Lake Country lost an estimated 30%+ of its mature ash trees to Emerald Ash Borer between 2008 and 2020. Many of the stumps are still in the ground. Here is how we clean them up, and why ash is different from every other species we grind.
Between 2008 and 2020, the Wisconsin DNR confirmed Emerald Ash Borer infestations in every county between the Illinois border and Door County. Waukesha County was confirmed in 2013. Lake Country neighborhoods planted heavily with ash in the 1960s through the 1990s lost most of their canopy in a 12-year window. The trees came down (often by city forestry crews working as fast as they could) and the stumps stayed.
If you bought a home in Oconomowoc, Pewaukee, or Hartland anywhere between 2015 and today, there is a fair chance one of the dead stumps in your yard is an EAB-killed ash. Here is how to identify it, what makes grinding it different, and what to plant where it used to be.
Three diagnostic markers, in roughly the order they remain visible after a tree is felled:
If the tree died between 2010 and 2022 in Waukesha County and shows any of these markers, EAB is almost always the cause. The Wisconsin DNR's distribution map confirmed full coverage of southeastern Wisconsin by 2017.
We grind a lot of stumps. Ash is genuinely different from oak, maple, or cottonwood in three ways that matter to the job and to your quote.
The wood is drier and more brittle. EAB-killed ash has been dead for anywhere from 2 to 15 years by the time we get to the stump. The remaining wood has lost most of its moisture and shatters in chunks instead of producing the clean chip stream we get on green stumps. We adjust the cutting wheel speed down and use a slightly different tooth pattern to keep the chip size consistent. Counterintuitively, the job often takes less time than the same diameter oak stump (dry wood cuts faster) but produces more loose debris.
Chip volume runs about 30% higher. Because the wood is less dense, the chip pile sits looser. A 16-inch ash stump produces roughly the chip volume of a 20-inch maple stump. We bring extra tarps. If you want the chips left on-site as mulch, plan for a bigger pile than you might expect.
The root system was already compromised. EAB attacks the cambium layer of trunk and major roots, which means the surface root flare is often spongy or partially rotten before we get to it. Good news: this makes grinding faster. The wood breaks easily. Less good news: surface roots tend to collapse outward as we work, which can leave small surface depressions in the surrounding lawn. We bring topsoil to fill them in.
Standard residential pricing applies. Wisconsin DNR removed the financial assistance programs for EAB cleanup in 2019, so this is all on the homeowner now, but the numbers are reasonable and most jobs come in under $300.
| Stump diameter | Typical price | Time on-site | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10–14 inches | $150–$200 | 20–25 min | Young suburban ash. Common in newer subdivisions. |
| 15–20 inches | $180–$280 | 25–35 min | Mid-age street ash. Most common Lake Country job. |
| 21–28 inches | $250–$400 | 35–50 min | Mature pre-1980 ash. Larger root flare. |
| 29+ inches | $350–$600+ | 45–75 min | Old-growth ash, often in Chenequa or Nashotah estate lots. |
| 3+ stumps in one visit | 10–20% discount | , | Common in older Hartland and Delafield neighborhoods. |
Full pricing and add-ons (topsoil fill, chip haul-away, deeper grinding for replanting) on our cost page. For a written quote, request one here or call (262) 710-1956.
Two rule sets are worth knowing if you are removing an ash stump in Waukesha County.
Wisconsin firewood rules. The DNR's firewood quarantine restricts the movement of ash wood and bark across county lines. Practically: if we grind your ash stump and you want the chips, they stay on your property or are hauled to a licensed local disposal site. We do not transport ash chips outside Waukesha County. Most of our customers keep the chips as mulch, which is fine, the EAB life cycle ends when the tree dies, so the chips pose no further risk to other ash trees in your yard.
Shoreland Protection Ordinance. If the ash stump is on a property within 1,000 feet of a Lake Country lake (Pewaukee Lake, Lac La Belle, Nagawicka, Pine Lake, Okauchee, Oconomowoc Lake) or within 300 feet of a navigable stream, the Waukesha County Shoreland Protection Ordinance and Wisconsin DNR NR 115 may apply. Grinding is usually allowed without a permit. Full root-ball excavation in the shoreland zone usually is not. We handle the permit research as part of our lake property service.
For more on permits in Waukesha County, see our permits guide.
Plant something, but not another ash. EAB only attacks the Fraxinus genus, so any non-ash species is safe. Wisconsin DNR's recommendations for ash replacement in southeastern Wisconsin emphasize species diversity to avoid repeating the monoculture vulnerability that made the EAB die-off so brutal.
Local favorites that perform well in Lake Country clay-and-glacial-till soil:
Wait six to twelve months after grinding so the chip-amended soil settles. For a deeper walkthrough, see our companion article on planting grass after stump grinding.
Look for the signature D-shaped exit holes about 1/8 inch wide on the trunk or remaining bark, plus serpentine S-shaped galleries just under the bark when you peel a chunk off. Ash bark is diamond-patterned on older trees and smooth-grey on younger ones. If the tree died between 2010 and 2022 anywhere in Waukesha County, EAB is almost always the cause, the Wisconsin DNR confirmed EAB countywide by 2013.
For a year or two, yes. After that the stump rots faster than most species because EAB-killed wood is already dry and structurally compromised. Decaying ash stumps attract carpenter ants, become harbor sites for shelf fungi, and the surface roots heave as the heartwood collapses. Most homeowners want them ground within three years of removal. They are not, however, a renewed EAB risk, the beetles have already moved on.
Lake Country Stump Grinding charges $3–$4 per inch of stump diameter with a $150 minimum. A 14-inch ash stump runs $150–$200. A 24-inch mature street ash from the pre-EAB era runs $200–$300. Multi-stump cleanup discounts apply when we grind three or more ash stumps in one visit, common in older Waukesha County neighborhoods.
EAB-killed ash is unusually dry and brittle. Instead of producing the consistent chip stream a green oak or maple stump throws, ash shatters into chunks and dust. The wood also has a lower bulk density, which means chips compact less and produce a larger volume per stump. We slow the cutting wheel down on ash, use a different tooth pattern, and bring extra tarps because the chip volume is roughly 1.3x a comparable maple stump.
For most residential properties, no. The exception is shoreland: properties within 1,000 feet of a lake or 300 feet of a navigable stream fall under Wisconsin DNR NR 115 and the Waukesha County Shoreland Protection Ordinance. Grinding doesn't require a permit in most cases, but full stump excavation in the shoreland zone usually does. We handle the research and pull permits when needed.
You can, but plant a different species. EAB only attacks ash (Fraxinus genus), so other species are safe, but planting another ash anywhere in southeastern Wisconsin is asking for the same outcome. Wisconsin DNR recommends diversified replacement: red oak, sugar maple, river birch, swamp white oak, and serviceberry are local favorites. Wait six to twelve months after grinding so the chip-amended soil stabilizes before planting a tree.
Standard grinding is 4–6 inches below grade, enough to disappear under sod or mulch and to allow shallow planting. If you plan to plant a new tree in the same spot, we can grind deeper (8–12 inches) on request. Surface roots from the ash will continue to decompose underground for 5–10 years, which is normal and improves soil over time.
If you have one ash stump or a row of them along an old lot line, Lake Country Stump Grinding handles the cleanup the same week. Insured, transparent pricing, $150 minimum. Most quotes back within an hour.
Most quotes back within 1 business hour, 7am–7pm Mon–Sat. We'll text you a price estimate.
Last updated: May 13, 2026. Based on Wisconsin DNR EAB distribution data and our own grinding work across Waukesha County.
