Stump Grinding by David Hyland

09/13/2026

That moment when the homeowner shows up with much bigger equipment than I do!

Every once in a while, a stump grinding job comes with a little surprise. I showed up ready to tackle this big stump, but the tree was still standing—and then the homeowner showed up with an excavator that made my Bandit 2550 look pretty small! 😂

The plan worked out perfectly. The homeowner used his excavator to put some pressure on the trunk while I made the cuts with the chainsaw. Once the tree came down safely, he grabbed the trunk with the excavator and hauled it out of the way. Now the big tree is gone, the stump is exposed, and I finally have plenty of room to put the Bandit to work!

Sometimes it takes a little teamwork—and in this case, some seriously big equipment—to get the job done right. Then it was time to turn that big stump into a pile of chips! 💪🪵

09/12/2026

Come on down to the Macedon Center fire hall for the lumberjack festival going on today and tomorrow. I have a booth with my stump grinder on display and I’m giving out free pens. Hope to see you there.

09/12/2026

08/04/2026

What’s hiding under the bark of a dying tree?

Most people never get to see what I see when a tree comes down.

When I peeled the bark off this dead tree, I found an incredible maze of tunnels. Those tiny “roads” were carved by bark beetles as they burrowed beneath the bark. The adults lay eggs there, and when the larvae hatch, they feed on the living layer of the tree called the cambium. That thin layer is the tree’s plumbing system—it carries water and nutrients from the roots to the leaves.

As the larvae feed, they destroy that lifeline. Eventually, the tree can no longer move water or nutrients, and it dies.

🌳 Elm trees are often attacked by elm bark beetles, which also spread the fungus that causes Dutch elm disease.

🌳 Ash trees face another deadly enemy—the emerald ash borer. Its larvae also tunnel just beneath the bark, cutting off the tree’s ability to survive. Millions of ash trees across New York have been lost because of this tiny metallic green beetle.

It’s amazing to think that insects only about the size of a grain of rice can bring down a tree that’s been growing for decades.

Have you ever peeled bark off a dead tree and discovered these hidden tunnels? Nature is fascinating—and sometimes devastating.

If you have dead or hazardous trees removed and are left with unsightly stumps, I’d be happy to help restore your yard with professional stump grinding.

David’s Stump Grinding
Serving Walworth and surrounding communities.

07/15/2026

I had some fun with this Vermeer SC 130 stump grinder this morning taking out a 1.5 foot stump in my wife’s horse pasture. It ran great and I realize it’s too small for my business but would like to offer it for sale to the public. The 1.5 foot stump in the pictures took about a half hour. Effective for bushes and trees up to 1 ft. The Facebook link is below.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1383145840401245/?mibextid=6ojiHh

07/12/2026

 Most stump grinders would walk away from a job like this.

These two stumps had chain-link fence and steel fence posts completely grown into the trunks. Every cut had to be made carefully, almost like surgery, to avoid sending pieces of chain-link flying or having large sections wrap around the stump grinder wheel.

This wasn’t a job that could be rushed. It took safety, patience, persistence, and plenty of time—but in the end, the stumps were removed and the job was done right.

If you have a difficult stump that others won’t touch, I’d be happy to take a look.

06/09/2026

Stump Talk with David - tomato cage

06/07/2026

Stump talk with David

06/02/2026

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: Choosing a Professional Stump Grinder Matters

Not all stump grinding jobs are the same. Before hiring someone to remove a stump, there are a few important things every homeowner should discuss and understand.

First, utility marking should always be discussed before any grinding begins. Underground electric, gas, water, communication, irrigation, and invisible pet fence lines can all be affected by stump and root removal. A professional should help you understand the risks and determine whether utility locating is needed.

Second, a quality stump grinding job is about much more than removing the visible stump. Tree roots often extend many feet beyond the trunk and can continue to create bumps, obstacles, and mowing problems. A professional will discuss which roots should be removed and will typically grind the stump and selected roots to at least 4 inches below grade, allowing for proper soil coverage and grass growth.

The goal should be simple: when the work is complete, the area should blend naturally into the surrounding lawn. After adding topsoil and seeding, the old stump location should become flat, usable, and eventually unnoticeable.

A professional stump grinder will also take time to explain the entire process before work begins. Homeowners should understand what will be removed, how deep the grinding will be, what the finished area will look like, how much debris will be produced, and what follow-up steps are needed for the best lawn restoration.

Good communication matters. Questions should be answered clearly, expectations should be discussed upfront, and any issues that arise during the project should be addressed promptly and professionally. The job isn’t finished until the customer is satisfied with the results.

When comparing estimates, remember that the lowest price is not always the best value. Safety, experience, attention to detail, cleanup, customer service, and the final appearance of the lawn all make a difference.

My prices are very competitive, so the big difference is the quality provided by a professional.

05/30/2026

🌳 A Newark stump-grinding adventure! 🌳

Sometimes people think stump grinding is all about the stump. If only it were that simple!

This Newark job started with a large stump, but as the first photo shows, the roots had other plans. The roots stretched far beyond the trunk—some reaching nearly 10 feet away from where the tree once stood. The area circled in red shows just how far those roots had traveled beneath the lawn. Grinding a stump often means tracking down and removing the hidden roots that continue to create bumps, obstacles, and mowing headaches long after the tree is gone.

This project took about two hours to complete, and by the time the grinding was finished, there was enough wood chip material to fill up a pickup truck bed. Since the homeowner was elderly, we also hauled away all the chips so there would be no cleanup left for them to worry about. By the end of the job, what started as a stump-and-root obstacle course had been transformed into a flat, smooth, usable area once again.

The second photo shows the finished result. No more protruding roots, no more uneven ground, and no more reminder of where the tree once stood. Just a clean area that blends back into the yard and can once again be enjoyed, mowed, and appreciated. It’s always satisfying to leave a property looking better than when I arrived—and even more rewarding when a homeowner can reclaim a beautiful piece of their lawn.

Stump grinding isn’t just about removing what’s visible above ground. Sometimes the real work is chasing down the roots that don’t want to let go! 🌱🚜

Serving Newark and the surrounding Wayne and Monroe county communities with stump grinding, root removal, and cleanup services.