Root Grinding in Murfreesboro, TN

What is root grinding?

Root grinding uses the same machine as stump grinding to cut roots down below the surface. We follow the root out from the stump or tree, grind it down a few inches below grade, and leave chips and dirt in a shallow trench. Once that's filled and seeded, the root is out of sight.

Most root grinding jobs start one of two ways:

• A stump is gone, but the big roots still run out across the yard
• A tree is still standing, and one or two roots have come up where they cause trouble

Which roots cause the most trouble around Murfreesboro?

Shallow roots. When the soil is thin over rock, roots don't go deep. They spread out along the top. That's common in a lot of Rutherford County, where limestone sits close to the surface.

Some trees are worse about it than others. These are the ones we see the most root trouble from:

Can root grinding hurt a tree that's still alive?

It can. Roots are how a tree drinks and how it stays standing. Cutting a big root close to a living tree can stress it or make it less stable in wind. That's the honest answer.

So here's how we handle it:

• If the tree is dead or already cut down, we grind roots without worry.
• If the tree is alive, we look at how big the root is and how close it is to the trunk.
• Small roots far from the trunk are usually fine to grind.
• Big roots close to the trunk are a different story. We'll tell you, and you may want an arborist to look at it before anything gets cut.

We would rather tell you no than cut a root that drops a tree on your house later.

Can you grind roots near my foundation or driveway?

Yes, and that's one of the most common reasons people call. Roots that run under or along a driveway, walk, patio, or the edge of the house can lift concrete and pavers. Grinding them out stops them from getting any bigger in that spot.

We work slow near concrete and foundations. We can't grind under a slab, but we can cut the root on each side of it. For more on what roots do to foundations and driveways, read tree roots near foundations and driveways.

Why does 811 matter so much for root grinding?

Because roots and utility lines go to the same places. Water, gas, power, and cable lines run from the street to the house, and roots often grow right along them. Root grinding runs in a line across the yard, so the chance of finding a buried line is higher than with a single stump.

Tennessee law requires at least three working days' notice to Tennessee 811 before digging. We get the lines marked and stay clear of the marks. Read more in call Tennessee 811 before stump grinding.

What does the yard look like after root grinding?

You'll have a shallow trench of chips and dirt where each root was. Chips settle and break down, so for a flat lawn, the chips should come out and topsoil should go in. After that, it's seed and water.

We can do the haul-off, the dirt, and the seed. See cleanup, topsoil and grass seed.