Grinding or removal?
The right finish depends on what comes next.
Grinding may suit a surface that will be landscaped over, while full extraction may be relevant when roots, replanting or construction make the remaining material part of the larger plan. Ask the provider what each option changes, rather than assuming one finish fits every yard.
Questions that change the work
Access and services
- Can a machine reach the stump, and what route will it take?
- Are there fences, gates, slopes, patios or garden beds to protect?
- Who confirms underground electrical and other utility locates?
Finish and future use
- How much of the stump and visible roots will be addressed?
- Are chips left, hauled away or spread only where agreed?
- Will the area be level enough for the next planting or surface?
Do not dig around a stump or roots until utilities and access have been considered. The rules guide explains why underground-service checks belong in the plan.
Ask for a complete stump scope
- Identify the stump.Use a photo or site description so the written scope is tied to the correct tree and property.
- Describe the access.Confirm gates, distance, surface protection, machine route and any neighbour or public-space implications.
- Describe the cleanup.Confirm chips, soil, exposed roots, levelling, hauling and what the homeowner must do afterward.
Keep wood movement in mind
If the stump or chips contain regulated material, disposal and movement may need a provider-specific plan. Ask how the company will handle the material and check the CFIA regulated-area guidance ↗ when relevant.
Planning the finish
Tell us what you want the space to become.
Share the access, timing and next-use details. We will review the request before following up.
Share the stump detailsLast reviewed: September 18, 2026. This is general information, not a property-specific legal, arboricultural or emergency assessment.