF/IFAS notes that species vary in their ability to sprout after stump grinding, with regrowth coming from remaining stump or lateral root tissue. Cutting sprouts as they appear, while they are small, is the low-effort fix.
We serve Havana and the surrounding 32333 area along with Quincy, Midway and north Leon County. You can see finished work on our projects page or browse the full landscaping service list.
Who Does the Work
Talquin Landscaping is a licensed and insured landscape contractor based in Tallahassee, working Leon and Gadsden counties. Ask for our license number and certificate of insurance before the first cut and we will send both.
Every quote is written, per stump, with add-ons itemized, so nothing lands on the invoice that was not on the estimate. Storm calls in Havana usually get scheduled within 48 to 72 hours. Questions on a specific stump, or want it bundled with sod and cleanup? Contact the crew or start from the Talquin Landscaping homepage.
FAQ
How much does it cost to remove a tree and grind the stump?
Grinding is quoted separately from removal, but running both on one visit saves a trip charge. A Havana-area tree removal plus stump grinding typically lands around $800 to $2,200 total depending on size and access. Ask for a bundled number.
How deep does stump grinding go?
Standard depth is 8 to 12 inches below grade, which supports sod, mulch and light landscaping. Fourteen inches or more is possible on most stumps for hardscape or replanting, and it is priced as an add-on.
How long does stump grinding take?
Ten to 90 minutes per stump depending on diameter. A single-stump visit including setup, locate verification and cleanup usually runs one to two hours. Small multi-stump jobs are normally same-day.
How much does it cost to grind a palm tree stump?
Usually $75 to $200, often less than a hardwood stump of the same diameter. Palms have fibrous roots with no deep taproot, though sand packed into a sabal palm base wears cutting teeth quickly.
Will the tree grow back after grinding?
The trunk will not, but living roots can push suckers, especially on oaks and crape myrtles. Cut new shoots as soon as you see them, while they are young, and the root system runs out of energy within a season or two.
Can I plant grass right over a ground stump?
Not over raw chips. Remove the chips, backfill with topsoil, then sod or seed. Grass planted straight into wood chips usually yellows and thins because the decomposing wood ties up soil nitrogen.
Does a ground stump attract termites?
A decaying stump left in place is far more attractive to termites and carpenter ants than a ground one, particularly in Gadsden County humidity. Grinding removes the bulk of the wood mass and speeds the breakdown of what remains.
Do I need a permit to grind a stump in Florida?
Grinding an existing stump generally does not require a permit. Removing a standing tree can, and rules come from local ordinance rather than one statewide fine. Florida Statute 163.045 blocks local governments from requiring a permit for removal on single-family residential property when the owner holds documentation from an ISA certified arborist or a Florida licensed landscape architect that the tree is an unacceptable risk. Confirm with the Town of Havana or Gadsden County before cutting.
Should I rent a grinder instead?
A rental runs roughly $150 to $350 per day plus transport, which only makes sense for several small stumps in open, level ground. A single large oak, a tight gate, or anything near a septic line or irrigation head is not worth the risk to your equipment deposit or your lines.
