Compare the two jobs
Stump grinding or stump removal
Grinding takes the stump down below the surface and leaves the roots to rot. Digging out takes the stump and main roots but leaves a bigger hole and a bigger job.
Side by side
Grinding and digging out compared
Both get rid of the stump you can see. The difference is what is left under the lawn.
| Stump grinding | Stump removal (digging out) | |
|---|---|---|
| What happens | The stump is ground away below the surface | The stump and its main roots are dug out |
| How deep | About 15 to 25 centimetres below the soil surfaceLarge exposed surface roots can be ground out as well. | The whole stump comes out of the ground |
| Roots left behind | YesAn extensive system of roots remaining in the soil, which decay in time. | FewerFiner roots still break off and stay in the ground. |
| Machinery | A stump grinderSmaller machines fit through a side gate. | Backhoes, excavators, or loaders for a big stumpOnly a small stump can realistically be dug out by hand. |
| The hole | Larger than the actual stumpRemoving the grounded chips or filling the hole is often charged as an extra. | A full hole to backfill |
| Afterwards | Some settling over the next few yearsTop up the soil as the roots rot. | Some settling over the next few yearsTop up the soil as the backfill compacts. |
| Typical cost (published price guide) | $100 to $150 for a small stump | Up to $800 |
Price ranges are national guide figures from hipages, before anyone has seen the stump. Depth and settling figures come from public forestry and university extension guides. Surf Coast's Anglesea transfer station charges $55 for stumps if you take one to the tip yourself.
Also compared: removal, lopping or pruning, council tree rules compared
Stumps
Grinding or digging out
Which one do most people need?
Grinding, in most gardens. It leaves the ground level enough to turf or plant over, and the roots left behind break down on their own. Digging out suits a spot where something has to be built or laid straight over the old stump.
Can I plant straight back in the same spot?
Not straight away. The chips and the decaying roots take time to break down, and the ground settles as they do. Planting slightly to one side is the easier option.
Are the chips taken away?
Ask when you get the quote. Removing the grounded chips or filling the hole is often a separate line, and it is worth knowing before the day.
Does grinding a stump need a permit?
The permit question is about the tree, and it is settled before the tree comes down. Once the tree is gone, grinding the stump is part of the same job.
