Mowing around the same stump every week? A row of them left over from the trees that came down? Derrick Brown grinds them below grade so you can mow, plant or build right over the spot.
Stump grinding uses a cutting wheel lined with carbide teeth to chew a stump down below ground level, turning the wood into chips instead of ripping the root ball out of your yard. D Brown Off the Chain Lawn Care is a Hinesville land clearing and lawn care company owned and run by Derrick Brown, who has been cutting trees and grinding stumps across Southeast Georgia since he was 18. As your stump grinder service, Derrick checks for utility lines, grinds each stump below grade, and leaves the spot ready for grass, sod or a new bed. He runs the machine himself, from single yard stumps in Hinesville and Richmond Hill to fields full of them in Long and Wayne counties. Call or text Derrick at (912) 332-8354 for a free estimate.
Minimum jobAbout 1 acre near Hinesville
Service radius150 miles, into South Carolina
HoursMon–Sun · 8 AM–8 PM
PaymentCash, Check, Zelle, Cash App, Credit card
Stump Grinding
01When to call
Signs It's Time for Stump Grinding
A stump doesn't go away on its own any time soon. It can take years to rot, and while it does, some species keep sending up sprouts. Decaying wood can also draw termites and other wood-boring insects closer to your house.
You mow around it every week, or you've already hit it with the mower.
Sprouts keep coming up from the stump or the roots around it.
It's sitting where you want a driveway, patio, shed, garden or fence.
The stump is rotting, growing mushrooms or crawling with ants.
It's a trip hazard where kids play or guests walk.
You're getting the house ready to sell and want the yard to look finished.
You just cleared land and the stumps are still standing.
Real job, real ground
02What’s included
What Our Stump Grinding Includes
Stump grinding takes the visible stump and the top of the root ball down below ground level, leaving a shallow hole of wood chips and soil that you can fill and grow over.
01
Marking Utility Lines Before Grinding
The grinding wheel goes below the surface, so buried lines matter. Georgia law requires a locate request through Georgia 811 at least three business days before digging. 811 marks public utility lines, but it doesn't mark private lines like sprinkler pipes, invisible dog fences or a power line to your shop. Point those out during the walk-through.
02
Grinding Below Grade
Derrick sweeps the carbide-toothed wheel side to side and lowers it a few inches per pass, taking the stump down below grade. Deeper grinding helps stop resprouting. Large stumps, multiple stumps and commercial stump grinding jobs are all handled the same way.
03
Leaving the Spot Ready to Grow Over
When grinding is done, the chips stay on site. For lawns, swap the chips at the top of the hole for topsoil before seeding or laying sod. See our residential stump grinding page for yard jobs.
03Local ground
The Stumps We See Most in Hinesville Yards
1Pine stumps from storm cleanupCoastal Georgia storms bring down pines every season, and tree crews often leave the stumps behind. Southern pines like loblolly and slash don't sprout back from the stump, but the stump takes years to rot and leaves a soft hole when it does. Grinding gets the spot usable now.
2Sweetgum and oak stumps that keep sproutingSome hardwoods send up shoots from the stump and roots after the tree comes down. Grinding at least 4 inches below ground helps prevent resprouting. Cut any late sprouts off at ground level as they appear.
3Stumps left from land clearingNew homesites in Liberty and Bryan counties often have dozens of stumps where a driveway or pad will go. Derrick can grind them as part of land clearing or as a separate job.
4Buried utilitiesCall Georgia 811 at least three business days before any job that breaks ground, stump grinding included.
04Google reviews
What Hinesville Customers Say About Stump Grinding
5.037 Google reviews5-star rating as of October 10, 2026
★★★★★
“Called him out and they came the very next day. A professional, kind gentleman. Quick, clean service.”
EElizabeth B. · Google
★★★★★
“Came through for me at a critical time. Professional, dependable, and quick.”
TTabatha W. · Google
★★★★★
“They had an opening and came a day early, even with the weather looking iffy. Timely and professional.”
JJamie S. · Google
★★★★★
“Called and they took care of the property the same day. Fast response.”
TTerrell L. · Google
★★★★★
“Professional, on time, and paid real attention to detail. He took the time to make sure everything was done.”
MMarty A. · Google
★★★★★
“Called him out and they came the very next day. A professional, kind gentleman. Quick, clean service.”
EElizabeth B. · Google
★★★★★
“Came through for me at a critical time. Professional, dependable, and quick.”
TTabatha W. · Google
★★★★★
“They had an opening and came a day early, even with the weather looking iffy. Timely and professional.”
JJamie S. · Google
★★★★★
“Called and they took care of the property the same day. Fast response.”
TTerrell L. · Google
★★★★★
“Professional, on time, and paid real attention to detail. He took the time to make sure everything was done.”
MMarty A. · Google
★★★★★
“The crew paid attention to every detail and left everything clean. You can tell they take pride in the work.”
MMarquise T. · Google
★★★★★
“Quick, reasonably priced, and kept me updated with photos during and after the job.”
AAlyssa E. · Google
★★★★★
“He worked with my schedule, showed up on time, and got it done quickly. Worth every penny.”
TT. W. · Google
★★★★★
“Always on time and does an excellent job every time.”
SSuhyong K. · Google
★★★★★
“The crew paid attention to every detail and left everything clean. You can tell they take pride in the work.”
MMarquise T. · Google
★★★★★
“Quick, reasonably priced, and kept me updated with photos during and after the job.”
AAlyssa E. · Google
★★★★★
“He worked with my schedule, showed up on time, and got it done quickly. Worth every penny.”
TT. W. · Google
★★★★★
“Always on time and does an excellent job every time.”
Why Hinesville Homeowners Choose D Brown Off the Chain
Stump Grinding · Derrick on the machine
01
The Owner Runs Every Machine
Derrick Brown quotes your stumps, runs the grinder, and checks the finished yard with you. You're not hiring a stump grinding company that sends whoever's free that day. He's cut trees and ground stumps since he was 18 and ran his own tree service in South Georgia before this.
02
Every Job Walked on Foot First
Before the grinder comes off the trailer, Derrick walks the yard to check utility marks, private lines, sprinkler heads and anything buried near the stump. That's how you avoid a cut irrigation line or a chipped foundation.
03
Your Job Never Gets Rushed
Derrick books each job with time to grind every stump to depth and clean up. He doesn't stack jobs back to back and leave you with a stump that's only half gone.
Five steps, the same on a one-acre backyard and a hundred-acre tract. Scroll to walk through them.
1Step 1 of 5
Call or Text Derrick.
Tell Derrick how many stumps you have, about how wide they are, and where they sit in the yard. A photo by text helps. He'll set a time to see them.
2Step 2 of 5
Walk the Yard With Derrick.
Derrick looks at each stump, measures it, and checks access, including gate width for the grinder. You point out private lines like sprinklers or dog fences. The Georgia 811 locate request goes in at least three business days before grinding.
3Step 3 of 5
Agree on a Price and a Date.
You get a price for every stump on the list before work starts. Payment by cash, check, Zelle, Cash App or credit card.
4Step 4 of 5
Derrick Grinds the Stumps.
Derrick clears around each stump, cuts tall stumps low with a saw if needed, then grinds in side-to-side passes down to depth. Grinding in shallow passes keeps the wheel under control and the chips close to the hole.
5Step 5 of 5
Final Walk With Derrick.
You check each spot together before the grinder is loaded. You're left with a chip-filled hole below grade and no stump, ready for topsoil and grass.
07Pricing
How Much Does Stump Grinding Cost in Hinesville?
Stump grinding is usually priced by the stump, based mostly on its diameter, with the price set after Derrick sees it. The estimate is free.
What moves the price
Diameter.Wider stumps take more passes. Large stump removal costs more than a small one.
Number of stumps.Several stumps on one visit are priced together.
Height and roots.Tall stumps and wide root flares add grinding time.
Access.Narrow gates, slopes, fences, and how close the stump sits to the house or driveway.
Distance from Hinesville.Travel and fuel for jobs farther out.
Every photo on this site is from Derrick’s own jobs. Drag or swipe to browse.
09Service area
Stump Grinding Across Southeast Georgia and Into South Carolina
D Brown Off the Chain is based in Hinesville in Liberty County and takes stump grinding jobs up to about 150 miles out: Liberty, Long, Bryan, Chatham, Effingham, Bulloch, Tattnall, Evans, Appling, Wayne, McIntosh and Glynn counties, and the Hardeeville, South Carolina area.
Derrick runs US-84 west to Ludowici and Jesup, GA-196 to Glennville, and GA-119 north through Fort Stewart to Pembroke. I-95 takes him to Richmond Hill, Savannah and Hardeeville to the north and to Darien and Brunswick to the south. Searching for stump grinding in Richmond Hill? It's a short run up I-95 from Hinesville. Looking for local stump grinding services in Ludowici or Walthourville? Those are minutes away. Coastal Georgia's sandy soil and long growing season mean roots spread wide and shallow and stumps keep sprouting through summer. Storm cleanup after hurricane season often leaves a few new stumps in yards across the region.
Minimum job is one acre within about 50 miles of Hinesville. Farther out, the minimum is larger to cover fuel and travel. Several small jobs on one property can be priced together.
10FAQs
Stump Grinding Questions
How much does stump grinding cost per stump?
Stump grinding cost per stump depends mostly on diameter, plus access, root spread, cleanup and distance from Hinesville. Derrick prices every stump after seeing it, and the estimate is free.
How deep do you grind stumps?
Below grade, and deeper where you plan to plant, pour or build. Grinding at least 4 inches below ground helps keep hardwood stumps from resprouting.
Will the stump grow back after grinding?
Loblolly and slash pine stumps don't resprout. Some hardwoods, like sweetgum and oak, can push sprouts from the remaining roots for a season or two. Cut those at ground level as they appear and they'll stop as the roots run out of energy.
What's the difference between stump grinding and stump removal?
Stump grinding takes the stump below ground level and leaves the deeper roots to rot in place, so the yard is barely disturbed. Full stump removal pulls the root ball out with heavy equipment and leaves a large hole to fill. For most yards, grinding is the faster, cleaner choice, and it's what we provide.
What happens to the wood chips?
The chips stay on site. Many homeowners reuse the extra chips as mulch in beds. Swap the chips at the top of the hole for topsoil before planting grass.
Do I need to call 811 before stump grinding?
Yes. Georgia requires a Georgia 811 locate request at least three business days before digging, and stump grinding goes below the surface. 811 doesn't mark private lines like sprinklers or dog fences, so point those out to Derrick.
Can I plant grass or a tree where the stump was?
Grass, yes: replace the top few inches of chips with topsoil, then seed or sod. For a new tree, plant a few feet off the old spot, where the leftover roots won't be in the way.
Do I need to be home while you grind?
Not if Derrick can reach the stumps, the locate marks are in, and you've pointed out private lines during the walk-through. Keep kids, pets and cars clear of the work area, since the grinder throws chips.
Call or text Derrick to set up a quick look at your stumps. He'll measure them, check for lines, and give you a price before the grinder comes off the trailer.
