Family-run stump grinding from Preston, across Lancashire, the North West and further afield

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Stump grinding and removal in Preston

Unwanted tree stumps ground out below the surface across Lancashire, the North West and further afield, with a smaller machine for gardens a big one can’t reach.

Get a free stump quote Call Richie07534 904202

Lancashire North West Further afield

Our grinder’s cutting wheel working into a large stump
Grinding out a large stump
  • Family-run since 2021Richie and the family, based in Preston
  • 5.0 on GoogleFrom 101 customer reviews
  • Narrow-access machinesA smaller grinder for tight gardens
  • Quick quotesOften the same day you ask

What it is

The quick way to get rid of a stump.

When a tree comes down, the stump usually stays behind. A stump grinder grinds it down below the surface into wood mulch, so the ground can be used again without digging the whole thing out.

Why an old stump is worth dealing with

  • AppearanceA tidier, finished garden
  • SafetyNo trip hazard, nothing to mow around
  • New landscapingRoom for lawn, beds or paving
  • Building workGround cleared for an extension or patio
Operator grinding a stump behind branded safety barriers
Grinding a stump behind safety barriers
A small old stump in a border by a fence, before grinding
An old stump before grinding

The process

How it works.

Three stages, with the details agreed for your garden.

The grinder beside a brick wall, with a heap of fresh mulch
The cutting wheel at work

  1. Send your enquiry

    Use the quote form to send your enquiry, your postcode, how many stumps and any access issues for the machine, such as narrow gateways, steps, raised flower beds and steep inclines. Richie prices it and picks the most suitable machine.

  2. Grinding it out

    A rotating cutting wheel grinds the stump down below ground level. How deep depends on the stump and what the area will be used for next.

  3. Refilling the hole

    The mulch is left on site and used to refill the hole where the stump has been. In time it decays to good compost.

Worth knowing

  • Access. Richie has a smaller grinder for tight gates and paths, so measure the narrowest point and add it to the form.

  • Roots. Grinding deals with the stump itself. It doesn’t pull every root out of the ground.

  • The hole. The hole is filled with the mulch, which decays to compost.

What does stump grinding involve?

What gets ground away, how deep it goes, and what happens to the roots.

Cross-section showing what stump grinding removes 1, flush cut: the stump, and the root running across the surface from it, are ground down level with the surrounding ground. 2, mounding: the raised mound of roots and soil around the base is ground away. 3, knuckles: roots poking up through the lawn, which can be ground out too. 4: grinding goes 100 to 150 millimetres below ground level. The deeper roots are left in the ground to break down. 1 2 4 3 Mounding Flush cut Ground level Knuckles 100–150mm Roots left to break down

  1. Flush cut

    The stump is ground down flush with the surrounding ground, then on below it.

  2. Mounding

    The raised mound of roots and soil around the base is ground away too, so the area ends up level.

  3. Knuckles

    Root knuckles poking up through the lawn can be ground out as well. Point them out when you ask for a quote.

  4. Grinding depth

    Usually 100–150mm (4–6in) below ground level, so turf or plants can grow back. Deeper if the area needs it.

And what about the tree’s roots? Grinding deals with the stump, not every root. The roots left below the grinding depth rot down on their own, so they don’t need digging out.

How to Measure a Tree Stump

Three simple measurements to help us provide an accurate quote.

Cross-section of a tree stump showing the three measurements A: stump width, measured along the ground line across the widest point of the flared base. B: stump height, measured from the ground line up to the top of the cut stump. C: a visible surface root running across the lawn, above the underground roots. A B C Width at ground level Height above ground Surface roots

  1. Stump width

    Measure across the widest point at ground level, including the flared base.

  2. Stump height

    Measure how high the stump stands above ground level.

  3. Surface roots

    Note any visible surface roots extending from the stump.

Please include a photo of your stump and the width of the narrowest gate or pathway when requesting your quote.

Grind or dig?

Why grind a stump instead of digging it out?

A stump left in the ground keeps causing small problems. Grinding deals with them without turning the garden upside down.

A stump left in place

  • Takes up space you could be using
  • Gets in the way of mowing, paths and planting
  • Can be a trip hazard
  • Leaves the garden looking unfinished
  • Decays, and can ooze smelly sap and attract flies

Once it’s ground out

  • The space is yours to use again
  • The stump is gone below the surface
  • A tidier, finished garden
  • Ground ready for turf, planting or paving
  • No digging out the whole root plate, so far less mess around it
  • Faster and less mess than digging, with no dug-out stump left to get rid of
  • A cut stump outside a brick house, its top and sides crusted with white foam and orange ooze
  • An old stump on a lawn coated in thick bright orange slime
  • A sawn stump with one side covered in orange foaming sap running onto the soil
What a rotting stump can turn into. Old stumps can weep sap that foams, turns orange and smells sour, and it draws flies. Grinding the stump out puts an end to it.
A pile of fresh wood chips on a lawn after grinding

Wood chips

What happens to the chippings?

Grinding leaves a pile of fresh chippings. You decide what happens to them.

Keep them

Ask about keeping the chippings to spread on beds, borders or paths.

Have them taken away

Ask about having the chippings cleared away and the area left tidy.