Stump grinding is the quickest and tidiest way to get rid of a stump. A grinder with a spinning toothed wheel chews the stump down below ground level and turns it into chips, leaving the lawn or bed ready to level and replant. It does not take out the whole root system, which simply rots in the soil. This page covers how the grinder works, how deep it goes, the chips, access, and what stump grinding prices depend on. Send a request and teams near you will quote free, with no obligation.
How the grinder works
A stump grinder has a heavy steel wheel set with hard teeth. The operator lowers the spinning wheel onto the stump and sweeps it from side to side, taking off a few centimetres at a time, then moves forward and goes deeper. Grinders come in three main sizes:
- walk-behind machines that fit through a garden gate
- tracked machines for slopes, soft ground and bigger stumps
- towable machines for large stumps and many stumps on open ground
To hire one yourself, see stump grinder hire.
How deep, and the chips
Grinding usually goes 15 to 30 cm below the surface. That is deep enough for lawn, a flower bed or paving on sand. If you plan to plant a new tree in the same spot, or to lay foundations, tell the team: you may need deeper grinding or full stump removal. The ground stump becomes a heap of chips mixed with soil, often more than you expect. Use it as mulch on beds, rake it into the hole and top with soil, or ask for it to be carted away. Fresh chips settle as they rot, so the patch may need topping up after a few months.
Access and buried services
Measure your gate. Small walk-behind grinders fit through narrow openings, while larger machines need more room and firm ground. Steps, steep slopes and soft lawn affect which grinder can reach the stump. Before grinding, mark water pipes, drains, irrigation and cables near the stump. Clear stones, wire and bricks from around it: they wreck the teeth and fly out at speed. Keep children, pets and cars well back while the grinder runs.
What stump grinding prices depend on
Width is the main factor: a 30 cm stump grinds in minutes, a 1 m gum stump takes much longer. Then hardness of the wood, how deep you want it, access, whether the chips are removed, and how many stumps there are. Several stumps on one visit cost less per stump because the travel and setup are shared.
What to include in your request
- Number of stumps and the width of each
- Gate width and any steps or slopes
- How deep you need it ground
- Whether the chips must be removed
- Any pipes, drains or cables nearby
Stump Grinding for different clients
- Homeowners: a stump in the lawn ground below the surface so grass can grow over it
- Estates, complexes and body corporates: stumps in common areas ground flush and the chips used on estate beds
- Farms, smallholdings and plantations: rows of gum stumps ground on open ground with a towable grinder
- Businesses and commercial property: stumps in parking islands and verges ground down before replanting
- Schools, churches and municipalities: stumps in parks and school grounds ground so they are not a trip hazard
- Developers and building sites: stumps ground on a stand where paving and lawn will go
- Servitudes and fire breaks: stumps along servitudes ground down so maintenance vehicles can pass
- Tree fellers, landscapers and garden services: tree fellers adding stump grinding to their felling quotes
Frequently asked questions
What are stump grinding prices in South Africa?
Stump grinding vs removal: which is better?
Will a ground stump grow back?
How do I find stump grinding near me?
Stump Grinding by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Mthatha
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Mahikeng
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Kimberley
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg