How stump grinding works
A stump grinder is a machine with a spinning cutting wheel that chews the stump down into chips, usually to somewhere between 150mm and 300mm below ground level (ask what depth is quoted). That leaves room to returf, replant or lay a path over the top. The chippings can be used to backfill the hole or taken away.
Many firms have narrow-access grinders that fit through a standard garden gate, so the stump can be removed even when the tree was in a back garden.
Grinding or full removal?
Grinding removes the visible stump and the main root plate near the surface. It doesn't take out every root. If you're building on the spot, laying foundations or putting in a pond, ask about full excavation instead. Some trees, including sycamore and willow, can send up shoots from the remaining roots, so a few firms also offer stump treatment.
Before you book
- Mark any buried cables, pipes or drains near the stump. A good firm will ask.
- Measure the narrowest point of access, such as a gate or side passage.
- Say whether you want the chippings left or removed. If they're used to fill the hole, top it with soil before you returf, as fresh chippings take nitrogen from the soil as they rot.