Once a tree is down, you're left with the stump. There are two ways to deal with it: grind it down where it stands, or dig the whole thing out. Both work, but they suit different plans for the spot.
Stump grinding
A stump grinder is a heavy cutting wheel that chews the stump into chips, down below the ground surface. The main roots near the top go with it. The rest of the root system is left in the soil to rot away naturally over the years.
It's the right choice for most yards. It's quick, it leaves a small shallow hole instead of a crater, and once you add topsoil and seed you can grow grass right over the spot.
Stump removal
Full removal means pulling the stump and its root ball out of the ground, usually with an excavator. It gets everything out, but it leaves a big hole to fill and disturbs a lot more of the yard.
It makes sense when you're building right on that spot (a foundation, a slab, a driveway or a pool) where rotting roots could cause settling later, or when you're clearing land for construction anyway.
Which should you pick?
Planting grass, a flower bed or just want it gone? Grind it.
Pouring concrete or building on the spot? Pull it.
Clearing a whole lot for a house? Usually a mix: grinding where there'll be lawn, pulling where there'll be structure.
We have the equipment for both, so we'll recommend whichever fits what you're doing with the space rather than whichever machine we brought.
What about just leaving it?
You can, but stumps take years to rot, they're a trip and mower hazard, and a rotting stump near the house is an open invitation to termites and carpenter ants. Some trees will also keep sending up shoots from the roots. Grinding is usually a small cost next to the tree removal itself, especially if it's done in the same visit.