What surface root grinding is
Some trees spread thick roots across the top of the soil instead of sending them down. After the tree comes down, those roots stay behind as ridges across the lawn. Surface root grinding follows them out from the stump and grinds them below grade, so the ground can be leveled and seeded.
It’s a separate job from grinding the stump itself, though the two are often done on the same visit. See stump grinding for how the main job works.
Why Upstate yards get surface roots
Red clay is dense and often compacted, especially in older yards and around new construction. Roots grow where they find air and water, and in heavy clay that’s often close to the surface.
Some trees are worse than others. Water oak, red maple and sweetgum are known for roots that run across lawns, and big loblolly pines can leave thick roots near the surface too. Sweetgum adds another problem by sending up suckers from those roots after the trunk is gone.
A word on living trees
If the roots belong to a tree you’re keeping, be careful. Cutting major roots can weaken a tree, slow its growth and make it less stable in a storm. Talk to an ISA certified arborist before any large roots are cut on a living tree.
Roots near walks and drives
Roots running toward a driveway, patio or sidewalk can be ground right up to the edge. Roots already under the slab stay where they are, and lifting or relaying concrete is a job for a concrete contractor. Grinding the exposed part still clears the trip and mower hazard along the edge.
How the day goes
Before. Send a photo of the area with a tape measure laid along the longest root, and note how many roots there are and how far they run. Our guide on how to measure a stump covers surface roots too.
We request an SC811 locate before grinding. Private lines matter even more here than with stumps, because irrigation lines and invisible dog fence wire are often buried shallow, right where roots run. SC811 doesn’t mark private lines, so flag them.
On the day. Each root is ground down along its length to below the soil. The grindings get raked into the shallow trenches unless you’ve asked for haul-off.
After. The trenches settle the same way a ground stump does. Top them up with soil, then seed or sod. Our guide on what to do after stump grinding has timing for Upstate lawns.
What affects the price
Root grinding is usually priced on top of any stump work, based on how much root there is and how long it takes. The main factors:
- How many roots there are, how long and how thick.
- How close they run to slabs, walls or foundations.
- Buried lines that need working around.
- Access, the same as for any stump job.
- Whether the grindings stay or go.
Got roots tripping you up? Get a quote with a few photos.
