Post-Removal, Multi-Stump, or Landscape Reset
Post-Tree-Removal Stumps
The most common call. A tree service cut the tree and left the stump — most crews don’t grind as part of their scope. Now the stump blocks mowing, catches the mower, or just looks bad. Polk Services grinds it to ground level (or below grade), handles the mulch your way, and leaves a footprint ready to sod, seed, or leave open.
Multiple Stumps on One Property
Foreclosure, inherited, or long-neglected properties often come with several stumps in various states of decay — prior owners had tree work done but never finished the grinding. Multi-stump jobs are quoted as a bundle; the per-stump cost drops significantly when the crew is on-site for a batch.
Landscape-Reset Stumps
Old bush removal, small tree removal, and landscape bed resets leave stumps behind. Polk Services grinds them as a follow-on to its own bush and lot clearing (bundle pricing available) or as a standalone service when your landscape crew didn’t include grinding in their quote.
Every Stump Type & Every Mulch Option
Common Polk County Tree Stumps
Bush & Shrub Stumps
Grinding Depth Options
Grinder Mulch — Four Options
Our Process, Start to Finish
Call, text, or fill out the estimate form
Reach Donny directly at (863) 344-5806. Text a wide shot showing yard context, close-ups showing stump diameter (a boot or tape measure next to the stump helps), and access shots showing driveway approach and gate width.
Free estimate — photo quote or walk-through
Standard residential stumps price accurately from photos. Multi-stump jobs, below-grade requests, or tight-access locations benefit from an on-site walk-through to pin the scope down. Either way, the estimate is free.
Mulch handling choice on the verbal quote
During the estimate, Donny asks which mulch option you want — leave, spread, grade level, or haul off. Haul-off adds a disposal line item; grade-level is a small labor add; spread and leave-in-place are standard scope.
Written quote by text — depth & mulch spelled out
Every job is priced twice. The written quote states the per-stump cost (or bundle cost), the depth (ground-level or below-grade), and the mulch-handling option, so nothing is remembered incorrectly.
Sunshine 811 for below-grade grinding
Below-grade grinding near utility lines requires a Sunshine 811 utility check; standard ground-level grinding does not, since it doesn’t penetrate below the current soil surface. Polk Services handles the 811 call when the job requires it.
Grinding, mulch handled & walk-through
The skid-steer-mounted grinder takes the stump to the specified depth, the mulch is handled per your choice, and the last step is a walk-through with you on-site (or by photo) plus a rake-clean of the footprint.
Pricing, Mulch Options & Bundles
Standard Project Pricing
Single-stump grinding is quoted per stump — most residential single stumps run in a range, with the exact number on the written quote. Larger scope (10+ stumps, commercial, forestry-adjacent) is quoted per project with a projected timeline.
The Four Mulch Options & How They Price
Option A (leave the mound) is standard scope, no added cost. Option B (spread) is usually a small labor add. Option C (grade & level) is a modest labor line item. Option D (haul off-site) is the largest add — it includes trailer haul-off and disposal. The written quote shows the price for whichever you pick.
Multi-Stump Bundle Pricing
Multiple stumps on the same property are quoted as a bundle rather than per-stump. The per-stump cost drops significantly when the crew is on-site for a batch and sequenced right — nearest-access stumps first, hardest-access last, so the machine stays productive.
Below-Grade Grinding
Standard grinding goes to ground level. Below-grade (4–6 inches) is a separate line item because it takes more grinding time — worth the add when you plan to install new sod or landscape, since the deeper grind gives the new install a clean base.
Payment Terms
Cash, check, credit/debit, Venmo, Zelle, and Cash App (3.7% fee on card/electronic; cash and check free). Standard stump jobs pay on completion; larger multi-stump or commercial jobs may require 20–50% down.
Polk Services vs the Standard Stump-Grinder Approach
Stump Grinding Questions
What size stumps can you grind?
What happens to the mulch after grinding?
How much does stump grinding cost?
Can you grind below ground level for new sod installation?
Can you get to a stump in my backyard behind a 36-inch gate?
What about roots below the stump — do they need to come out?
How fast can you grind my stumps?
Do you handle palm stumps specifically?
What about hurricane-damaged trees that need stump grinding after removal?
Will my yard settle after the grinding?
Verified Google Reviews From Real Jobs
Every review below is a verified Google review with full customer attribution, each showing a competency this work depends on.
Seven Details That Separate a Polk Services Stump Grinding
Why Leaving the Mulch Mound Is Wrong
A ground stump produces its own volume in mulch — a large one leaves a knee-high pile. Standard operators leave it, so the customer must spread, level, or haul it within days before it compacts. Polk Services handles the mulch per the customer’s choice before the truck leaves.
Mulch Spread Technique
Spreading matters: concentrated, mulch smothers grass; too thin, it gives no ground-cover benefit. Polk Services spreads to 2–3 inches across an area 2–3× the mound footprint, integrating it as natural cover without smothering anything nearby.
Grade-Level Mulch Technique
When the customer wants the site invisible without hauling, Polk Services works the mulch into the sub-grade and rakes the surface so the site reads continuous with the surrounding lawn.
Below-Grade Depth Spec
For new sod, the standard is 4–6 inches below grade to clear top-course roots and stump-wood mass from new sod roots; deeper landscape prep (new trees, structural work) is available case-by-case.
Access Geometry — Skid-Steer vs Tow-Behind
Tow-behind grinders are constrained by driveway access, gate width, and turning radius. The skid-steer-mounted grinder fits through a 36-inch gate and maneuvers tight spaces — backyard stumps a tow-behind can’t reach are standard scope on the Kubota.
Multi-Stump Sequencing
Access-nearest stumps first, interior second, hardest-access last keeps the skid steer productive between stumps. That sequencing is how multi-stump bundle pricing produces real per-stump savings — the crew stays busy rather than repeatedly setting up.
Post-Grinding Residual
A footprint often shows slight settling in the first 30–60 days as soil beneath the ground-out wood compacts — normal and usually self-correcting. Polk Services explains it; a small dirt top-up between days 30 and 60 completes the site if settlement shows.
