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Stump grinding prep checklist
Call 811, clear the path, mark what is buried and agree on cleanup. Ten minutes of prep keeps the job on schedule.
The day before
- Call or click 811 (Okie811 in Oklahoma) at least two business days before. It is free and marks public utilities.
- Mark your own buried lines: sprinkler pipes, pet fences, low-voltage lighting and irrigation valves.
- Move cars, furniture and kids' toys from the path and the work area.
- Pull or tie back low branches along the path in.
- Take photos of the lawn and fence so any later disagreement has a baseline.
On the day
- Keep pets and kids indoors. Chips and stones can fly several feet.
- Walk the job with the crew and point at each stump.
- Confirm the price, the depth and what happens to the chips before they start.
After they finish
Walk the area again. Check the depth, the leftover chips and the lawn. Ask about hauling or filling with soil if you want a level patch. Pay after you have looked.
Send the form and a crew that works your area will call with a price. Free, and you can say no.
Questions
Do I have to be home?
It helps for the first walk-through and the final check. Many crews are fine if you cannot be, provided the price and scope are agreed.
Will 811 mark my sprinkler lines?
No. 811 covers public utilities. Private lines like irrigation are your job to mark.