Mortdale based. Sydney wide. 15 years on the tools.
Stump Removal Sydney
AQF Level 5 arborists, $20M public liability and council paperwork handled. Tell us about the job and we call you back the same day.
★ 5.0 from 71 Google reviewsAQF Level 5 arboristsISO 9001 certified$20M public liability
Stump gone, ground ready for whatever comes next — including the tight ones.
Two ways to get rid of a tree stump: grind it out below ground level, or dig the whole stump and root ball out of the ground. Most Sydney gardens only need grinding. Full stump removal is for when something is being built where the tree stood — a slab, paving, a pool, a new fence line — or when roots are already causing damage. We do both with our own machinery — a 90hp Rayco for big stumps and a narrow Red Roo SHP400 that gets through side gates for the awkward ones — and we tell you straight which method your job needs.
Grinding or full removal — which one do you need?
Stump grinding chips the stump away to below ground level. Big open stumps get the 90hp Rayco; stumps down a side passage, between a fence and a pool, or in a tight terrace garden get the Red Roo SHP400, a tight-access grinder built for exactly those spots. The roots stay in the soil and break down over a few years. It is quicker, cheaper and right for most lawns and garden beds. Stump grinding prices and how it runs.
Full stump removal digs out the stump and the root ball with the loader or excavator, then backfills and compacts the hole. It costs more and disturbs more ground, and it is the right call when a footing, slab or paving is going on that spot, or when the roots themselves are the problem — see tree root removal.
Not sure? Send us a photo of the stump and tell us what is going there next. That decides it.
The hard stumps: tight access, pools, retaining walls
Side passages and courtyards
The Red Roo SHP400 is 740 mm wide and fits where a full-size grinder cannot. Stumps behind the house, in terrace gardens and in narrow courtyards are ground out without craning a machine over the roof.
Beside pools and paving
Slow, controlled grinding with guards up, coping and tiles protected. The tracked loader carries grindings out so nothing is wheelbarrowed across the pool deck.
Against walls and fences
Stumps hard against retaining walls, boundary fences and footings are ground by the small machine and finished by hand where the wheel cannot go.
Big open stumps
Large eucalypt and fig stumps in open ground get the 90hp Rayco: deeper, faster and one visit.
What a stump removal costs
Stump grinding is $300–$900 per stump ex GST, with the size of the stump and what goes in the spot next deciding where in that band it lands. Extra stumps on the same visit cost less than the first because the set-up is shared.
Full removal (digging the stump and root ball out) is quoted per job, because the price depends on the stump’s size, the soil, the access for the machine and how much backfill the hole needs. You get one fixed price after we have seen it — from your photos where that is enough, on site where it is not. No call-out fee either way.
Grinding a stump left behind by one of our own tree removals is the cheapest way to do it: same visit, same crew, priced as a line on the tree removal quote. Until 30 November 2026, one stump up to 50 cm across is ground free with any tree removal booked and completed by then — offer terms here.
Our stump work
Photos from our own jobs. Client addresses are never published.
Get a free quote
Tell us what you need done and we will call you back to arrange a look. Every job is assessed individually - no two trees are the same.
Urgent or unsafe tree? Call 0422 023 242 - we answer 24 hours.
How a stump removal job runs
Photo and plan
Send a photo of the stump and tell us what the spot is for — lawn, garden, slab, paving or a new tree. That sets grinding versus full removal and the price.
Services check
We check for water, sewer, gas and electrical runs before any machine goes in. Dial Before You Dig where the job calls for it.
Grind or dig
Grinding: below turf level, deeper for a garden bed or new tree. Full removal: stump and root ball lifted out with the loader or excavator.
Backfill and leave it level
Grindings removed or left as mulch, hole backfilled and compacted, site swept. Ready to turf, plant or build on.
Stump removal questions
Do I need council approval to remove a stump?
Councils regulate work on living trees, not stumps left behind after a tree was removed lawfully. Grinding or digging out that stump is part of the same job. Where it gets careful is roots: Georges River Council, for example, treats cutting the roots of a tree that is staying as work needing approval. If removing your stump means cutting into a neighbour’s tree or one you are keeping, check with your council first — our council guides cover the rules for each area.
Is it cheaper to grind a stump or remove it completely?
Grinding, almost always. It is faster, uses one machine, and leaves the roots to break down naturally. Full removal is only worth paying for when the ground is being built on or the roots are already doing damage.
Can you build on the spot after grinding?
Not straight away. Grinding leaves roots and a pocket of loose grindings and soil that settles over time. For a slab, paving or a pool, full removal and compacted backfill is the right preparation. Tell us what is going there and we will recommend the right method.
Will the stump grow back after removal?
Full removal takes the stump and root ball out, so there is nothing left to regrow. After grinding, most species stay dead, but a few — broad-leaf privet is the common one — can shoot from what is left in the ground. We treat those on the day and tell you what to expect.
Can you remove a stump in a tight back yard?
Yes — this is the work we set up for. Our Red Roo SHP400 is a self-propelled tight-access grinder just 740 mm wide — it goes through a standard side gate — with 26.5 hp and a 450 mm cut below ground, so it does real work in the spots a full-size machine cannot reach: beside pools, against retaining walls, in courtyards and terrace gardens. We own it, so there is no waiting on a subcontractor and no extra hire cost. If even that cannot get in, the stump is ground or dug by hand and quoted that way up front.
What puts a stump at the low or high end of $300–$900?
Diameter first: a small ornamental stump is the low end, a big gum or fig stump the high end. Then depth (turf level is quick; a garden bed or a new tree needs deeper grinding), access (open front yard versus side gate, which is where the Red Roo earns its keep), hardwood versus softwood, and whether grindings are removed or left as mulch. Our prices are ex GST, so add 10% when comparing with a quote that includes it.
What happens to the grindings?
Your choice. Left in the hole they settle into a woody mulch over a year or two; removed, we backfill with soil so the spot can be turfed straight away. Removal costs a little more because of the extra loading and tipping.
Can I plant a new tree where the stump was?
Yes, after grinding to below turf level and clearing the grindings out of the hole, then backfilling with soil. Tell us when you book and we grind deeper so the new root ball has clean ground.
How long does stump removal take?
Grinding a single stump is usually under an hour on site. A full dig-out with backfill is a half day to a day depending on the size of the root ball and the access. We give you the time when we give you the price.
What our clients say
Real reviews from Sydney clients, quoted from our Google profile. Long reviews are shortened; tap Read more for the full review on Google.
Reviews …Really great service, professional, safe and accommodating. Difficulties of access easily overcome, good people to deal withRead more
David G.October 2026Jimmy and the guys were excellent at their job—very fast and very tidy. I highly recommend them, and I certainly wouldn't hesitate to use them again in the future. "True Roots" are the best.
Nomikos R.October 2026Removed 4 bunches of palm nuts and tidied everything up. Great job.
Matthew K.October 2026Jimmy and his crew were fast, efficient and professional! He was so helpful in removing a tree in our yard that was a safety hazard. I highly recommend True Roots and would not hesitate to use them again if needed.
Liz B.June 2026Jimmy and his team were excellent. Fast, reliable, well-priced and impressive work. Great to see such a good, local tree removal business and arborist in Mortdale and operating in the St George area. You will not be disappointed using these guys.
Jamie D.April 2026Great service! I liked how they cleaned up after they chopped down our tree. Efficient and very competitive pricing. I would happily book them again in the future.
Celia L.April 2026Jimmy and the two men working with him were professional, hard working and efficient with their time. They removed a large bougainvillea adjacent to the pool. I was very impressed with how well they did this, especially given how thorny it…Read more
Jan B.March 2026I recently hired True Roots to remove a large gum tree from my property, and I couldn’t be more impressed with their service. From the initial consultation to the final clean-up, the team of arborists were professional, efficient, and…Read more
Joseph2025Jimmy was amazing; right from the beginning, he was informative, professional and willing to work within our budget. We could not be happier with what he has delivered for us. We removed all our side trees and replaced them with hedges and…Read more
JJ2025Highly recommend the Team from True Roots, the boys came in and removed a Black Butt that was overhanging our house. Very competitive pricing and managed to squeeze us in. The stump was ground back and all waste was removed. Very professional and skilled workers. Will definitely use them again in the future.
Ben G.2024Highly recommend! James and the boys did an amazing job cutting down a large tree in my yard. Super professional, efficient, and left everything clean and tidy. Great service, and I’m really happy with the results. Will definitely call again for any future tree work! Thanks Andrew
Andrew M.2024Qualified, insured and accountable
- AQF Level 5 arboristDiploma of Arboriculture (AHC50524), TAFE NSW, 2024. About 15 years in arboriculture.
- ISO 9001 certifiedQuality management system certified to ISO 9001.
- $20M public liabilityPlus icare workers compensation. Certificates of currency sent with every quote.
- Australian StandardsTree pruning and trimming to AS 4373, tree protection on building sites to AS 4970.
- Indigenous-ownedOwned and operated by an Indigenous director. Registered NSW Government supplier on buy.nsw.
- 5.0 on Google71 reviews, every one from a real job. Read them.
Got a stump in the way?
Send a photo and tell us what is going there. We tell you grind or dig, and give you one fixed price.