Grinding removes a stump below grade with a compact machine that can pass through most side gates. Stumps in small Morristown yards often sit near sewer laterals and other buried lines, so marking utilities first matters. Per stump, the usual range is $125 to $500.
Stumps in Morristown are often in awkward places: a narrow side yard between two houses, a fenced backyard reached only through a gate, or tight against a foundation or a garden wall. Compact grinders exist for exactly that kind of spot. They can roll through a standard gate and work close to structures, chewing the stump into chips several inches below the soil line. That is deep enough to cover with topsoil and seed or to set new pavers on top. Pulling a whole root ball is rarely needed and would tear up a small yard.
Underground lines are a real concern in an older, built up town. Gas, water and sewer laterals, buried electric, cable, irrigation and old landscape lighting can all run near a stump, especially close to the street. Before grinding, crews generally call 811, New Jersey One Call, to have public utilities marked. Private lines on your side of the meter are not always marked, so point out anything you know about, including the rough path of your sewer line if the stump sits between the house and the street. Roots from an old tree often follow those lines.
Plan for the grindings. A big old stump produces a mound of chips that can easily cover a small Morristown yard, so ask whether the quote includes raking them out, hauling them off or leaving them for mulch. If the stump was a street tree, the town may have its own plans for that spot, so check before planting something new there. For a new tree on your own property, setting it a few feet from the old stump usually gives it a better start, since old roots keep breaking down for years.
Signs you need stump grinding
- An old stump in a small backyard that eats up usable space
- A stump in a side yard that blocks a path or a new fence line
- Sprouts coming up from the roots of a tree removed years ago
- Plans for a patio, driveway work or a new planting bed
- A rotting stump near the foundation drawing ants or fungus
Questions about stump grinding
Can the grinder fit through my side gate?
Many compact grinders fit through a typical backyard gate. Measure the narrowest point on the way in and tell the contractor so they can bring the right machine.
The stump is right next to my sidewalk. Is that a problem?
It can be ground, but utility lines often run near the street. The crew should have lines marked first, and if it was a street tree, check with the town about the spot.
How much mess does grinding leave?
More than people expect. A large stump can leave a sizable pile of chips. Ask whether cleanup or hauling is included in the price.
Worth knowing in Morristown
In 2026 Morristown won a $758,735 NJDEP Natural Climate Solutions grant to plant about 180 street trees in the Second Ward and about 300 trees in Burnham Park.
morristowngreen.comA severe thunderstorm on July 14, 2016 brought down many trees and limbs at Fort Nonsense, closing the site until repairs were done.
nps.govThe town has an active Shade Tree Commission that runs an annual Arbor Day planting and a multi-year forest restoration at Jacob Ford Park.
morristown-nj.org