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Stump Grinding in Surrey and West Sussex
We grind the stump down with a machine instead of digging or pulling it out. It's the usual way to get rid of a stump.
How stump grinding works
The grinder has a cutting wheel with hardened teeth. We move it slowly across the stump and it chips the wood away, a little at a time, until the stump is below ground level. Nothing is dug up or pulled out, so there's no big hole and the ground around it isn't torn up.
How deep we grind
Usually 6 to 12 inches below ground, which is plenty for turf or a flower bed. If you want to plant a new tree in the same spot, lay a patio or build over it, tell us and we'll go deeper.
How long it takes
An average garden stump takes about an hour. Big stumps, or a lot of them, can take most of a day.
Difficult access
Our 27 inch grinder is about as wide as a wheelbarrow, so it'll get through most side gates. See a job with narrow access.
Before we start
Let us know about any pipes, cables or drains near the stump, so we can work around them. We put up screens to stop chippings flying at windows, cars and fences.
Do the roots need to come out?
Usually not. If you want them out as well, see tree root removal or just tell us.
After the stump has gone
The chippings fill the hole and any spare can go on your borders as mulch. We don't take them away, and we keep mess in the rest of the garden to a minimum. As the chippings and roots break down, the ground can sink a little, so it may need topping up with soil later.
Turfing and planting afterwards
For lawn, rake out most of the chippings, fill the hole with topsoil, firm it down and then seed or turf it. Chippings left in the soil take nutrients as they rot, so grass and plants won't do well in them. For a new tree, plant it a little to one side of the old stump.
Who we work for
Homeowners, tree surgeons, landscape gardeners, developers, greenkeepers and councils, on jobs of any size. See commercial stump grinding.
Our reviews
Get a free quote
To price your job quickly, it helps to know:
- Your town or postcode
- How many stumps, and whether you need roots removed too
- How wide each stump is at ground level, including visible roots, and how tall
- The narrowest gap on the way to the stump
- Any steps, walls or fences in the way
If we're on a job and can't answer, leave a message and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.
Sending photos?
A photo of the stump and how to get to it helps us price it.