Best Stump Grinders and Stump Grinding Services in Australia

1. Baumr-AG SGR750 Commercial Petrol Tree Stump Grinder 

It’s all about the teeth on the Baumr-AG stump grinder. The 15HP engine gives a really powerful bite to the wide teeth, which make light work of freshly cut stumps.

The price might make you think this is a basic domestic stump grinder, but don’t be fooled. You won’t find a stump grinder this good at this price anywhere else.

2. Briggs & Stratton SSGHDBS Tree Stump Grinder 

Briggs and Stratton’s petrol engine stump grinder has just 13.5HP, but is well weighted enough for most stump work, and balanced out with a slightly shallower cutting depth (30cm) than similar models.

It’s worth noting though, that 30cm is more than enough to remove most stumps, and prevent 99% of trees from re-growing.

The manufacturing quality of this stump grinder is brilliant too, with Briggs and Stratton’s typical attention to detail and trade standard construction.

BAUMR-AG makes excellent tools across the board, but this stump grinder makes other compact stump grinders look like toys. The power, manufacturing quality, and balance of this sturdy stump grinder just can’t be beaten in this price range.

The BAUMR-AG 15P stump grinder is the best stump grinder for professionals and domestic users and is priced well for both.

As well as buying your own stump grinder, you can rent them, or hire a professional tree surgeon to take care of the job for you. What’s great about tree surgeons is that they can guide you through the entire job, and know exactly what they’re doing.

Before you start, it’s well worth hiring a tree surgeon for the day, even if it’s just for advice too. Many will provide free quotes and advice to customers, but often consultation is worth paying for when it comes to big jobs like tree removal.

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Williams Tree Pro

Williams Tree Pro are trained experts, with years of experience in removing and maintaining trees. They have a wide range of commercial and domestic clients and are always happy to provide free quotes and assess the job before you or they commit to working.

Reach Williams Tree Pro by clicking here. 

Ben’s Tree and Garden Services

Ben’s Tree and Garden Services in Sydney have a great reputation and tons of happy customers. They know the frustration of stump removal and understand that it’s a stress you just don’t need as a homeowner.

They’ll take the stress out of the job with clean, efficient tree removal and provide free quotes to all their customers.

Know more about Ben’s Tree and Garden Services here. 

Brisbane Tree Experts

Brisbane Tree Experts are completely professional, using only the best tools, and a team of expertly trained tree surgeons who know exactly what they’re doing when it comes to tree felling and removal.

They understand that trees are challenging, and will endeavour to keep your property safe from any tree work.

Check out Brisbane Tree Experts by clicking here. 

BOSS Tree and Stump Services

BOSS Tree and Stump Services are outstandingly good at their jobs. They provide full risk assessments and free quotes before carrying out any tree removal services on your property, giving them a well-deserved reputation through Adelaide.

Learn more about BOSS Tree and Stump Services here. 

What is a Stump Grinder?

Stump grinders come in a few different forms, but traditionally they have large circular grinding saws which are driven by a hydraulic arm, pressing down on the tree stump and right into the tap root.

The best stump grinders are designed to take their own right, and provide their own footings, with tracks rather than tyres, and diamond-tipped grinding blades, but for some jobs, small stump grinders can do the trick too.

When to Use a Stump Grinder

Once a tree has been removed, the stump has every chance of re-sprouting. Stump grinders are a great way to stop this from happening, and dig right down into the soil to remove hard tap roots and strong lateral roots that can get in the way of digging and foundations.

Stump grinders should be used to properly remove tree stumps before repurposing a garden bed, or building any structures in the garden, or even foundations. 

What to Look for When Buying a Stump Grinder

There are a lot of factors that will help you choose the right stump grinder. There are big differences in everything from price to power, but there are some standard features which are easy to differentiate:

• Size & Weight
• Cutting wheel size
• Number of teeth
• Power
• Price

Size and Weight

The size and weight of a tree stump grinder are incredibly important. For example, most lightweight stump grinders might have enough power to cut through tough wood, but they don’t have enough ballast to hold their position against their own downforce.

Ideally, you want something compact, but heavyweight, so it’s easy to manoeuvre, but doesn’t shift once it’s in position.

Power

Tree stump grinders are generally rated in horsepower (HP) – essentially, the force the engine is able to exert on an object. For cars, that object is the vehicle itself moving against the friction of the road. For stump grinders, HP is the power exerted on the stump.

Stump grinders are generally sold with anything from 8 to 90 HP, but 13-20HP is enough to tackle most domestic stumps.

Number of Teeth

Domestic stump grinders usually have 10-20 teeth. Commercial stump grinders have over 100 teeth. The higher the tooth count on a stump grinder, the smaller the teeth, but the faster the spin, and the higher the pressure.

This makes for more thorough work and an easier grind. Models with fewer teeth are more aggressive but work particularly well on softer stumps and greenwood.

Cutting Wheel Size

There are two measures for cutting wheel, but really, what’s most important is cutting depth. Larger cutting wheels tend to have more teeth, but require larger safety guards, which means the machine can usually cut just as deep as those with smaller wheels.

Check the above-ground, and below-ground cutting depths, as this tells you the actual capability of the machine. Usually, stump grinders can take out stumps between 10” and 24” above ground, and 10” to 18” below ground.

Type of Stump

Old stumps are much easier to cut. They have stopped growing and will begin degrading, making them softer and less harsh on the teeth of the cutting wheel. 

For fresh stumps, particularly on deciduous trees, they can be incredibly hard down to a few feet underground. Choose a model that’s capable of removing the right type of stump.

Price

Stump grinders can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $40,000. The price is generally an indication of ability, but the biggest jump in quality is around the $2,000 to $3,000 price mark, where stump grinders move from small domestic models into larger commercial scale stump grinders.

How to Use a Stump Grinder

Stump grinders are not designed for tree removal. For larger trees, we would always advise booking a professional tree surgeon who can safely remove the top growth and main trunk first.

For smaller trees, remove the smaller branches, then sequentially remove the larger branches until just the trunk remains. Finish by felling the main trunk away from buildings or roads, and breaking it down with a chainsaw or log splitter. (Check out our log splitter complete buying guide if you want to go for the latter).

After all that is done, you should be left with a few feet of tree stump, and a mass of roots underground. This is where a sturdy stump grinder comes into its own.

Drive the grinder up to the base of the tree, and use your stump grinder to break down the stump above ground as thoroughly as possible (ideally using a garden mulcher as you go).

Once the above-ground stump is gone, position the grinder above the hole, and routinely grind away the underground tap root as deep as the grinder will allow. Where possible, repeat this sequence around the base of the tree to split and break down any remaining lateral roots. 

Some trees will still try to shoot up from those roots, but grinders create messy, fractious cuts which allow bacteria to begin breaking down underground roots.

You can also pour tree killers into the hole, but avoid this if you intend to plant in that area any time soon.

Stump Grinder Safety Guide

When it comes to safety, stump grinders are fraught with risk. They are high-powered, heavyweight machines, with massive amounts of pressure, exerted on anything they touch.

Most will have an automatic shut-off or a shut-off switch, so it’s best to be safe and work with a partner who can turn the machine off in an emergency.

Generally, the most important rule for using a stump grinder is to be sensible. Never stand in front of the machine while it is in operation. Keep a firm grip at the rear of a stump grinder when in use, to help direct the tool, and provide extra ballast. 

Wear goggles and protective footwear to prevent accidental injury from flying splinters, or in case there are metal bars underground that the stump has grown through.

Stump Grinder Frequently Asked Questions

Can you grind a tree stump with a chainsaw?

You can grind a tree stump with a chainsaw, but it is fraught with risk. Chainsaws are built for steady cuts, rather than breaking objects, and easily clog when grinding stumps – particularly on fresh-cut trees.

Is it worth buying a stump grinder?

Stump grinder rental, or hiring tree surgeons can cost quite a bit, so if you’re planning on removing several stumps, or have work that involves a lot of tree removal then it’s well worth investing in the best stump grinder you can afford to save money in the long run.

How deep should a stump be ground?

Tree stumps are rarely deeper than 6” below ground, but by grinding down further you can remove and damage parts of the tap root, which in some species can regrow.

Aim to grind tree stumps at least 6” below ground where possible.

How do you prepare a tree stump for grinding?

Before you start, clear the working area of rocks, rubble, metal and debris that might cause a hazard while using the grinder. Ensure the tree stump is no taller than the recommended height on your machine. Then, grind.