How stump grinding works
A stump grinder is a spinning wheel with hardened teeth that chews the stump down into chips, a few centimetres at a time, until it's below ground level. It doesn't pull the roots out. They stay in the ground and rot away over the following years.
Grinding is quicker, cheaper and far less disruptive than digging a stump out, so it's what most people need. Removing the whole stump is usually only worth it where you're building, laying a slab or paving.
How deep to grind
Tell us what's going there next, because it decides how deep we grind:
- New lawn. A little below ground level, with the hole topped up with soil before turf or seed.
- A garden bed. Deeper, with the main surface roots chased out so you can dig.
- A new tree in the same spot. Deeper again, and ideally a little to one side of the old stump.
- Paving, a slab or a shed. Ask about full stump removal instead; rotting roots under a slab can leave hollows.
Bendigo ground and access
Stump grinding prices are mostly about the stump's size, but two other things change them. Stony ground blunts grinder teeth and slows the job, so mention it if you know the ground around the stump is rocky. And access: many older Bendigo homes have one narrow side path to the backyard. Compact grinders fit through many gates, but measure yours.
Chasing surface roots across the lawn and taking the grindings away are separate lines on our quote, so you can choose. If you'd rather take the waste yourself, council's free domestic green waste at Eaglehawk Landfill doesn't cover stumps.
Stump grinding prices at a glance
Published stump grinding prices
| What's charged | Published price | Who publishes it |
|---|---|---|
| Small stump, under 30 cm across | $100 – $200 | Milone's Tree Solutions, Victoria |
| Medium stump, 30–60 cm | $200 – $350 | Milone's Tree Solutions, Victoria |
| Large stump, 60–100 cm | $350 – $500 | Milone's Tree Solutions, Victoria |
| Extra-large stump, over 100 cm | $500 – $900+ | Milone's Tree Solutions, Victoria |
Average costs published by a Melbourne and regional Victorian tree service in its cost guide (updated 20 July 2026), checked 27 September 2026. It doesn't say whether GST is included, and the call-out figure is for Melbourne. We couldn't find a Bendigo tree business that publishes one.
Minimum call-out charges matter for a single small stump, so it's worth having several ground in one visit. The stump grinding cost guide covers every published price and who publishes it.
Before the grinder arrives
- Tell us about pipes, irrigation or cables running near the stump
- Move pot plants, hoses and anything that could be hit by flying chips
- Keep children and pets inside while the grinder runs
- Before any digging near the stump, it's worth a free check with Before You Dig Australia for underground services
Common questions
How deep does stump grinding go?
It depends on what goes there next. For new lawn, grinding a little below ground level is usually enough. For a new tree, a garden bed or paving, we grind deeper and chase out the surface roots. We agree the depth with you on the quote.
Is stump grinding the same as stump removal?
Not quite. Grinding chews the stump down below ground level and leaves the roots to rot away. Removal digs or pulls out the stump and its main roots, which leaves a bigger hole and is usually only needed before building or paving.
What happens to the grindings?
Grinding a stump leaves a mound of wood chips and soil that's bigger than you'd expect. They can be raked back into the hole, spread on garden beds, or taken away for an extra charge. Grindings settle as they rot, so the hole may need topping up with soil before you lay turf.
Can a stump grinder get into my backyard?
Compact grinders fit through many side gates, but not all. Measure the narrowest point on the way in, including gates and steps, and include it in your request.
Will the stump grow back?
Some trees, including some gums, can shoot from the stump or roots after the tree comes down. Grinding below ground level usually deals with it; if shoots appear, keep cutting them off.
