Stump Grinding in Cameron Park

Maybe the tree came out years ago and the stump just sat. Maybe a pine just died and got taken down, and now you're staring at what's left. Either way, a stump in the middle of the yard is a trip hazard and a mower killer.

Pine stumps have one more issue around here. The county Fire Safe Council points out that fresh cut pine smells like dinner to bark beetles. A fresh stump with slash piled next to it isn't doing your other pines any favors.

And Cameron Park dirt is its own thing. Red clay, basically, sitting on gabbro rock. A local write-up says it usually has to be amended before a lot of non-native plants will grow. So if you plan to plant where the stump was, figure on some soil work too.

A stump grinder is a machine with a spinning wheel full of teeth. It turns the wood to chips until the stump sits under the dirt line. Ask how far down they'll go if you want to plant or lay sod there.

Grinding takes the stump, not the whole root system. If you need roots out, for a foundation or a pool, that's extra work. This Old House puts root removal at $130 to $150 an hour.

What about chips? They pile up fast. You can keep them for mulch, or pay to have them hauled. Don't count on the Fire Safe Council chipper for this. They say their chippers won't take root balls or rotten wood.

There's also a slow, cheap route. This Old House says chemical rotting runs about $100 but takes 4 to 6 weeks. Fine for a stump out back. Not great if you need the spot next week. And if kids or dogs play in that corner, ask the pro whether rotting chemicals are a good idea there at all. For a lot of folks, grinding is just simpler.

Stump prices mostly come down to size. Lots of pros charge per inch, measured across the cut. These numbers come from This Old House and Thumbtack. Ballpark only.

Sources: This Old House stump removal guide (updated March 2026); Thumbtack stump grinding guide (October 2026).

Several stumps?

Bundle them into a single visit. Thumbtack gives an example of a company charging $150 for one stump and only $75 for each extra one, since the machine's already there. With a lot of stumps, some pros quote by the hour instead, about $150 an hour in Thumbtack's example.

Do it with the tree

If the tree is still standing, ask for the stump in the same quote. This Old House says a $400 to $1,000 tree removal usually doesn't include grinding. Thumbtack's averages show tree removal at $985, and tree plus stump at $1,072. Not a huge jump when it's one trip.

• Ask the pro about buried utility lines. Grinders go below the dirt.
• Mark sprinkler lines and heads near the stump.
• Tell the pro about anything buried close by, like a septic line or a drain.
• Ask how deep they'll grind.
• Ask if cleanup and chip hauling are in the price.

Live on a CC&R street? The CSD's ARC fee book lists landscaping as a category of work. If the stump job is part of a bigger yard redo, check with the CSD first. See oak removal and permits for how that works.

A stump right against a foundation, a walkway or a fence needs a gentler touch. Grinders throw chips, so ask how the pro will shield windows, cars and siding. Ask too how close the machine can get without cracking concrete. Sometimes the last bit next to a wall gets dug out by hand.

And if the stump is from a pine that died of beetles, don't leave the wood piled next to it. Slash piles breed beetles, according to the Fire Safe Council.

• We find a grinder owner who takes Cameron Park work.
• We set the visit and get you a written price.
• We can help you compare if you get a couple of quotes.
• Calling us costs nothing.

We don't own a grinder, and we won't pretend to. Pricing and grinding are the pro's department.

1. Give us a ring at (530) 457-1414, or fill in the estimate form.
2. Tell us how many stumps and about how wide each one is.
3. Mention what's nearby: fence, sprinklers, the house.
4. We set a time for a pro to come out.
5. The pro quotes it. Ask about depth and chips.
6. Book it, and clear the area around the stump.

Tree still standing? See dead tree removal in Cameron Park. Live up the road? See Diamond Springs tree removal or Placerville tree removal. Or go home.