Tree Removals
Safe, efficient removal of trees of all sizes — from small garden trees to large hazardous specimens.
Learn more →The quick, tidy way to be rid of a stump
You've had the tree taken down and now there's a stump sitting in the lawn — tripping the mower, sprouting weeds, taking up a corner of the yard. Grinding is the fast, low-mess way to deal with it. A machine with a rotating cutting wheel chews the stump down into woodchip, well below ground level, and we backfill the hole so you're left with a level patch ready for turf, a garden bed or paving.
No big excavation, no torn-up yard, no skip full of timber — just the stump gone and the ground put back. For the vast majority of Melbourne backyards, that's exactly the right job.
Grinding vs full removal — pick the right one
This is the question we get most, so here it is plainly:
| Stump grinding | Stump removal | |
|---|---|---|
| What happens | Stump ground to chips below ground | Stump and main root plate dug out |
| Roots | Left to rot down naturally | Extracted |
| Mess & disruption | Minimal | Significant — it's an excavation |
| Cost & speed | Cheaper, faster | More involved |
| Best when | Re-turfing, planting, paving over | Building, root damage, need clean soil |
For a lawn, a garden bed or a paver patch, grinding is almost always the answer. Go to full removal when you're building on the spot or the roots themselves are the problem.
What you can do with the patch afterwards
- Re-turf or seed — backfilled and levelled, the spot blends back into the lawn in a season.
- Plant — fine for a new garden bed; if you want a new tree right on the old spot, ask us to grind deeper.
- Pave or build a path — a ground stump won't heave a paver the way a whole stump would.
The woodchip from grinding makes decent mulch — we can leave it on site for your garden beds or take it away.
Often booked with a removal
Most stump grinding follows a tree removal — it's common to quote the two together. If the tree's still standing, we'll handle the lot in one visit: fell it, chip the branches and grind the stump.
Across Melbourne
We arrange stump grinding right across the metro, from the tight inner-north blocks around Brunswick — where access for the grinder matters — through the leafy east and down the bay to Frankston and Mornington. See all the areas we serve or call to confirm your street.
Get a stump grinding quote
Call (03) 4327 9091 or send the form below. Tell us roughly how many stumps, how big, and your suburb, and we'll arrange a free quote.
More services
Explore our other services
Tree Lopping
Professional lopping to reduce tree size, manage canopy spread, and remove dangerous branches.
Learn more →Tree Pruning
Precision pruning to improve tree health, shape, and safety — from $100 for small trees.
Learn more →Stump Removals
Complete stump extraction including root system — leaves the site clean and obstacle-free.
Learn more →Arborist Reports
Certified arborist assessment reports for council permits, insurance claims, and tree health evaluations.
Learn more →Palm Tree Removals
Specialist removal of all palm species including queen palms, date palms, and fan palms.
Learn more →Mulching
On-site mulching of removed timber — reduces waste and provides usable garden mulch.
Learn more →Chipping
Wood chipping service for branches and green waste — available with tree removal or as a standalone job.
Learn more →Fertilizing
Soil and root-zone fertilisation programs to improve long-term tree health and vigour.
Learn more →Emergency Tree Removal
24/7 emergency response for storm-damaged, fallen, or hazardous trees across Melbourne.
Learn more →
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
How far below the surface do you grind the stump?
For most jobs we grind to around 200–300mm below ground level, which is enough to re-turf, plant a small garden bed or lay paving over the top. If you're putting a structure, a fence post or a new tree right where the old one stood, tell us and we'll grind deeper. The grindings and soil go back in the hole, so you're left with a level patch rather than a crater.
What's the difference between stump grinding and stump removal?
Grinding chews the stump down into chips below ground level but leaves the root system in the soil to break down naturally over time. It's faster, cheaper and far less disruptive — no big excavation. Full stump removal digs out the stump and the main root plate entirely, which you'd want if you're building, the roots are damaging pipes or paving, or you need clean soil. For most home jobs grinding is all you need; see our stump removals service if you need the roots gone too.
Will the roots keep growing or the tree grow back after grinding?
No. Once the stump is ground out and the trunk is gone, the tree can't photosynthesise, so it won't regrow. The leftover roots simply rot down in the ground over a few years. The one exception is a handful of vigorous suckering species — some elms and a few ornamentals — where stray suckers can pop up from the roots; tell us the species and we'll flag it and suggest the best approach.
Free, no-obligation