Should tree removal include stump grinding?
Yes — tree removal should include stump grinding whenever the stump is staying on the property. Combined jobs cost £450 to £1,500 in the UK, save 30 to 90 minutes of remobilisation, and avoid a second crew visit. Most reputable tree surgeons either grind the stump themselves or sub-contract a specialist on the same day.
The exception is when the stump becomes a wildlife feature, a natural seat, or a carved marker. In every other case — selling the house, replanting, re-turfing, paving, fence rebuild, drainage work — the stump needs to go, and the cheapest moment to remove it is the same morning the tree comes down.
What does combined tree and stump removal cost?
Combined tree removal with stump grinding costs £450 to £1,500 in the UK depending on tree height and stump diameter. A typical 8-metre garden tree with an 18-inch stump lands at £550 to £750. Felling a 15-metre mature oak with a 30-inch stump reaches £1,200 to £1,800. Same-day bundling saves 15% to 25% versus two separate visits — see the full stump grinding cost breakdown for the grinding portion.
| Tree size | Felling alone | Stump grind alone | Combined same day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (under 6m) | £250–£450 | £85–£150 | £300–£500 |
| Medium (6–10m) | £400–£800 | £120–£220 | £450–£900 |
| Large (10–15m) | £700–£1,400 | £200–£350 | £800–£1,500 |
| Mature (15m+) | £1,200–£2,500 | £300–£500 | £1,400–£2,800 |
The discount comes from shared overheads — one van, one fuel run, one risk assessment, one set of insurance paperwork, one minimum-call-out fee absorbed instead of two.
Why is it more efficient to do both at once?
One mobilisation, one set of ground-protection boards, one parking permit, one risk assessment, one access path already cleared. Doing both jobs the same day removes 30 to 90 minutes of repeat setup and avoids the £80 to £150 minimum-call-out fee a stump grinder would charge on a separate visit weeks later.
The ground protection point matters more than it sounds. Felling a 12-metre tree drops 2 to 4 tonnes of timber on the lawn — the crew has already laid trackway, Bog Mats, or plywood across delicate turf to protect it. Those boards stay down for the stump grinder, who needs the same load-bearing path to wheel a 750kg machine to the stump. Roll up the boards after felling, come back in a month, lay them again: that is two billable hours of duplicated setup work.
Access permissions stack the same way. Conservation areas, listed-building consents, neighbour-fence removals, scaffold-tower hire — all the paperwork and logistics done once for the felling visit are still valid hours later for the grinding. Wait a month and you may need a fresh TPO check or a second neighbour conversation.
Will the tree surgeon grind the stump themselves?
Some will, many will not. Around 60% of UK tree surgeons do not own a stump grinder larger than a 13-inch DIY unit, so they leave the stump or sub-contract a specialist. Ask before booking — a yes saves you sourcing a second contractor and chasing two invoices.
If your tree surgeon sub-contracts, that is fine — they should still coordinate the visit so both crews are on site the same day. The Stump Doctor regularly pairs with local tree surgeons across East Kent on bundled jobs: the felling crew leaves at lunch, the grinder rolls in at 1pm, the lawn gets one rake-over and you get one combined invoice.
Can I grind the stump months after the tree comes down?
Yes, but you pay more. A standalone stump-grinding visit costs £85 to £300 plus minimum-call-out fees, against £100 to £250 when bundled into the same day as felling. Letting the stump season for 6 to 12 months does not make grinding cheaper — modern carbide grinders handle green and dry wood at similar rates.
Bundle the booking from the start. Send a photo and a postcode and you will get a fixed price for the tree plus the stump in one quote, with one date in the diary and one crew rolling up the morning of the job.
