A stump grinder chews the stump and the top of the root flare into chips with a spinning toothed wheel. How deep we go depends on what's next. For grass, 4 to 6 inches below grade is usually enough. For a boulevard stump, Sioux Falls Code § 94.035 requires the stump and the major flare roots to be ground six to eight inches below grade with any permitted removal. To plant a new tree in the same spot, we go deeper and wider and pull the chips out, because a new tree won't establish in a pile of wood chips.
Before we grind, we request a locate from South Dakota One Call (811). The state's 2026 update to the one-call law requires excavators to give at least 48 hours' notice, not counting weekends and holidays, and to keep mechanical equipment 18 inches back from marked lines. 811 doesn't locate private lines such as invisible fences and sprinkler systems. Tell us where yours run, or have them located privately.
After the grind we leave a clean hole, filled with the chips or hauled out and backfilled with topsoil, whichever you prefer. Most yards take a few wheelbarrows of topsoil and some seed. Ash stumps don't need special handling once they're ground, but the chips are a regulated article under the state's EAB quarantine. They can stay in the yard or go anywhere inside the quarantine counties, which include all of Minnehaha and Lincoln. If the City removed a parking-strip ash and ground the stump, the owner is responsible for removing the grindings, backfilling with topsoil and seeding grass, and we can do that too.
What's included
811 called first
A South Dakota One Call locate at least 48 hours ahead, not counting weekends and holidays.
Ground below grade
4 to 6 inches for lawn, 6 to 8 inches for boulevard stumps, deeper where a new tree goes.
Surface roots too
Major flare and surface roots ground out where they'd catch a mower.
Chips hauled or left
Your choice: left as mulch or hauled and backfilled with topsoil.
Ash chips handled right
Kept inside the quarantine counties, as state rules require.
Ready for a new tree
The hole cleared of chips and backfilled when you want to replant.
Stump grinding cost in Sioux Falls, SD
| Job | Typical price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Small stump, under 12 in | $120 – $200 | Most ornamentals and small ash |
| Medium stump, 12–24 in | $180 – $350 | Typical yard ash, maple, spruce |
| Large stump, over 24 in | $300 – $600 | Cottonwoods and big silver maples |
| Each additional stump, same visit | Discounted | Priced together |
| Haul chips, backfill topsoil, seed | $100 – $300 | Per stump |
| Boulevard stump to code, 6–8 in | $150 – $400 | Required with a permitted removal |
These are 2026 Sioux Falls ranges to help you budget. Your written price is itemized (climb or bucket work, rigging, chipping and haul-off, stump grinding, crane time) and good for 30 days.
Recent work
Questions we get about stump grinding
How deep do you grind?
Four to six inches below grade for lawn, six to eight for boulevard stumps as City code requires, and deeper and wider if you want to plant a new tree in the same spot.
Do you call 811?
Yes, every time. South Dakota's one-call law requires a locate before digging, and stump grinding moves earth. 811 doesn't mark private sprinkler or invisible-fence lines, so tell us where those are.
Will the roots rot away?
The roots left below the grind decay slowly over several years. Ash, elm and maple roots don't resprout once the stump is ground. Some trees, such as cottonwood and Siberian elm, can send up root suckers for a season. Mow them off and they stop.
Can I plant a tree in the same spot?
Yes, if we grind deeper and remove the chips. Often it's easier to plant a few feet to one side.
The City removed my boulevard ash. Do they grind the stump?
Yes. Under the EAB response plan the City removes the tree and grinds the stump free. The owner is responsible for removing the grindings, backfilling with topsoil and seeding grass, and we can do that for you.
How long does it take?
Most stumps take 20 minutes to an hour. A big cottonwood stump can take a couple of hours.