Stumps ground 4 to 8 inches below grade in yards around the Oval, along the Souhegan and on Milford's hillside lots.
We grind stumps in Milford for homeowners, builders cleaning up house lots, and landowners and commercial properties that need old stumps gone so the ground can be mowed, planted or built on. Our crew brings professional stump grinders, debris safety screens and a mini excavator for roots and rocks, and we grind 4 to 8 inches below grade.
Afterward we can rake the chips out, leave them piled, or haul them away with our trucks and trailers. Loam and seed are an optional add-on. To get started, 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 the service works on our stump grinding page.
Milford mixes a compact village center, a protected river and hillier wooded lots. These are the local conditions we plan around before the grinder starts.
State law designates the Souhegan River as a protected river through Milford, which makes it public water with 250 feet of protected shoreland. Within 50 feet of the bank, stumps and root systems stay in the ground unless NHDES approves removal or the stump is replaced with new trees or woody plants. We measure from the water before we quote a stump near the river.
Around Union Square, houses sit close together on small lots, and many backyards are fenced. We use grinders that fit through gates and set debris screens so chips stay off siding, cars and a neighbor's windows.
Milford's wetland ordinance names Mitchell Brook, Spaulding Brook, Great Brook and several others for wider protective buffers. A low corner of a lot near one of these brooks is worth checking with the town before any ground is disturbed.
Milford's nickname comes from the granite quarries that once supplied stone for the Treasury Building pillars in Washington. Not every lot has rock near the surface, but boulders and ledge around a root flare dull grinder teeth and may need the mini excavator. Photos of the stump base help us plan.
The land rises to Boynton Hill, 814 feet, near the western town line. On a slope the grinder needs a flat, stable spot, so a stump on a bank can take more setup than one on a level lawn.
Most stump grinding in a Milford backyard needs no permit, but a few rules apply depending on where the stump is.
Dig Safe. New Hampshire counts tree and root removal as excavation (RSA 374:48 (opens in a new tab)). RSA 374:51 (opens in a new tab) requires notice to the damage prevention system at least 72 hours before digging near an underground facility, not counting weekends and legal holidays. Dig Safe marks public utility lines only, so tell us where private lines such as septic pipes, irrigation or pet fences run.
Shoreland. The Souhegan River is designated under RSA 483:15 (opens in a new tab), and rivers designated there count as public waters (RSA 483-B:4 (opens in a new tab)). Under RSA 483-B:9 (opens in a new tab), stumps and roots within 50 feet of the reference line stay intact unless removal is approved by NHDES, and removed stumps are replaced with pervious surfaces, new trees or other woody vegetation.
Town wetland district. Milford's Wetland Conservation District overlays streams, ponds, wetlands and the buffers around them, with a 25-foot default buffer and 50 feet for named brooks and the Souhegan, according to the ordinance text posted by the Conservation Commission (Wetland Conservation District (opens in a new tab)). That text is dated 2003, so confirm the current rules with Milford Community Development before grinding near a brook or wetland.
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 before work starts.
Sources: NH RSA 374:48, definitions (excavation includes tree and root removal); NH RSA 374:51, notice before excavation; NH RSA 483:15, designated rivers (Souhegan River); NH RSA 483-B:4, shoreland definitions (public waters); NH RSA 483-B:9, shoreland minimum standards; Milford Conservation Commission: Wetland Conservation District ordinance text
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 and $30 to $60 for each additional stump, or roughly $2 to $6 per inch of diameter, with minimum fees of $80 to $160 (HomeGuide (opens in a new tab)). HomeGuide also lists extra-large stumps at $300 to $800 each. These are national reference ranges, not our prices, and conditions in Milford can push a job to either end.
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.
The river that drains most of Milford; the town takes its name from a mill built at a ford on it. State law designates the Souhegan as a protected river through Milford, so land within 250 feet of the water falls under shoreland rules that limit stump and vegetation removal near the bank.
Get directions to Souhegan River (opens Google Maps in a new tab)The triangular town green and traffic rotary at the junction of Routes 13 and 101A, with the Pillsbury Bandstand and the Souhegan River behind it. Streets around the center have close-set houses and small lots that call for compact equipment and debris screens.
Get directions to The Oval (Union Square) (opens Google Maps in a new tab)About 270 acres the town bought in 2000 for community uses that include recreation, open space, trails and natural resource protection. It is a reminder of how much open, wooded ground sits near Milford's developed areas, where wetland and buffer questions come up on adjoining lots.
Get directions to Brox Community Land (opens Google Maps in a new tab)A roughly 3-mile trail that runs from Route 13 in Milford toward Brookline along a former rail corridor. The trail leaves the railroad right-of-way south of Armory Road and crosses private land, a reminder to know where a lot line sits before any clearing.
Get directions to Granite Town Rail Trail (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 river, state law keeps stumps and roots in the ground unless NHDES approves removal or the stump is replaced with new woody plants. We check where the stump sits and talk through options before any grinding.
Often yes. We bring grinders that fit through many gates and set debris screens to protect siding, windows and cars. Send a photo of the gate and the path to the stump with your quote request.
We can rake the chips out, leave them piled for you to use as mulch, or haul them away with our trucks and trailers. Hauling usually adds to the cost, so tell us your preference. Loam and seed are an optional add-on.
New Hampshire counts tree and root removal as excavation, with notice required at least 72 hours ahead, not counting weekends and legal holidays. Dig Safe marks public utility lines only, so point out private lines like septic pipes, irrigation and pet fences before we start.
Usually, yes. Rocks slow the work and wear teeth, and sometimes the mini excavator moves them out of the way. Photos of the stump base and the access path help us bring the right machine.
We grind 4 to 8 inches below grade. That is deep enough to mow or plant over, but surface roots beyond the main stump are a separate conversation, so mention any you want ground.
See every town we cover on our service areas page.
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