Stump grinding or stump removal: which is right for you?
Once the tree is down, the stump is still there, and there are two sensible ways to deal with it. Grinding takes it below ground level and leaves the roots. Full removal digs it out. This page explains the difference and when each one suits.
What stump grinding is
A stump grinder carries a cutting wheel that chews the wood into chips. It is brought to the stump and the head is passed across the wood, working down below ground level. Nothing is dug out; the stump is ground away, and the hole is filled with the chips and covering soil.
The result is ground you can mow over, plant into or level for paving, with the stump gone and the surrounding garden largely undisturbed. Grinding is quicker and tidier than digging, and it is the method most gardens need.
What full removal is
Full removal takes the stump and its main roots out of the ground, usually with a machine that pulls or digs them out. It leaves a bigger hole and more disturbance, and the spoil has to go somewhere. What you gain is a clean site with the root plate gone.
That matters when the roots themselves are the problem. Where roots have lifted paving, cracked a low wall or grown into a drain, grinding the stump alone leaves those roots in place, and the damage they have done may need repairing anyway.
The trade-offs
- Grinding is faster, cleaner and disturbs less of the garden.
- Removal takes the main roots with it, which suits ground being rebuilt on.
- Grinding leaves a hole filled with chips; removal leaves a larger hole to fill.
- Grinding cannot reach far along spreading roots; removal gets more of them.
- Neither method removes every root - fine roots are left in the soil either way.
Roots, regrowth and what to expect
A stump that has been ground does not regrow, because the stump itself is gone. Some species, however, send up shoots from surface roots, and that is a different problem from the stump. Where that has happened, the roots may need treating as well.
After either method, expect the ground to settle for a season. A ground-out stump leaves a pocket of chips that sinks as it breaks down, so top it up with soil before you plant or lay turf over the spot.
How deep, and what for
The right depth depends entirely on what you plan to do with the ground. Laying turf or planting a bed needs only the stump taken below the surface. Replanting a tree or laying paving needs more depth so that nothing settles later. Building work has its own requirements, which are usually stricter than garden work.
Tell the contractor what the ground will become. It is the single most useful piece of information for a stump job, and it stops the work being done twice.
Access and the machine
Grinders are heavy, and they have to reach the stump. Most pass through a normal pedestrian gate, but a very large stump may need a bigger machine and wider access. Soft ground after rain, steps and narrow side paths are the usual limits. Removal equipment often needs even more room, because it has to work around the stump rather than just cut into it.
Before any of it starts, point out what is nearby: paving, walls, a fence, an irrigation line or a cable. A grinder throws chips and cuts into the ground, so what is around the stump matters as much as the stump itself.
Which should you choose?
For most gardens, grinding is the answer. It clears the stump, leaves the ground usable and keeps the disturbance to a small area. Choose full removal when the roots have caused damage that grinding would not solve, or when the ground is being rebuilt or resurfaced and needs to be clear to a depth.
When in doubt, ask a contractor to look at the stump and say which suits your ground. The stump's size, the species and what you want to do with the spot usually settle it.
Frequently asked questions
Will grinding kill the tree?
Grinding removes the stump, which is what regrows. Some species can still push shoots from surface roots, which may need treating.
Is grinding cheaper than full removal?
Usually, because it is less work and disturbs less. The contractor quotes after seeing the stump and the access.
Do I need to remove the roots too?
Only if the roots are causing damage or the ground is being rebuilt. Grinding leaves the roots in place.
How long until I can plant over a ground stump?
Once the chips have settled, usually after a season. Top the spot up with soil before planting or laying turf.
Can a stump be ground next to paving?
Yes, with care. Point out the paving and anything buried so the approach can be planned.