Tree stump removal costs

While maintaining or laying out a garden, it can sometimes be desirable or even necessary to remove a tree stump or tree roots. For example, because the tree stump is in the way or because the tree roots are causing damage to your garden or house. In this article, we will give you more information on how to remove a tree stump and tree roots, what the costs are and what to look out for.

What does a tree stump removal cost?

What a tree stump removal will cost depends largely on the size of the tree stump, where the roots run, whether the tree stump is easily accessible for e.g. an excavator, what machinery is needed and any labour costs.

Below you will find a table with average costs for tree stump removal.

Price influences

The way in which a specialist removes the tree stump and tree roots affects the price. For example, it is possible to remove the tree stump by digging it out or by means of a stump grinder. Digging out takes more time. Removing a tree stump using a stump grinder is often faster, but the cost of hiring a grinder may be added. This is something to bear in mind when comparing different offers.

Advantages and disadvantages of stump removal

There are both advantages and disadvantages to removing a tree stump. We list the most important ones.

Advantages

First of all, removing the tree stump and/or tree roots helps prevent damage to the garden or home. The roots of a tree, for example, can cause a lot of problems for a terrace or, in extreme cases, even the foundation of a house. Especially with large tree stumps, the roots can be very widespread, causing tiles to rise.

In many cases, the tree stump will have to be removed simply because it is in the way. For example, when you want to tile part of your garden or provide it with a nice lawn. With a large tree stump in the middle, this is a near impossibility. If you remove the tree stump and the tree roots, this is no longer a problem.

Disadvantages

There are also disadvantages of removing a tree stump. As indicated earlier, it takes quite a bit of time and energy to completely dig out a tree stump and possibly the roots. For large trees, you may even need an excavator for this in some cases.

If you remove the stump with a stump grinder, you do not have this disadvantage, but it is more likely that you will not be able to carry out the project yourself. With this method, it is also necessary to hire a stump grinder, unless of course you already own one.

How do you remove a tree stump and tree roots?

There are several ways in which you can remove a tree stump and tree roots. The two most common methods are:

• excavation
• removal with a stump grinder

Excavation

When you excavate a tree stump, you have to dig around the entire tree stump to loosen it from the ground. The same goes for all the roots around the tree and the taproot under the tree. Depending on the size of the tree stump, this is quite a project, which can sometimes take several days. If you use an excavator and do not have to dig yourself, this will of course go a lot faster. However, you will be left with a large hole in the garden.

Stump grinder

Another solution is to use a stump grinder. This shreds the tree stump. The advantage of this is that you do not have to dig and you do not have to dispose of the remnants of the tree stump, as they are absorbed by the soil and will eventually decompose.

When you want to use a stump grinder, you have the option of renting it or hiring a professional. A landscaper, gardener or arborist often has a professional stump grinder, which can complete the project much more quickly.

Dispose of the stump yourself or hire a specialist?

You can choose to remove the stump yourself or hire a specialist for it. If you are handy, perhaps have tree care experience and have the right tools, then removing a tree stump yourself may be a good idea. Of course, it will cost you a lot more time and energy, but it will also save you costs on the other hand.

For many people, however, hiring a professional gardener, landscaper or arborist will be the best idea. Not only does he or she have the right knowledge and experience to properly remove a tree stump and tree roots, he or she also has the right tools and can carry this out in a safe way.

Also, if the tree stump is very large or the roots are very widespread, it is probably wise to leave the project to a professional. Moreover, the advantage of this is that they are likely to get the project done faster. So even when there is urgency behind it, hiring a specialist is probably a good idea.

Frequently asked questions