Citrus stump grinding is Polk County's signature service demand. Groves being converted to residential or commercial use need every tree removed below grade so that grading and utility installation can proceed. Our grinders process the orderly rows of citrus stumps efficiently, and we handle the scattered hardwood and pine stumps that remain after broader clearing operations on mixed-vegetation parcels. Serving Lakeland, Winter Haven, Bartow, Lake Wales, and 8 more communities across Polk County County.
Below-grade stump removal for build-ready or landscape-ready sites. $450 minimum per visit. Most stumps take 15-30 minutes depending on size and root structure.
A typical Polk County citrus-to-subdivision conversion involves grinding 100+ stumps per acre — Valencia and Hamlin orange trees planted on 22-foot centers create a dense grid that must be completely eliminated below grade before development proceeds. The sandy Candler and Tavares soils that made these parcels ideal for citrus also make stump grinding fast — our equipment moves through citrus stumps at rates that would be impossible in clay or limestone counties. We offer volume pricing that reflects this efficiency on grove-scale projects.
The Lake Wales Ridge runs through the eastern portion — an ancient sand dune system and one of the oldest landforms in peninsular Florida, hosting critically endangered scrub habitat. Central Polk is dominated by the vast lake district with over 550 named lakes scattered across gently rolling terrain. The Green Swamp Area of Critical State Concern occupies the northeastern corner, serving as the headwaters for four major river systems. Southern and western Polk features extensive phosphate mining legacy landscape — altered terrain with clay settling areas, reclaimed minelands, and pit lakes. Former citrus groves blanket thousands of acres countywide, many in decline from citrus greening disease and being cleared for development.
Citrus grove removal and conversion to residential subdivisions, Lake Wales Ridge scrub clearing with habitat mitigation, Green Swamp-adjacent rural residential development, commercial and warehouse development along the I-4 corridor between Lakeland and Davenport, reclaimed phosphate land conversion to residential communities, pasture and ranchland clearing in southern and western Polk, and lakefront property vegetation management. Citrus greening (HLB) disease has devastated Polk's groves, accelerating conversion to residential and commercial use. The I-4 corridor between Lakeland and Orlando is the state's hottest industrial and logistics development market. Haines City and Davenport capture Disney-area spillover growth and short-term rental investment. Lakeland is emerging as a standalone metro attracting corporate relocations. Phosphate industry decline is releasing large land parcels for redevelopment. Winter Haven's Chain of Lakes revival is driving downtown reinvestment.
We assess your Polk County County property in person — evaluating terrain, vegetation density, and equipment access to deliver an accurate T&M quote.
Clear scope, timeline, and expectations documented in our Master Service Agreement before any equipment rolls. No surprises, no hidden charges.
CAT track loaders and 20+ ton excavators mobilize to your Polk County County site. Production-grade equipment means faster timelines and cleaner results.
Owner Jeremiah Anderson walks the finished project with you to confirm every detail meets expectations before we close out the job.
Lake Wales Ridge scrub is among the most endangered ecosystems in North America, with numerous federally listed plant species found nowhere else on Earth. The Green Swamp ACSC has strict development density limitations (1 unit per 10 acres) and impervious surface restrictions. Over 550 lakes create extensive wetland jurisdiction touching most developable parcels. Phosphate mining reclamation standards apply to formerly mined lands being converted to development. SWFWMD and SFWMD both have jurisdiction in Polk (county straddles the district boundary). Peace Creek watershed has nutrient TMDL requirements.
Protected species: Polk County County is home to Florida scrub-jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens) — Lake Wales Ridge is core habitat, Gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus), Sand skink (Plestiodon reynoldsi) — endemic to the Ridge, Blue-tailed mole skink (Plestiodon egregius lividus) — endemic to the Ridge, Eastern indigo snake (Drymarchon couperi), Highlands scrub hypericum (Hypericum cumulicola) — federally endangered plant, Scrub blazing star (Liatris ohlingerae) — federally endangered plant, Florida ziziphus (Ziziphus celata) — one of the world's rarest plants, Crested caracara (Caracara plancus) in ranch and prairie areas. Pre-clearing wildlife surveys may be required depending on habitat type and project scope.
Waterways & buffers: Properties near Peace River (headwaters), Kissimmee River chain of lakes, Lake Hatchineha, Lake Kissimmee, Reedy Creek, Lake Hancock, Saddle Creek, Catfish Creek, Tiger Creek, Crooked Lake may require setback buffers and water management district permits. TreeShop works within all required buffer zones.
Soil conditions: Lake fine sand, Archbold fine sand, and Paola fine sand on the Lake Wales Ridge — excessively drained, nutrient-poor soils that support fire-dependent scrub. Candler fine sand and Tavares fine sand on upland citrus soils. Haplaquods (Myakka, Immokalee, Smyrna series) in flatwoods. Phosphatic clays and reclaimed mine soils in the Bone Valley formation area around Mulberry, Fort Meade, and Bartow. Green Swamp features organic muck soils overlying sandy substrates. The diversity of soil conditions across Polk exceeds almost any other county in the region.
TreeShop provides professional stump grinding across Polk County County, including:
$450/hr
Time & Materials billing. Free on-site estimate for Polk County County properties. Transport: Medium-High.
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Stump Grinding in Polk County County