When a tree comes down, the stump is often treated as an afterthought — a cosmetic issue to deal with someday. In Florida, someday tends to arrive faster and more expensively than people expect.
Stumps are termite habitat
A decaying stump is close to ideal conditions for subterranean termites: soft, damp wood in direct contact with soil. Once a colony is established in a stump twenty feet from the house, you have a well-fed population working within easy range of your structure. It is not a guarantee of an infestation, but it is an unnecessary invitation — and Florida has more than enough termite pressure without one.
Many species will not just die quietly
Cutting a tree at the base does not always kill it. Species common around here — ficus, camphor, Brazilian pepper, some oaks — respond by sending up suckers from the remaining root system. You end up mowing over a cluster of shoots every week, sometimes for years, and each one is drawing on a root network you cannot reach.
It makes the whole area unusable
A stump is a permanent obstacle. You cannot mow over it, you cannot lay sod across it, you cannot plant in it, and you cannot put a patio or a shed on it. In a small yard, a single stump can lock up a meaningful share of the usable space — and mowing around it every week is a nuisance that never goes away.
What grinding actually does
A grinder reduces the stump and its surface roots to chips, working several inches below ground level. That depth is what matters. Ground below grade, the void can be backfilled and levelled, and you can lay sod, spread mulch or plant a replacement tree over the same spot immediately. The grindings themselves make good mulch if you want to keep them; otherwise they leave with us.
Do it at the same time
The most economical time to grind a stump is right after the removal, while the equipment and crew are already on site. Coming back for it later means a second trip and a second mobilisation. If you are getting a tree removed, get a price for grinding at the same time — it is almost always the cheaper path.