Usually not unless the quote says so. A lot of homeowners hear "tree removal" and assume the stump disappears too. In many cases, it does not.
The phrase "tree removal" sounds final. If a tree is being removed, people naturally assume the stump goes too. But in the industry, tree removal often means taking down the trunk and limbs, cutting the wood into haulable sections, and clearing the above-ground debris. The stump may still be left standing a few inches or a foot above grade.
That is not necessarily deceptive. It is just a different scope than many homeowners picture. Tree work and stump work often use different equipment, different crew flow, and sometimes even different scheduling. That is why stump grinding is commonly listed as an add-on rather than folded into the base tree-removal number.
If the quote does not specifically mention the stump, do not assume it is included.
The trunk and canopy are removed from above grade, often in sections if the tree is near structures.
Debris is usually removed unless you ask to keep firewood or wood chips.
The yard is usually left tidy above ground, but that does not mean the stump is gone.
Many crews cut the stump close to the ground if grinding is not part of the job, but the root flare still remains.
Stump grinding is the most common add-on. Full stump removal is another, though that is less common unless you need the root ball out completely. In both cases, the stump is its own scope item because it requires equipment and time after the tree itself is already down.
This is also why the timing can vary. A tree company may remove the tree on one day and schedule the grinder later. In some cases the same company handles both. In others, stump grinding gets subcontracted or referred out. None of that is inherently bad, but you want to know it before the job starts.
If your goal is for the yard to look finished when the crew leaves, spell that out. Otherwise you may be happy with the tree work and still be surprised by the remaining stump.
Look for the actual words. "Tree removal" is not enough. You want to see language like stump grinding, stump removal, grind below grade, chips left or removed, or full root extraction. If those words are missing, treat the stump as excluded until someone confirms otherwise.
This matters even more if you are getting multiple bids. One company may include stump grinding as a separate line item on the same proposal. Another may leave it off entirely. If you compare totals without noticing that difference, you can easily think one company is overpriced when they are simply quoting more complete work.
For a related topic, see how much extra stump grinding adds to tree removal.
Often yes, especially if you already know you want it gone. Bundling the stump into the same project conversation keeps expectations cleaner. The crew already knows the tree, the species, the access, and the site conditions. Even if grinding happens on a separate day, the scope can still be agreed on up front.
That said, some homeowners intentionally split the work. They remove the tree now and decide on the stump later. That is fine too. Just be aware that the project is not truly complete from a landscape standpoint until the stump question is resolved.
If you are trying to coordinate timing, the next page to read is how soon after tree removal stumps can be ground.
The common failure mode is simple: the homeowner thinks stump grinding is included, the company thinks it is not, and nobody notices until the crew is packing up. At that point the tree is down, the stump is still there, and the conversation gets awkward.
The fix is one sentence before you sign anything: after the tree is removed, what exactly will still be left in the yard? That question cuts through a lot of ambiguity fast.
If the answer is "just the stump," now you know you still need grinding. If the answer is "nothing above grade," ask whether that means a low cut or actual grinding below grade. Exact words matter here.
We serve Spokane and surrounding communities. Tell us what stage you are at and whether the tree is already down so we can quote the right stump work.
Usually no. Many tree-removal bids cover only the above-ground tree unless stump grinding is listed separately or clearly stated as included.
Because it uses different equipment, different scheduling, and a separate scope from taking down the tree itself.
Look for direct language about stump grinding, stump removal, depth, and cleanup. If the quote just says tree removal, assume the stump is not included until confirmed.
Yes, many can. But even when the same company handles both, the stump is often still quoted as a separate line item.
That is common. Stump grinding can still be quoted and scheduled later as its own job once the tree removal is complete.
Call or submit the form. We serve Spokane and surrounding areas and can tell you exactly what still needs to be done after tree removal.