Stumps ground 4 to 8 inches below grade in village yards, lakeside lots and rural properties.
We grind stumps in Amherst for homeowners, builders clearing house lots, landowners and commercial properties along the Route 101 corridor. Our crew brings professional stump grinders, debris safety screens and a mini excavator for roots and rocks. Every stump is ground 4 to 8 inches below grade.
Afterward we can rake the chips out, leave them piled for you, or haul them away with our trucks and trailers. Call (603) 438-6492 or use Get a Quote with a few photos and the number of stumps. We are family owned, fully insured and have 12 years of experience. See how it works on our stump grinding page.
Amherst has a lake, a river, several brooks and a bog inside its borders, so where a stump sits often matters more than how big it is.
Baboosic Lake covers about 228 acres on the Amherst and Merrimack line, which makes it public water under state law. Within 50 feet of the shoreline, stumps and roots stay in the ground unless NHDES approves removal or the stump is replaced with new woody plants. We check the distance before we quote.
Amherst's Wetland and Watershed Conservation District covers wetlands and surface waters, and development inside it goes through a conditional use permit with Conservation Commission comment. Beaver Brook runs through the village and Pulpit Brook drains the northeast, so a low yard near either deserves a check.
The Souhegan crosses the southern part of town. Ground beside it is low and can stay wet, which affects where a grinder can travel without tearing up the lawn.
The village center is a National Register historic district. Work there is usually close to neighbors and buildings, so we set debris safety screens and plan the grinder's path around fences and walls.
The north of town rises to Chestnut Hill at 865 feet. Sloped lots there change where a grinder can sit, so we look at the path in from the road before the job.
Most stump grinding in a yard needs no permit. A few rules depend on where the stump is.
Dig Safe. New Hampshire counts tree and root removal as excavation (RSA 374:48 (opens in a new tab)). Notice goes to the damage prevention system at least 72 hours ahead, not counting weekends and legal holidays (RSA 374:51 (opens in a new tab)). Private lines such as septic pipes and irrigation are not marked, so tell us where they run.
Shoreland. Under RSA 483-B:9 (opens in a new tab), stumps and root systems within 50 feet of the reference line of public waters stay intact unless NHDES approves removal or the stump is replaced with pervious surface, new trees or other woody plants. Public waters include lakes over 10 acres (RSA 483-B:4 (opens in a new tab)), which covers Baboosic Lake.
Town wetland district. Amherst's Wetland and Watershed Conservation District (Zoning Ordinance Section 4.11) requires a Planning Board conditional use permit for development inside it, and its plan checklist lists removal of vegetation and alteration of the land surface among the items reviewed (Town of Amherst checklist (opens in a new tab)). If a stump is beside a wetland or brook, ask Amherst Community Development whether review applies.
This is general guidance, not legal advice. We help you spot when a permit question exists so you can confirm it with the town or NHDES.
Sources: NH RSA 374:48, definitions (excavation includes tree and root removal); NH RSA 374:51, notice before excavation; NH RSA 483-B:9, shoreland minimum standards; NH RSA 483-B:4, shoreland definitions; Town of Amherst: Conditional Use Permit checklist, Wetland and Watershed Conservation District
We don't publish set prices, because every stump is quoted after we see it. For planning, HomeGuide puts stump grinding at about $120 to $400 for the first stump, $30 to $60 for each additional stump, and $2 to $6 per inch of diameter, with minimum fees of $80 to $160 (HomeGuide (opens in a new tab)). These are national reference ranges, not our prices.
For a quick planning number, try our stump grinding cost calculator, then call (603) 438-6492 or request a quote for an exact price.
Try the stump grinding cost calculator
Cost references: HomeGuide: Stump Grinding Cost
A few places locals know, and what they mean for outdoor work nearby.
A lake of about 228 acres on the Amherst and Merrimack line, fed by Joe English Brook and draining to Baboosic Brook. Lots near the shore fall under state shoreland rules that limit stump and vegetation removal near the water.
Get directions to Baboosic Lake (opens Google Maps in a new tab)A 75-acre NH Audubon sanctuary built around a three-acre kettle-hole pond with a floating sphagnum mat. It shows how much of Amherst sits on wet, sensitive ground that is worth checking before any clearing.
Get directions to Ponemah Bog Wildlife Sanctuary (opens Google Maps in a new tab)The village center around the Town Common, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with Beaver Brook running through it. Work near a historic district is usually close to neighbors, so access and debris control get extra attention.
Get directions to Amherst Village Historic District (opens Google Maps in a new tab)An east-flowing tributary of the Merrimack that crosses the southern part of town. Land beside it is low and wet in places, which affects shoreland and wetland planning.
Get directions to Souhegan River (opens Google Maps in a new tab)Photos from our crew's jobs across New Hampshire and Massachusetts.
It depends on the distance from the water. Within 50 feet of the shoreline, state law keeps stumps and roots in the ground unless NHDES approves removal or the stump is replaced with new woody plants. Send photos and the rough distance, and we will go over the options first.
It can be. Amherst reviews development inside its Wetland and Watershed Conservation District through a conditional use permit. Call the town's Community Development office before work, and we will help you describe what is planned.
Yes. We use debris safety screens and plan the grinder's route around fences, walls and neighboring property. Photos of the stump and the path from the road help us pick the right machine.
We grind 4 to 8 inches below grade. The chips can be raked out, left piled for your use or hauled away with our trucks and trailers. Hauling usually adds to the cost, so tell us your preference when you ask for a quote.
No. Loam and seed are an optional add-on. Ask for them in your quote request if you want the spot ready for lawn.
New Hampshire counts tree and root removal as excavation, so notice goes in at least 72 hours ahead, not counting weekends and legal holidays. Dig Safe marks public lines only, so point out private lines before we start.
See every town we cover on our service areas page.
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