Stump grinding in Amherst, NY

Amherst neighborhoods and stump jobs

Amherst is a large town with very different parts. In the southwest, Eggertsville borders Buffalo, and Snyder sits between Eggertsville and Williamsville. These are older areas that have kept much of their original character, with mature trees and established yards.

The Village of Williamsville, in the southern part of town, is incorporated and governed separately from the town. Getzville lies near the center of town along Campbell Boulevard and Dodge Road. East Amherst and Swormville are in the east, shared with the Town of Clarence. The northern part of town, toward Tonawanda Creek and the Niagara County line, is less developed and still has a few active farms.

Those differences show up in a stump job:

• Older southern neighborhoods often have large, mature trees, which means bigger stumps and wide root flares. Driveways and side yards may be narrow, so measure the route to the backyard.
• Newer subdivisions tend to have more open lots, but also buried irrigation, invisible pet fences, and landscape lighting. None of these are marked by 811, so point them out to your contractor.
• Lower, wetter ground. Much of the town was originally floodplain and marshland. In wet spring weather, ask how the provider will keep equipment from rutting the lawn.

Street tree stumps: check with the town first

Amherst manages a large public tree population. A 2020-2022 inventory by Davey Resource Group counted about 56,600 trees along streets and in parks. It recorded 488 stumps, most of them on streets.

The town's community tree management plan says the Highway Department manages all trees, stumps, and planting sites along street rights-of-way and in public parks. It lists stump and root grinding among the department's operations. The plan recommends removing stumps when convenient, ideally before a planting season.

If a stump is in the tree lawn between the sidewalk and street, contact the town before paying anyone to grind it. If you're in the Village of Williamsville, check with the village instead, since it has its own government.

Ash, maples, and storm damage

Green ash made up about 12 percent of Amherst's inventoried street trees. Emerald ash borer, confirmed in Erie County in 2011, has hit them hard. In 2016, The Buffalo News reported the town spending heavily to treat and save about 9,000 ash trees, while the highway superintendent called the town's losses enormous. The town's plan notes that a considerable number of ash have had to be removed and recommends against planting green ash.

Maples dominate the rest. Norway maple alone was more than 28 percent of the street tree inventory, and silver maple about 9 percent. Large maples are known for shallow roots, so a maple stump often comes with surface roots across the lawn.

Storms matter too. In the October 2006 lake-effect storm, the National Weather Service recorded 14 to 22 inches of wet snow in Amherst while trees were still in leaf, causing heavy limb and tree loss.

Before you hire in Amherst

For what drives the price, see stump grinding cost. For how grinding works, see stump grinding. Once it's done, after stump grinding covers fill and reseeding.