Bigger properties collect stumps. An HOA takes out a row of diseased trees along a common area. A property manager removes a pine that kept dropping limbs on parked cars. A school clears trees ahead of a new building. The trees get cut, the budget runs out, and the stumps sit for a season or two. We grind stumps on commercial and shared properties across Sonoma County, from apartment complexes and business parks in Santa Rosa to homeowners' associations and retail centers around Sonoma. The grinding itself is the same as in a backyard. What changes is the scale, the scheduling and the paperwork.
This page covers when property managers call us, how we handle many stumps at once, how a job runs on an occupied property, and what records we provide. Single stumps at a home are covered on our stump grinding page.
When property managers call us
Common reasons:
- A tree crew cut the trees and left the stumps behind.
- Stumps in common areas or medians have become a trip hazard.
- A landscape renovation, irrigation upgrade or repaving project is coming up.
- A storm or a fire-safety clearing took trees down.
- Stumps along fence lines and parking areas keep slowing down the mowing crew.
Clearing them in one visit usually costs less per stump than calling someone out one at a time over several years. Old stumps in turf also get in the way of new irrigation lines and sod, so it pays to grind them before a renovation crew shows up.
Grinding many stumps at once
On a multi-stump job, the variables are the number of stumps, how wide each one is and how the machine moves between them. We start by listing every stump on a site map with its approximate size, so the quote is based on something you can check. Larger grinders cover open turf and parking lot islands quickly. Smaller ones handle tight planters and courtyards. Commercial grounds often have stumps near irrigation mains, curbs and light pole bases, so we flag those before the first one gets ground. Buried utilities get located through 811 two working days before we start, the same as on a home job.
How we run a job on an occupied property
- We walk the site with the manager or a board member and mark every stump.
- We send a written quote with a price for each stump.
- We set a schedule around how the property runs, and give you a notice for residents or tenants if you want one.
- We put up cones or tape around the work area so people keep a safe distance.
- We grind, clean up and backfill, then walk the site with you again before we leave.
Records for your board or owner
Property managers answer to someone, so we keep the paperwork simple. You'll get a written quote listing each stump, where it is and what it costs, which is easy to attach to a work order or a board packet. When the job is done, we can send a short summary with before and after photos. If your property needs a certificate of insurance on file before work starts, tell us when you ask for the quote. Some boards also want to know what happened to the chips and whether any holes were left open for the landscaper, so we put that in the summary too. Nobody has to walk the site to find out.
When a project calls for clearing stumps and root balls ahead of construction, see our stump removal page.
Common Questions
Yes. On multi-stump properties, we quote each stump based on its width and how easy it is to reach, and the rate drops as the count goes up because the machine is already on site. Every stump is listed with its own price, so your board can approve the whole job or split it across budget years.
Yes. We plan around how your property runs: staying clear of school drop-off and pickup, keeping out of busy parking areas during business hours, and doing the quieter spots first. Grinders are loud, so we'll give you a time window ahead of the visit that you can pass along to residents or tenants.
Usually, yes. Big jobs make a lot of wood chips, and most properties don't want piles sitting in common areas. We can haul them all off, fill the holes with topsoil, or leave some behind for your landscaper to spread in planting beds. Just tell us what your landscape crew prefers.