So you’re looking into hiring a stump grinder to finally deal with those stumps lying around in the backyard you had cut down years ago?
However, the closest thing you’ve used before is a basic lawn mower – a far stretch from a powerful (and a little scary) stump grinder.
It’s got you feeling a little intimidated about the whole process and whether it’s best to just get a professional in to do the work for you.
Fortunately, hiring and operating a stump grinder is actually far less scary and complex than you might think, at least for smaller stumps.
Today’s article will serve to teach you all the things you need to know about when hiring a stump grinder, from prices you can expect to pay, to safe operation, to best practices to ensure you’re set up for success.
We’ll also make clear at what point it might be worthwhile engaging a professional, instead of attempting the job yourself.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Stump Grinder?
Engaging a professional to come and grind multiple stumps in your yard can certainly get expensive, especially if you’ve already forked out for the arborist to cut them down in the first place.
So it’s solid logic to consider hiring one and DIY’ing it! But how much does hiring a stump grinder actually cost?
Generally speaking, the cost to hire a stump grinder for a day is between approximately $190 to $340, depending on the total length of hire, the machine you’re hiring and whether things like fuel and delivery to your location are included.
If you’re interested in learning more about the specifics and cost breakdowns, you can check out our full article here (coming soon).
What Stump Grinder Should I Hire?
As you approach your local equipment hire shop, or national chain like Kennards or Coates, you’ll notice that there tends to be three tiers of grinders available for hire.
The first two are considered ‘manual’ grinders in that they require the user to manually move the machine into positon, as well as left and right in a sweeping motion to grind the stump down.
Small Manual Grinders
At the very basic level, you might find small manual stump grinders like the Toro SGR-6, Ducar stump grinder, or other low power units that are less than 15HP and weigh roughly between 50kg to 120kg.
We almost never recommend using such machines unless you are grinding very small stumps or roots less than 10cm wide or if access is extremely limited. The only advantage to such units is that they are lightweight and easy to transport and maneuver in tight spaces.
Mid Level Manual Grinders
The next level up are your mid level grinders which are a great all rounder for almost all residential hires – they are our strongest recommendation for most customers.
They typically weigh anywhere between 130kg to 200kg and are usually around 15-16HP. Examples include the Red Roo SG350 or Arbormaster Heavy Duty Stump Grinder.
They are highly effective at grinding stumps up to around 75cm in diameter so long as you are strong enough to manoeuvre their heavier weight.
Larger Hydraulic Grinders
Larger hydraulic grinders like the Red Roo Hydraulic SG30TRX or Toro STX-26 are also available on the hire market at certain depots.
These grinders are fantastic for handling numerous, larger stumps larger than 75cm in diameter.
For most residential customers, they are potentially overkill as they’re heavy to tow from the depot, expensive to hire and are a little more technical to operate.
How Long Does it Take to Grind a Stump?
When you’re faced with the prospect of having to grind multiple stumps of various sizes, it can be difficult to know how long the whole process will take and as a result, how long your hire period will need to be.
Grinding a stump can take anywhere from a few minutes, to many hours, depending on the stump size, height, access, tree species and type of stump grinder machine hired.
As a good rule of thumb, if using a mid level manual stump grinder, you should be able to grind a 30cm diameter stump just below ground level within 15-20 minutes.
For stumps greater than around 75cm in width, using a manual grinder starts to become significantly more time consuming, taxing on the body and not recommended unless you’re a professional.
Other factors which can make stump grinding take longer include:
- Navigating uneven or sloped terrain
- If you aren’t physically strong (stump grinders are very heavy)
- Harder wood surfaces like gum or oak
- If access is tricky (stumps are spread out across the property)
- If the teeth/blades on the machine are blunt
Based on the above, if you’ve got a handful of stumps of various sizes, it’s safe to allow at least half a day’s to a full day’s hire to be able to get the job done.
Transporting Stump Grinders
Getting a stump grinder from point A to B is one of the factors residential customers often neglect to think about.
First and foremost, you’re going to need a car trailer and/or vehicle that can house and transport basic, manual grinders that can be anywhere from 130kg to 210kg.
Larger, hydraulic grinders will additionally need a braked trailer and a vehicle with large towing capacity, as these machines can weigh between 700kg to 100kg on the lower end. These are not recommended unless you’re a professional or contractor.
For most home owners grinding simple stumps, you’ll likely be towing the former and so will need to additionally hire a car trailer if you don’t have one yourself or a vehicle with a tray.
Once you get the grinder to your home, you’ll then need a way to move the machine between the trailer and the ground, which usually requires ramps (often not included in the hire), so make sure you’ve got a solution for that before hiring.
Stump grinders are heavy! So even once you’ve got the machine off the trailer, manually pushing/pulling it around your property can be significantly difficult if the terrain is hilly or uneven. Even someone who regularly works out at the gym will likely feel defeated at the end of a day of stump grinding (and sometimes not even finish all the planned stumps).
Stump Grinding Preparation
Before turning on the stump grinder, it’s paramount that you prepare yourself and the area to ensure safe and efficient operation.
Contact Underground Asset Protection Services
You’d be surprised how easy it can be to accidentally hit underground assets when grinding, which can turn out to be extremely expensive to fix.m
These include civic structures like gas pipes, electricity lines, sewerage or septic tanks – the list goes on.
Before every grinding job, we highly recommend lodging a job with an asset protection organisation such as Before You Dig (Australia) or 811 (USA).
They will generate a free report which shows you where you can find these assets on the property.
Additionally, I would also try to recall any sprinkler systems or other things you’ve installed over the years that may get damaged if you encounter them when grinding.
Personal Protective Equipment
Stump grinders are powerful machines, and wearing the right protective equipment is essential before you start.
At a minimum, you should wear safety glasses to protect your eyes from flying wood chips and debris. Even with guards in place, material is regularly thrown out during grinding.
Hearing protection is also important. Stump grinders are extremely loud, and operating one for extended periods without ear muffs or ear plugs can quickly cause hearing damage.
Gloves help improve grip and reduce vibration, especially when operating the machine for long periods of time. They also offer some protection when handling debris or repositioning the grinder.
Steel-capped boots are strongly recommended. Stump grinders are heavy, and having proper footwear helps protect your feet if the machine shifts or rolls unexpectedly.
Wearing the right PPE doesn’t just improve safety. It also makes the job more comfortable and easier to manage from start to finish.
Area Preparation
It’s paramount to scour the grinding area for any sign of unwanted material in the grinding path such as small stones, rocks, debris, etc. (or anything else that’s not stump!).
It’s highly recommended to dig out the sides of the stump to the depth you want to grind it, rather than unnecessarily grinding through surrounding dirt and sand.
Doing so will allow you clearer vision on where the full stump and roots are located before the stump chips start to make the area messy.
Stump grinding can take up a considerable amount of space as you work in an ‘arch’ fashion back and forth. As a result, we’d also recommend clearing the area of anything in the grinder’s wheel path. These may include but are not limited to garden edging, bricks/pavers, landscaping rocks, etc.
Stump Preparation
Believe it or not, it’s actually far easier to cut the stump as low as possible THEN grind instead of grinding a stump that has more height to begin with. As a result, if the stump is higher than 30cm above ground level, we’d suggest chainsawing it down closer to ground level for easier grinding (if you’ve got access to one).
Furthermore, if a stump has been left for several years or months, it will often organically resprout branches which can make grinding less smooth. We’d recommend cutting these off so you’re working with a flat surface at the top of the stump.
Common Parts of a Stump Grinder
Although stump grinders differ by brand and model, most manual machines share the same core components.
The fuel line controls whether petrol is flowing to the engine. This must be switched on before starting.
The choke helps start the engine when cold. Once the engine is running smoothly, the choke is gradually turned off.
The throttle controls engine speed. Stump grinders should always be operated at full throttle when grinding.
The kill switch is an emergency shut-off. Know exactly where it is before you start.
The height adjuster raises and lowers the cutting wheel. This allows you to control how deep each grinding pass is.
The brake prevents the machine from rolling when stationary. Always engage it when grinding.
Understanding these controls before you begin makes the entire process smoother and safer.
Stump Grinder Operation
Operating a stump grinder can feel intimidating at first, but the process itself is fairly straightforward once you understand the motion involved.
Manual stump grinders work by sweeping a vertical cutting wheel from side to side across the stump. Rather than cutting straight down, the machine slowly shaves the stump away in layers.
Generally, speaking, to start the grinder:
- Turn the ignition to the “on” position
- Open the fuel line
- Apply the choke if the engine is cold
- Start the engine
- Allow it to warm up for a short period
- Increase the throttle to operating speed
Once running smoothly, disengage the brake and carefully roll the grinder into position.
How to Grind a Stump
Position the cutting wheel slightly to one side of the stump rather than directly in the centre.
Slowly lower the wheel until it just begins to contact the wood. Avoid forcing it down. Let the teeth do the work.
Begin sweeping the cutting wheel from left to right in a controlled arc. Each pass should remove only a small amount of material.
Once the top layer has been removed, lower the cutting wheel slightly and repeat the process. Continue working your way down in stages.
Grinding too aggressively or lowering the wheel too quickly can cause the machine to buck or stall. Slower, controlled movements are far more effective and easier on your body.
How Deep Should You Grind a Stump?
For most residential jobs, grinding the stump near ground level is sufficient.
If you plan to turf or landscape over the area, grinding 10–20cm below ground level is usually recommended. This allows room for soil and prevents the stump from reappearing later.
If you’re hoping to fully excavate the area to build retaining walls, decks or other solid structures, it may be necessary to grind even deeper, in which case we’d recommend a larger, hydraulic machine, rather than a manual stump grinder.
Dealing With the Wood Chips After Grinding
Once you’ve finished grinding, you’ll almost certainly be left with a large amount of wood chips mixed with soil scattered throughout the area.
You’ll also likely be left with a sizeable hole where the stump once was.
While it’s fine to use some of the wood chips to backfill the hole, it’s best not to rely on them alone. Over time, this material breaks down and settles, which can cause the ground to sink.
To avoid leaving a divot, we recommend topping the area up with additional soil and compacting it down once filled.
This small extra step helps ensure the area stays level long after the job is finished.
Our Final Thoughts
Hiring a stump grinder can be a practical solution for homeowners looking to remove smaller stumps without the cost of hiring a professional.
With the right machine, enough time, and proper preparation, stump grinding is far more manageable than it first appears. Understanding the limitations of the equipment and your own physical capacity makes a big difference to how smoothly the job goes.
That said, stump grinding is still hard work. Larger stumps, difficult access, or multiple grinding locations can quickly turn a DIY job into something far more demanding than expected.
Knowing when to tackle the job yourself and when to bring in a professional is key. Making the right call upfront can save you time, money, and a lot of unnecessary frustration.
