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The fastest way to remove a tree stump is to dig it out with a compact excavator, which pulls the entire root ball in minutes rather than the hours grinding takes. Your options come down to digging it out, grinding it down, or chemical and manual removal, and the right choice depends on the stump's size, what you plan to do with the spot afterward, and how much access you have. This guide compares the methods and walks through removing a stump step by step, with the right Kubota machine for the job across Georgina, Durham Region, Simcoe, Kawartha Lakes, and York Region.
There is no single right way to remove a stump, but there is a right way for your situation. Here is how the methods compare.
| Method | Best For | Speed | Removes Roots? | Effort |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excavation (dig it out) | Any size, especially if replanting or building | Fast | Yes, entire root ball | Low (machine does the work) |
| Stump grinding | Surface-level removal where roots can stay | Moderate | No, grinds top down | Moderate |
| Chemical and manual | Small stumps, no rush | Very slow (months) | Partially | High over time |
For most property owners who want the stump gone and the ground usable, excavation is the clear winner. It removes the roots completely, leaves a clean hole you can backfill, and handles stumps that are too big or too numerous to grind economically.
Grinding only removes the stump to a set depth below grade and leaves the root system in the ground. That is fine if you are putting grass back, but it is a problem if you want to build, plant a new tree, or run a driveway or fence line through the spot. Digging the stump out with an excavator removes the whole root ball, so the ground is genuinely clear.
The Kubota U35 compact excavator (around 3.7 tonnes, from $350/day) is the workhorse for stump removal. It has the digging force and reach to pry out most residential and farm stumps. For smaller stumps in tight backyard spaces, the Kubota U17 mini excavator (from $250/day) fits through gates as narrow as about three feet and still gets the job done. When you are clearing several stumps at once, pair the excavator with a Kubota SVL75-3 track loader to pile and move the debris.
1. Call before you dig. Locate buried utilities before any excavation. Stumps near a house, fence, or septic field can sit close to water, gas, or electrical lines.
2. Clear the area. Cut the stump as low to the ground as practical and clear brush so the machine has room to work and you can see the root flare.
3. Dig around the root ball. Use the excavator to dig a trench around the stump, exposing the major roots. The U35's reach and power make quick work of this.
4. Cut and pry the roots. Sever the larger roots with the bucket edge or a saw, then use the boom to pry and lift the loosened root ball. Rocking the stump back and forth breaks the remaining anchor roots.
5. Lift it out. Once the roots are cut, the excavator pulls the entire stump and root ball out of the ground in one piece.
6. Backfill and grade. Push the soil back into the hole, compact it, and grade the surface. A track loader makes the final levelling fast if you are doing a larger area.
7. Haul or pile the debris. Stack the stumps for removal, chipping, or burning where permitted. The SVL75-3 handles loading and moving debris piles.
A single rental period often covers digging out several stumps and grading the ground afterward, which makes excavation the most cost-effective route when you have more than one to deal with.
Stumps close to a foundation, septic system, fence, or property line call for a careful hand. So do large hardwood stumps with deep, wide root systems. If the job is bigger than you are comfortable with, an operated rental puts an experienced operator at the controls, so the stump comes out clean without risking nearby structures or utilities.
Digging it out with a compact excavator is the fastest method. A Kubota U35 pries out most stumps and their root balls in minutes, compared with the hours grinding takes, and it removes the roots completely so the ground is ready to build or plant.
Grind it if you only need the surface removed and you are putting grass back. Dig it out if you want to build, plant a new tree, or run a driveway, fence, or line through the spot, because excavation removes the entire root system.
For small backyard stumps in tight spaces, the Kubota U17 mini excavator works well. For standard, large, or rural stumps, the Kubota U35 compact excavator has the digging power to pull most root balls out cleanly.
You can, but proceed carefully. Locate utilities first and keep clear of foundations and septic components. For stumps tight against structures or for large hardwood root systems, an operated rental is the safer choice.
Got a stump, or a whole yard of them, anywhere in Georgina, Durham Region, Simcoe, Kawartha Lakes, or York Region? Titanium Equipment Group delivers the right Kubota excavator to dig it out clean, with operated rentals available when you want a pro at the controls. Call or text 437-907-0671 or request a quote.
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