When to remove a stump

Tree stumps can be left in the ground after felling, but this can lead to problems with suckering where new shoots arise from the trunk and roots.When trees are felled or fall, their stumps should be removed to prevent suckering and fungal root rot. Although often large and heavy, we can remove the stumps using the right equipment and technique.
Completely dead stumps won’t form suckers, but they can play host to root diseases such as honey fungus, so aren’t worth leaving in and taking the risk stumps can be physically removed at any time. However, it can often be the most cost-efficient for our customers to book in this service at the same time as we are taking a tree down to the ground level.

How to remove a stump

Physical stump removal
This is the best solution. Ideally the stump should be removed entirely, but if this is not possible alternative methods usually give satisfactory results.
For smaller trees, the stumps can be pulled out with a winch and for leverage it is often necessary to leave a good sized stub on the stump (up to 4ft high) rather than cutting it off at ground level.

Grubbing out by hand or mechanical mini-excavator removes the majority of the root system. Removal is easiest if trees are cut down so that a significant length of trunk remains to give leverage to help in the removal.

Alternatively, we have “Stumpy” our stump grinder which will mechanically grind out the main root plate, leaving only fine sawdust. Some roots will inevitably be left in the ground, but the majority will eventually rot down.The stump head is ground down to approximately 25cm below ground level as standard so that the remaining lateral roots and the main tap root will then biodegrade naturally.

It is worth specifying how deep you would like the stump ground out to. Shallow grinding, 20-25 cm, is normally sufficient for laying turf, but you should allow for deeper, 30cm or more, if you are replanting or landscaping. Please specify which of these you would prefer before the work is started if your needs are specific.

Methods to avoid

We do not recommend burning down stumps in-situ. They are usually too wet for this and even though nitrate fertilisers are oxidising agents, applying them all will not improve or speed up the burning or rotting qualities of the stump in question.