The quick answer
For anything bigger than a dinner plate, grinding wins. It is done in an hour or two, it does not wreck the surrounding garden, and you can lay turf or plant straight away. Smaller stumps can be dug out by hand if you have the time and a strong back.
Method 1: dig it out
Best for small stumps up to about 20cm across from shrubs and young trees.
- Dig a trench around the stump and expose the main roots
- Cut the roots with a pruning saw or axe, a root saw makes this easier
- Rock the stump to find the last roots holding it, then cut them and lever it out
Expect two to four hours for a small stump. Check for underground pipes and cables before you dig. Dial Before You Dig is free.
Method 2: chemical stump killer
Drilling holes into a fresh stump and filling them with a registered stump killer stops regrowth on suckering species. It does not make the stump disappear. Decay still takes one to several years, depending on species and size. Follow the label, keep children and pets away, and do not use it near waterways.
Method 3: burning
Burning out a stump is not permitted in most of metropolitan Melbourne under local laws and EPA rules, and it is a real fire risk. We do not recommend it.
Method 4: stump grinding
A grinder chips the stump to 200 to 300mm below ground and cuts the main roots. It is the method councils, landscapers and builders use. Narrow machines fit through standard side gates, and the grindings can be used to backfill the hole or as mulch.
Hiring a grinder yourself is possible, but the machines are heavy, they throw chips hard, and hitting a rock or pipe can do real damage. Most homeowners find a professional visit costs about the same as a day's hire once you add the trailer and fuel. See typical prices in our cost guide.
What about the roots?
Grinding removes the stump and the root flare. The remaining roots break down in the soil over a few years. Suckering species such as poplars, willows and some prunus can send up shoots; we can treat or grind those on a follow-up visit.
Need it done?
Our stump grinding service covers all of Melbourne from three branches, and we can grind several stumps on one visit to keep the cost down.