Stump Grinding in Wollongong
The bit most mobs leave behind. Ground deep enough that you can turf, pave, plant or build over the top without a rethink in six months.
Why the depth matters
Plenty of operators grind a stump to ground level, take the money and go. Six months later the lawn sinks, the pavers move, or a new plant hits a wall of hardwood 150mm down. We grind to 300mm below grade as standard, and deeper where a slab, footings or irrigation are going in.
We also chase the surface roots. On species like camphor laurel, fig and Queensland box, the lateral roots running out from the stump are the things that actually lift your paving and crack your path. Taking the stump and leaving those behind solves half the problem.
Access is usually the constraint
Illawarra blocks are full of 900mm side gates, and a standard grinder does not fit. We run narrow-access machines that get through a standard gate, and where even that will not work we can lift a machine over or hand-cut smaller stumps. Send a photo of your side access when you ask for a quote and we can price it accurately first time.
What happens to the grindings
Grinding produces a surprising volume of chip and soil, roughly two to three times the visible stump. You choose:
- Left in place - free, and fine if you are mulching a garden bed over it.
- Backfilled and topped with soil - the usual choice before turf goes down.
- Removed entirely - a small extra charge, necessary if you are paving, pouring or building.
One thing worth knowing: fresh grindings are not a growing medium. They pull nitrogen out of the soil as they break down. If you are replanting in the same spot, take them away and bring in clean soil. If you want proper aged mulch instead, that is what we sell.
Before we start grinding
Every stump gets a services check. Irrigation, gas, power, comms and old septic runs all live in exactly the places people plant trees. We use Before You Dig Australia on anything near a boundary or services corridor and probe by hand where we are uncertain. A grinder wheel through a gas line is a very bad day.
What separates a proper grind from a scratch.
300mm below grade
Deep enough to turf, pave or plant straight over. Deeper again if you are pouring a slab.
Surface roots chased
The lateral roots that lift paving come out too, not just the visible stump.
Services located first
Before You Dig plus hand probing near irrigation, gas, power and comms. No expensive surprises.
Grindings your way
Left as mulch, backfilled with soil, or carted off entirely. Your call at the quote.
Narrow-access machines
Through a 900mm side gate. Where nothing fits, we can lift a machine over the fence.
Multiple stumps, one visit
Mobilising the grinder is the fixed cost, so five stumps in a day costs a fraction of five separate visits.
How the job actually runs.
Quote and access check
We confirm stump diameter, how many, and what fits down the side. A photo of your gate is usually enough to price it.
Services located
Before You Dig where relevant, plus hand probing around irrigation and anything near a boundary.
Screen and protect
Grinding throws chip a long way. Windows, cars, pools and glass get screened before the wheel spins.
Grind out
The wheel works the stump and lateral roots down past 300mm below grade, checking depth as it goes.
Backfill or remove
Grindings dealt with the way you chose, ground levelled, hard surfaces blown clean.
Stump Grinding, answered.
How much does stump grinding cost?
Small stumps under 300mm start around $90 to $150. Mid-size stumps run $180 to $350. Large multi-stem or buttressed stumps with heavy root plates go higher. Doing several at once brings the per-stump price down sharply.
Can I plant a new tree in the same spot?
Yes, but not straight into the grindings. Have them removed, backfill with clean soil, and ideally plant slightly to the side of the old root plate. We can do the removal and backfill as part of the job.
How long does it take?
A typical residential stump takes 20 to 60 minutes including set-up. A large hardwood stump with an extensive root plate can take a couple of hours. Most jobs are done in one visit.
Will it damage my lawn?
The machine tracks are wide and low-pressure, and we board over anything soft or fragile. There is usually some marking on wet lawn that recovers in a week or two. We flag anything we are worried about before we start, not after.
Can I just leave the stump?
You can, but it will host termites, borers and fungi as it rots, it is a trip hazard, and some species keep throwing suckers for years. Camphor laurel, privet and coral tree are particularly persistent about it.
Get a fixed price on your stump grinding.
Free site visit anywhere inside our 50km radius, quote back the same day, no pressure to book.