Stump grinding is the process of removing a tree stump after a tree has been cut down by using a specialized machine called a stump grinder. The grinder uses a rotating cutting wheel with sharp teeth to chip away the wood, gradually reducing the stump to small wood chips or mulch.

This method typically grinds the stump down below ground level, allowing the area to be covered with soil or replanted. Unlike full stump removal (which involves pulling out the entire root system), stump grinding is faster, less invasive, and leaves most of the roots in the ground to decompose naturally.