Tree Stump Removal & Grinding Costs

Maybe you have moved into a new home and been left with a bunch of rotting stumps to deal with.

Maybe you cut down a tree yourself but don’t know what to do about the stump.

Whatever the reason, you are wondering about the costs of professional stump removal in Australia—and we are here to answer all of your most pressing questions.

Milone’s Tree and Lawn Solutions has served Werribee, Melbourne & Geelong for years. This post encompasses everything we have learned about tree stump removal costs based on our research and first-hand experience serving customers like you.

How much does it cost to remove a tree stump in Australia?

To make a long blog post short, removing a tree stump from your yard in Australia is going to cost, on average, about $225.

Now, that’s a very ballpark figure. The price can range from $40 – $400 per stump (and sometimes go even higher). Many different variables are at play when it comes to calculating cost, and the rest of this post will elaborate on all of them.

If you are looking for the most accurate tree stump removal cost per stump, you can request a free quote from Milone’s. This will allow one of our expert arborists to determine the exact price you can expect to pay for your particular stump removal needs.

Stump removal versus stump grinding

The terms stump removal and stump grinding get thrown around a lot as if they are interchangeable. But it is worth understanding the technical differences so that you can be sure you are getting the right service.

Stump removal refers to the complete and total removal of a stump and its root system from the ground. It is a very labour-intensive process.

Stump grinding is a common alternative to stump removal that involves using heavy machinery in order to tear the stump apart to a depth of about 30 cm below the surface. This process leaves the lawn surface usable, but the roots will be left below the earth to die on their own.

There are advantages and disadvantages to both methods, and you should weigh them based on your needs to make a decision about the best one for you.

Stump Removal Advantages and Disadvantages

Pro: Completely removes the root system leaving the earth below immediately available for use.
Con: Much more time-consuming, labour-intensive, and costly than stump grinding.
Con: Often leaves a hole that requires filling.
Con: Removal process could damage nearby root systems of other plantlife.

Stump Grinding Advantages and Disadvantages

Pro: Much faster and cheaper.
Pro: Doesn’t disturb nearby earth or plant-life as much.
Con: Roots are usually left in-tact, which may pose trouble if the land is needed for building or gardening.

In general, for most homeowners, we recommend stump grinding. Complete stump removal is usually reserved if you are clearing land for construction or similar uses. If you aren’t sure which is right for you, give us a call on 0426 204 514 and we can help you decide.

Is it cheaper to grind or remove a stump?

Stump grinding is almost always more affordable than stump removal. It requires less labour and involves a fairly straightforward process no matter the size of the tree.

Complete removal of the stump and root system, however, is going to require a different approach for different trees. The labour and machinery involved in digging up and pulling out roots is also very intense, particularly for exceptionally large trees.

Fun Fact: Tree stumps if not completely removed, can sometimes regenerate into new trees depending on the species. If not properly cut, it will also re-sprout in multiple places around the edge of the stump or from the roots. – Wikipedia

Factors affecting stump removal costs

Tree stump removal costs in Melbourne can range from as little as $40 to as much as $1,000. What accounts for the vast range? We’ll look at the four biggest factors that can affect how much you will expect to pay:

Size of stump
Type of wood
Access to the site
Root system

Size of stump

As with most jobs, the biggest cost is labour. And larger stumps take longer to remove. Therefore, the diameter of your tree stump is going to be the largest determinant of average cost. Here are some rough figures to consider:

15 – 25 cm stump: $80 – $120
25 – 40 cm stump: $160 – $200
45 – 60 cm stump: $240 – $400
65 – 80 cm stump: $320 – $580
85 – 120 cm stump: $600 – $800

Type of wood

So why might one 40 cm stump cost more to remove than another? Because all stumps are not created equally. Wood can generally be classified into two categories: hardwood (like eucalyptus) or softwood (such as palm).

Softwood is easier and faster to grind, so it is going to cost you less. Grinding a 50 cm stump of a softwood species will average around $100, while a similarly sized hardwood stump could run you about $200.

Access to the site

If your yard is open and easily accessible, you don’t need to expect much in the way of added costs. However, prices can increase when a location is difficult to access. Stump grinding and removal requires some heavy duty equipment.

Labour costs could rise, for example, if the arborist team needs to remove another obstruction or take down and reassemble a section of fence in order to access your stump. These costs are hard to estimate because of how variable they can be, so they are typically calculated during the quote process.

Root system

Roots are usually only a factor with stump removal, not grinding. Yet another reason why stump grinding is cheaper.

The deeper and further the roots run, the more expensive it will be to dig them all up. Older, larger trees have more extensive root systems, so additional expenses are usually proportional to the diameter of the stump.

Keep in mind that larger root systems also mean more dirt is going to be displaced. Therefore, the cost of filling the hole and leveling out the earth will increase with larger stumps as well.

Do I really need to remove the stump?

You may be wondering if you absolutely need to remove stumps. It really depends. Stumps can actually make for very aesthetic landscaping centerpieces. And really large stumps might be fun platforms for kids to climb on (if they aren’t rotting away).

That being said, here are some reasons to consider removing your stumps instead of letting them be:

You are planning to sell your house

You should probably consider paying for stump removal before you list your house for sale. Aim to do it several months in advance of listing so that there is time for the lawn to recover. There are two primary reasons that you will likely see a return on investment:

Improved property value. While not always the case, tree stumps may reduce your property value. This is especially going to be a problem if they are unsightly, infested with pests, or just very numerous. Potential buyers want to know they are moving into a home with a yard that they can make full use of immediately, so you might have to bring down the price if this isn’t the case.

Better curb appeal. Even beyond the actual sale price, obtrusive stumps could negatively affect your home’s aesthetics. Buyers form a first impression of your home before they even step in the front door. A rotting stump in the front yard is not putting your home’s best foot forward.

You want to minimise tripping hazards and landscaping obstacles

Tripping is usually a problem with small stumps, especially if you have several of them poking up. Large stumps are fairly obvious and don’t really pose much hazard unless they are really low to the ground.

Small stumps can also make landscaping and lawn mowing difficult. If they are crowded together you are going to struggle to get your mower in between and you’ll constantly need to be on your hands and knees weeding.

The stumps show signs of infection

If your stumps are rotting away or showing strange growths, it could be a sign that you’ve got a fungal problem or pest infestation. Removing the stump now could help prevent the problem from spreading to your other trees.

If you aren’t sure whether your stump is infected, be sure to call and get a professional opinion before things get worse.

Reasons to hire a professional for stump removal

Some homeowners consider stump removal a do-it-yourself job. After all, there are lots of places where you can rent a stump grinder and similar tools. Should you just make a Saturday of it and grind your stump down yourself?

Our professional opinion is no. In most cases, DIY stump removal is not a good idea. And we aren’t just saying that because we want your business. Here are a few reasons that hiring a professional is probably in your best interest.

Save money

Believe it or not, you might actually save money by paying someone else to do the hard work for you. Renting a stump grinder is going to cost you from about $150 to $300 dollars, depending on how heavy duty of a machine you need.

That cost is per day.

If you have a lot of stumps to grind and you’re able to get them all finished within a day—then you might save money by doing the job yourself.

But what if you rent a grinder for a single stump and things don’t go as planned? What if it takes you two days to grind a stump that you could have paid a pro to take care of for a hundred bucks? All of a sudden you are down some money and you’ve thrown your weekend away.

Personal safety

Stump grinders are kind of like giant circular saws, but they are a lot more unwieldy. And the blade is only half of the danger. Flying debris can cut your skin or damage your eyes. Personal protective equipment can mitigate the chance of injury, but professional experience and training goes a long way too.

Stump grinders aren’t the only method of removal. If you are looking to remove the stump completely, the stump may need to be treated with fire or chemicals to help break it down further. These obviously carry their own set of dangers.

Stump grinding is far better for the environment than other methods like burning because it doesn’t release harmful toxins into the air as smoke does. The grinder’s mulch can also be used on other parts of your property as fertilizer or landscaping! – Bandit Chippers.

Protect your property

Beyond the potential harm to yourself or your family, improper handling of stump removal equipment poses a danger to your home and property. Flying debris can crack windows, damage siding, or dent cars. If you are pulling a stump up completely, there is even the chance that the whole thing could go flying.

You also have to consider damaging property under the ground. For example, you might dig through water and sewer pipes, or electric and internet cables.

These dangers are minimal when you hire a professional. Additionally, a licensed arborist is going to carry insurance. That way, in the worse case scenario—even if there is property damage—you won’t be liable for the expenses.

Avoid legal hassles

Depending on where you live, you have to consider local ordinances. For example, if you plan to burn a stump, that might require special precautions or may not be allowed at all. Even operating heavy machinery could violate restrictions in your neighborhood.

A professional will already know about the local regulations, and they’ll have plenty of experience obtaining special permits when necessary.

For example, there’s Native vegetation removal regulations to consider for the Victoria State.

Get the job done right

Of course, maybe the most important reason to hire a Melbourne tree stump grinding professional is so that you have the best experience possible. While there is a lot of satisfaction that comes with a do-it-yourself job, there’s just too much that can go wrong with stump removal.

Hiring a professional means that the stump gets removed quickly and correctly, without excessive damage to your lawn. You’ll be able to look at that empty patch of your lawn for years and smile at a job well done without painful memories of wasting a weekend wrestling with a rental grinder.

Contact Milone’s For Professional Stump Removal and Stump Grinding!

We’ve covered the basic guidelines for estimating average tree stump removal cost per stump. But as you can see, there are a lot of variables at play to determine the final cost.

The best way to know for sure is to get a quote from a professional arborist. If you are wondering exactly what your stumps are going to cost you, request your free quote from Milone’s today!