Before clearing a site or grinding stumps, we agree what needs removing and how the ground should be left. Your quote sets out the area, grinding depth and what happens to the leftover material. That covers a single obstructive stump as readily as vegetation clearance across a development plot. Groundworks, drainage and surfacing are not part of this service.
Site and vegetation clearance before development starts
If scrub, brambles, self-seeded growth or a line of trees has to go before a groundworks package begins, the useful starting point is a marked plan. We price the area you have defined, the trees and boundaries that have to stay, and the condition the ground has to reach for the next trade.
Clearing vegetation and clearing stumps are different operations with different costs and different equipment. The quote shows which is which, where arisings go, and what is left in the ground for whoever follows us.
If you are still writing the brief, our vegetation clearance specification guide sets out what to record so that quotes from different contractors can be compared like for like.
Mechanical vegetation clearance and scrub control
Where access allows, we clear with a machine rather than by hand: a flail or mulcher for dense scrub, bramble and self-seeded growth, and a tracked or towed unit for larger areas. Machine work is quicker per square metre, but it produces a different finish from hand cutting and it cannot work everywhere. Ground conditions, slopes, buried services, retained planting and what the site has to look like afterwards all decide the method, and the quote states which one is being priced.
Scrub control is not the same as scrub removal. Cutting growth to ground level leaves the rootstock to regrow, so if the area has to stay clear for a construction programme, the stumps and roots need treating or removing as a separate operation. We say which is in the price and which is not.
What this service covers
We mark the clearance area on a plan so you can see exactly what the price covers. Trees, services, fences and planting beds that need to stay within that area are marked and protected. Work outside the boundary is not included.
- Stumps ground out to an agreed depth, with the hole filled as specified
- Trees, scrub, brambles, hedgerow and self-seeded growth cleared from a defined area
- Roots and stumps dug or ground out where a clean line or a construction area requires it
- Timber, brash and chippings chipped, stacked or removed from site as agreed
- The finished ground level and surface condition agreed in the quote
What this service does not cover
You will need a groundworks contractor for excavation, soil stripping and disposal, drainage, sub-base, tarmac, kerbs, seeding and final landscaping. We make these exclusions clear in the quote.
Grinding removes the stump to the agreed depth, not the whole root system. If roots need removing for foundations, services or new planting, that needs a separate specification, machinery and price.
How deep does the stump need grinding?
We agree the depth to suit the next use of the ground. Your quote states it in millimetres below ground level, giving you a clear figure to compare and check when the work is finished.
- Grass and soft landscaping: ground below the level that will be cultivated, then backfilled with a suitable medium
- Hardstanding and vehicle routes: a deeper grind with a backfill that will not settle under load, to a specification confirmed with your engineer
- Planting in the same position: depth set by the new planting, allowing for the remaining roots
- No planned use: the shallowest sensible depth, with the ground level restored and leftover material dealt with
Services, drains and hidden obstructions
A stump grinder cuts into ground that may contain services, footings, kerbs or old fence posts. Before starting, we agree who will provide utility records and whether the job includes a cable avoidance scan. Records and scans help locate services but cannot prove the ground is clear, so we allow for what we find during the work.
If a service runs under or beside a stump, the quote explains the approach. That may mean grinding less deeply, changing the method or working by hand near the service. Tell us about known concrete collars, old posts and buried rubble so we can allow for them too.
Leftover material, waste and filling the hole
Stump grinding leaves a bulky mix of wood chips, soil and stones, often called arisings. If it stays on site, we agree where it goes and who will accept it. If it is removed, the waste duty of care applies, including the required carrier registration, destination and transfer records.
The quote sets out what will fill the hole, how it will be compacted, the finished level and who will check it. This is especially important if the area is being handed over to another contractor or reopened to the public.
What is priced separately
The items below are not included unless stated in your quote. If you need them, we will agree the cost before starting.
- Groundworks, excavation, soil strip and disposal, drainage, sub-base and surfacing
- Seeding, turfing, planting and aftercare
- Removal of roots below the agreed grinding depth
- Utility diversions, disconnections and permits
Getting a quote
- A plan or sketch of the area, with stumps numbered and diameters given at ground level
- What the ground will be used for afterwards, including any construction or planting
- Access route, gate widths and surface types, with photographs
- Known services, drains or structures near the stumps
- Working hours, permits, and how the finished level will be checked and signed off
Where we work
Regular work is across County Durham, North Yorkshire and the North East. We also consider larger contracts further afield, depending on the schedule, access and length of the job. Send the site details and we will confirm whether we can cover it and arrange visits.
Example of this work
Related services and guides
Qualifications and paperwork
- NPTC qualified: Every arborist holds current NPTC certificates of competence for the work they carry out.
- Constructionline Gold: Constructionline Gold registration for your contractor checks.
- £10m public liability: Insured to £10m public liability. Certificate available before you book.
- RAMS before site entry: Site-specific risk assessments and method statements, prepared to meet your contractor requirements.
Let us know which documents you need before booking.
Talk to us about your site
Send the plan, the stump sizes and what the ground has to be ready for. We will quote the clearance, stating the grinding depth, what happens to leftover material and how the ground will be left.
Request a quote
Call 07423 269635 or send the site details. We will explain the next step and arrange a visit if needed.
Request A Quote