What Does Stump Grinding Involve?

Once a tree has been felled or removed, the stump is often left behind, and stump grinding is the most common way to deal with it.

The Grinding Process

A grinding machine is used to mechanically break the stump down to below ground level, working across the surface until the wood is reduced to wood chips. The roots below the ground are left to decompose naturally over time.

What Happens to the Area Afterwards

Once ground down, the area is generally left slightly below the surrounding ground level, filled with wood chips and loose soil. This can usually be levelled and prepared for grass, planting or paving.

How Long It Takes

Grinding time depends on the stump diameter, wood density and root spread, so jobs vary from straightforward to more involved depending on the tree.

Grinding vs Full Removal

Grinding is usually faster and less disruptive than digging out the entire root system, which makes it the more common choice unless the roots themselves need to come out, for example ahead of construction work. See our stump removal page for more detail on both options.