CAT excavator staged for stump removal work on a residential lot in Marion County

Stump Grinding & Removal in Ocala, FL

Ground flush so you can mow over it, or dug out root ball and all so you can build on it.

Call (352) 480-6287 Get Your Estimate Today

There are two entirely different jobs that both get called "stump removal," they cost different amounts, and picking the wrong one is expensive to fix later. Which you need comes down to a single question: what is going on top of that ground?

GROUND FLUSH Grinder takes it 4–8" below grade grade roots stay DUG OUT Excavator lifts the whole root ball backfill + compact
Grinding is faster and cheaper, but the root ball stays in the ground and rots — which is why anything you plan to build on needs the second one.

Grind it flush

Cutter wheel takes it below grade

Dig it out

Excavator lifts the whole root ball

What is left underground
The entire root system, plus the base of the stump.
Nothing. An open hole that gets backfilled and compacted.
Cost
Lower. Faster job, smaller machine, less mess.
Higher. Bigger machine, spoil to deal with, fill to bring in.
Mess left behind
A pile of grindings you can rake into a bed or spread out.
A root ball to dispose of and a hole to fill.
Can you build on it?
No. Buried wood rots, and rotting wood settles under a slab.
Yes. This is the only version that gets you a stable footprint.
Can you plant on it?
Grass over the top, yes. A tree in the same spot, not really.
Yes — clean soil, nothing left to rot or regrow.
Right for
Lawns, pasture, anywhere you just want to mow over it.
House pads, barns, driveways, slabs, fence lines, arenas.

Which one you want: If you will only ever mow over it, grind it. If anything is getting built, poured or driven on, dig it out — the extra now is far cheaper than fixing a settled slab later.

Usually goes with

Most jobs need more than one

Skid steer with a grapple attachment removing brush on a cleared lot in Ocala

Tree & Brush Removal

Overgrowth, downed timber, fence lines and undergrowth taken out with grapple and mulching heads.

Tree and brush removal in Ocala →
John Deere 200G excavator lifting a large root ball during land clearing in Ocala, Florida

Land Clearing

Wooded lots, overgrown acreage and homesites cleared down to workable ground — brush, palmetto, stumps and all.

Land clearing in Ocala →
Wide finished building pad graded flat with a pine tree line behind it near Ocala, Florida

Site Prep & Pads

House pads, barn pads and shop pads cut, filled and compacted to the grade your builder asked for.

Site preparation in Ocala →

Questions we get asked

Stump Grinding questions

How deep do you grind a stump?
Typically four to eight inches below grade, which is enough to get topsoil over it and grow grass. It is not enough to build on, because the root ball is still down there and it will rot.
What do you do with the grindings?
They stay on site unless you want them gone. Most people rake them into beds or spread them out. They make poor fill for the hole itself, because as they break down the spot sinks — better to bring in clean fill if the ground needs to stay level.
Will the tree grow back after grinding?
The trunk will not, but some species push suckers from the remaining root system, and those can keep coming for a while. Full removal is the only way to stop it for good.
Can you get to a stump in a tight back yard?
Usually. Grinders come in sizes and the small ones fit through a standard gate. Full excavation is different — that needs room for a machine and a way to get the root ball out. Send us a photo and we will tell you which is realistic before anyone drives out.
Do you grind the surface roots too?
We can, and on lawns it is usually worth it — surface roots wreck mower blades. Say so up front, because it adds time and we would rather price it in than surprise you.

Where we work

Stump grinding across Marion County

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Free estimates

Get your estimate today

Tell us where the property is and what you need done. We'll call you back and come walk it with you — free, and no obligation either way.

Free, no obligation. We'll call you back to set a time to walk the property.