How to remove a tree stump

If you've cut down a tree and are now left with a stump in your garden, you're likely wondering how you can remove the tree stump. You have a few options; you can remove the tree stump manually, use chemicals, burn the tree stump, contact a professional to remove it for you - all of which come with potential costs and even paperwork if you choose to burn it or use chemicals - or you can use a tree stump grinder. 

If you choose to hire a tree stump grinder and remove the tree stump yourself, keep reading as we discuss these useful pieces of gardening equipment and explain how to use them. 

Why do tree stumps need to be removed?

Leaving tree stumps in the ground after you have felled a tree can lead to problems with 'suckering'. This is where new shoots sprout from the trunk and roots. While you may have cut the tree down, it is still very much alive and still growing in your garden.
 

If a stump is dead, it will not form suckers, but the stump can look very unattractive and out of place. The dead stump could also play host to root diseases such as honey fungus, so it is not worth taking that risk.

How to remove a tree stump with a tree stump grinder

Tree stump removal can be labour intensive, time consuming, dangerous, and expensive. It is widely recommended by gardening experts to use a tree stump grinder to remove a tree stump. We agree, so we are going to tell you all about how you can use one of these machines yourself to get rid of tree stumps.

What is a Tree Stump Grinder?

Tree stump grinders are powerful machines. They are mounted on wheels, and have a petrol engine and hard-wearing, rotating chisel blade. The blade rotates to grind away at the tree stump and turn it into fine wood chippings.

Stump grinders can make easy work of removing large and stubborn tree stumps. They provide a much more efficient and less laborious way of removing a tree stump than trying to do it by hand.

When to remove a tree stump

There's no magic period for removing a tree stump that'll make the job easier. You can fell a tree and remove the stump at any time of the year. However, if you're doing it manually, it can be easier if the stump has dried out. If you can leave the stump for a 18 months, or the stump has been around for a few years, the task might be easier. 

How to use a Tree Stump Grinder

When using a tree stump grinder to remove tree stumps from the ground, you should first tackle the roots.

Wheel the machine in place so that the blade is in position over an exposed root. Start up the engine and begin by grinding across the roots. Use a steady sweeping action from left to right and back again. You should angle the machine so that it grinds 1” down from the top of the roots on each pass. Each time, sweep back across the root at 1” lower than the previous pass.

Once you have cleared the roots, you can then tackle the stump itself.

Approach the stump the same way you approached the roots. Sweeping across the trunk, you should grind around 1.5” down on each pass. As you chip the stump down, you can wheel the machine forward to tackle further into the stump. Once you have chipped the stump down to ground level, you can even tilt the machine downwards to grind down below ground level. This way, you can completely remove the stump.

As you remove a tree stump, the machine will produce a lot of wood chippings. Stump grinders feature chip deflectors which help to prevent the wood chips from flying about. It will leave you with a pile of wood chippings to deal with afterwards.

Tree stump grinder safety

There are chip deflectors fitted to tree stump grinders. Deflectors prevent the wood chips flying around and causing injury. But, you must wear full safety equipment when using a tree stump grinder to minimise the risk of injury whilst using the machine. This includes a hard hat and face visor, heavy-duty gloves, work boots and ear defenders.

Tree stump grinders are powerful pieces of equipment. You must take in all advice given, read the instruction manual. Only use the stump grinder if you feel confident enough to do so.

What to do with wood chippings

Once you have removed the tree stump, you can use the chips left behind to fill in the hole. Or you can use them as mulch in other areas of the garden. You can also clear them up using a vacuum or blower machine or compost them like you would the waste from a wood chipper. 

Hire a tree stump grinder

We've partnered with garden equipment hire specialists to allow you to hire high-quality tree stump grinders when you need them. Unless you are tree surgeon, buying a tree stump grinder and paying for its upkeep can be costly and they are difficult to store. Hiring a tree stump grinder for a one-time use allows you to get a high standard result with a professional grade machine without the cost or need to find long-term storage as our hire partners will collect the tree stump grinder from you at the end of your hire period.