Get matched with top tree service pros in Rolling Fork, MS

The fastest way to remove a tree stump is to use a stump grinder. You can hire a professional stump removal service or rent the machine. If you choose to grind the stump out yourself, keep in mind these machines are large and can be difficult to transport and operate. A more affordable way to remove a tree stump is to use potassium nitrate pellets to accelerate decomposition, which can take four to six months.

Leaving the tree stump and letting it rot is never a good idea, as this leads to insect infestations and other frustrations. Additionally, decomposing trunks are at risk for diseases that spread out to the remaining plants and trees in the yard, thus ruining your whole outdoor aesthetic. It's usually best to remove the stump at the same time you remove the tree.

Hiring an arborist costs around $900 on average, with prices ranging from $250 to $2,500 or more, depending on the type of work. Arborists complete a wide variety of jobs related to trees, so the average prices listed below should help you get a rough estimate of what your project will cost:

• Small tree removal: $300 to $500

• Large tree removal: $500 to $2,000 or more

• Tree health assessment: $150

• Trimming small tree: $75 to $200

• Trimming large tree: $150 to $400

• Dealing with invasive species: $150 to $1,000 or more

Unfortunately, palm tree stumps are one of the most difficult types to remove due to how their roots grow. Unlike other trees, palm tree roots grow horizontally and vertically. Palm tree roots grow as deep as three feet into the ground, although soil and growing conditions could mean they go as far as 50 inches into the earth. 

If you want to be able to repurpose the grass in the area where you removed a stump later, you’ll have to dig quite deep—and perhaps wide—to trim away all the roots.