How to remove tree stumps

by 1300treelop on October 3, 2013

Tree Stump RemovalWhile tree lopping may initially seem quite simple – many tree loppers will just chop up the tree – mulch the branches and the job is considered finished. This can leave logs (good firewood) and a possibly large stump (not so good).

Stumps are bad OK

While it might seem alright to leave a stump sitting in the yard until it rots over coming years it will soon become apparent that stumps are a real pain to have. The stumps can attract termites – their job is to eat dead wood, and in the process of eating the large stump they will almost certainly follow the roots from the stump, though the ground and possibly into your foundations. Stumps are also serious trip hazards, unsightly and make mowing and edging complex. But how do you get rid of it and not pay the earth or kill your back trying to dig it out?

How to remove a tree stump using fire and a 44 gallon drum.

The drum contains and focusses the fire and creates an updraft that intensifies the fire. Best done on a windy day – the wind can be channelled into the base of the barrel as well to increase the updraft.

Some drawbacks of stump removal with fire.

Many councils and neighbours in suburban areas will not be happy with using fire to remove stumps. There may also be issues with fire bans and classification as a pile burn – perhaps if you put a grill plate over the top of it you could say its a barbeque : )
This technique also requires quite a bit of time to burn its way through the stump and may take many hours to do the job. Fire is not something you want to keep unattended so ensure the stump is as exposed and chopped up with a chainsaw as possible – the more surface area you expose the faster the fire will work.

Stump grinding tree stump removal

By far the fastest and easiest way to remove the sump is with a stump grinder – its like a bunch of chisel heads on a large wheel that cuts into the stump at high speed and “grinds” it into small pieces of wood mulch. Its also will dig well under the ground reducing the stump to well below the surface so you can cover it and grow things on top immediately after.

Sydney Stump grinding quote

To get a quote on grinding your problem stumps give us a call on 1300Treelop.

Tree Removal Sydney – A How To Guide

by 1300treelop on August 28, 2013

Tree Removal SydneyTree removal generally becomes an issue when a tree becomes potentially dangerous because it is dead, dying or diseased or infested with some kind of pest. Some tree species are exempt from council rules – but generally trees can only be pruned by 10% per year and not removed without council consent.

The removal is most easily justified if the tree presents a danger or interferes with structures – removal of trees to enhance views or stop them creating mess or minor damage is generally refused.

The best way to find out the rules and the process to get the ball rolling on a tree removal is via the local councils website, where comprehensive documentation is available. Calling 1300treelop can also help in the process as we are aware of the local processes across Sydney can advise as to the steps involved.

Tree removal – What is defined as a “tree”

A tree is, any plant whether native, endemic, exotic or introduced species where the
i) Height exceeds three (3.0) metres, or
ii) Trunk, bole or branch girth exceeds 0.5 metres or which has a combined girth or each of two or more trunks or boles exceeding 0.5 metres, or
iii) Branch canopy width exceeds five (5.0) metres, or
iv) Is not a plant declared to be a noxious weed under the Noxious Weeds Act 1993

Some trees may be in an exempt list which is well worth checking over as the list can be fairly extensive. Another thing to check is if the tree is a noxious weed (Like Jacaranda, some pines etc) as this may make the removal of some trees easier.

How to remove a tree

Once the appropriate permission is granted the job of the tree removal can start. If you have a chainsaw and the tree is not in a dangerous position it can be possible to cut a V in the trunk in the direction you wish the tree to fall and fell and cut up the tree for disposal. Keep in mind that without the necessary experience or equipment the tree may choose to fall in a direction other than you intended – just have a look at YouTube and type in “tree fail” to see some spectacular examples of how not to cut down a tree.

How to dispose of the tree

Generally the tree will be cut into pieces just over a foot long for use as firewood and the branches and leaves fed into a wood chipper to be made into garden mulch. From a do it yourself perspective this part of the process can be incredibly time consuming and the sheer mass of the tree can be extremely difficult to dispose of.

How to get rid of the Tree Stump

Digging out a stump that is any bigger than a small tree can be very time consuming and hard work – but stumps can be unsightly, dangerous and attract termites if left above ground. The stump grinder is a large industrial sized machine that can grind the stump down to below ground level, effectively removing the bulk of the stump.

Best way to remove a tree?

If you are in Sydney then without a doubt your best first step is to call 1300treelop and arrange an estimate on your tree removal. There are some things is makes no sense to do yourself (from both a cost and safety perspective) and for the most part Tree Removal is one of those things – so give us a call or email below, we are here to help.


What a fantastic service!

November 3, 2011

I would just like to say, what a fantastic service! I can’t thank your staff enough for the friendly, efficient service which saved me a bunch of time and hassle. I will definitely continue to use 1300treelop and will be recommending you to everyone I know! Lucas

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