How to Remove Trees, Stumps and Roots: A UK Guide

Tree removal is one of those jobs that looks simple from the outside and becomes considerably more involved once you're actually doing it. This guide covers how to approach each stage: when you can do it yourself, how to do it safely, and when calling a tree surgeon is the right decision.

Table of contents

1. Do You Need Permission to Remove a Tree?
2. How to Remove a Tree: Felling
3. How to Remove a Tree Stump
4. Stump Grinding: The Most Effective Method
5. How to Remove Tree Roots
6. Chemical Stump and Root Treatment
7. How Much Does Tree Removal Cost?
8. When to Call a Tree Surgeon
9. FAQs: Tree, Stump and Root Removal

Tree felling, stump removal, and root removal are distinct jobs requiring different approaches and tools. Read through in order for the full picture, or jump to the section that covers the specific job you're facing.

Do You Need Permission to Remove a Tree?

Before any work begins, this is the question to answer - and getting it wrong has serious legal consequences.

• Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) are legal protections placed on individual trees or groups by local planning authorities. Felling, uprooting, or significantly damaging a TPO-protected tree without consent is a criminal offence with unlimited fines. Check with your local council, most have online TPO maps, before removing any tree on your property.

• Conservation areas impose additional restrictions. In a designated conservation area, you must give your local planning authority six weeks' written notice before felling or carrying out significant work on any tree with a trunk diameter above 75mm (measured at 1.5m from the ground). This gives the council time to decide whether to apply a TPO before work proceeds.

• Exceptions: Removing a tree that's dead, dying, or imminently dangerous is exempt from the notice requirement, but you should document the condition (photographs, a written record) before removal in case the exemption is questioned. Work on trees less than 75mm in diameter is also generally exempt.

• Permitted development: For most standard residential properties, removing a tree in your own garden doesn't require planning permission beyond the TPO and conservation area checks. Listed buildings require listed building consent for work affecting their setting.

When in doubt, contact your local planning authority before starting work. The risk of proceeding without checking is not worth the potential consequences.

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How to Remove a Tree: Felling

Felling - cutting a tree down - is the first stage of tree removal. Even relatively small trees demand respect for the forces involved and the consequences of a tree falling in an unintended direction.

What's realistic for DIY: Small trees with a trunk diameter up to approximately 10–15cm, a clear drop zone significantly larger than the tree's height in all directions, no overhead obstacles (power lines, structures, neighbouring property), and a confident operator with appropriate equipment. If any of these conditions aren't met, the job is for a professional.

The basic felling sequence:

• Step 1: Plan the drop zone. Walk the full area around the tree and identify where you want it to fall. Check for obstacles in that direction and in all directions the tree might fall if it doesn't go where intended. Clear the area of people, pets, and moveable objects.

• Step 2: Make the hinge cut (notch). On the side facing the intended fall direction, cut a notch approximately one-third of the way through the trunk. The notch consists of a horizontal cut and an angled downward cut that meet to remove a wedge of wood. This creates the hinge point that controls the fall direction.

• Step 3: Make the back cut. From the opposite side, cut horizontally toward the notch, slightly above the bottom of the notch. Stop before cutting all the way through - leave a hinge of uncut wood between the back cut and the notch. This hinge controls the fall. As the tree begins to lean, move away along the planned escape route - at approximately 45 degrees away from the fall direction.

• Step 4: Process the felled tree. Once the tree is down, remove the branches systematically (limbing), then cut the trunk into manageable sections (bucking). Large-volume timber can be chipped if you have access to a chipper, taken to a tip, or arranged for collection.

Never attempt to fell a tree toward a structure, over another tree you want to keep, near power lines, or in a confined space without professional help. The consequences of a misdirected fall are serious. A tree surgeon will rig the tree with ropes and may climb to take it down in sections rather than felling it whole.

How to Remove a Tree Stump

Once a tree is felled, the stump remains - and it needs a decision: leave it, treat it, or remove it. Leaving a stump isn't always problematic, but it can produce regrowth shoots (particularly on coppicing species like ash, willow, and many fruit trees), attract fungi and beetles as it decomposes, and create a physical obstacle in the garden.

Manual excavation is the most thorough stump removal method and the only one that removes the root ball entirely. It's also the most labour-intensive and best suited to small stumps (up to approximately 20cm in diameter).

• Step 1: Cut the stump as close to ground level as possible.

• Step 2: Dig around the stump in a circle, exposing the roots. Use a mattock or pick for compacted soil. Work progressively outward, identifying and severing roots as you encounter them.

• Step 3: For roots up to 25mm in diameter, use loppers or a pruning saw. For larger roots, a pruning saw, reciprocating saw with a pruning blade, or an axe is needed.

• Step 4: Once enough roots are severed, use a digging bar or strong lever to rock the stump free. Work from multiple directions, gradually loosening the root ball until it can be lifted out.

• Step 5: Backfill the hole with soil. Where the area will be grassed or planted, mix in compost or topsoil to improve the quality of the fill.

Stump Grinding: The Most Effective Method

Stump grinding is the fastest and most practical method for stump removal in most domestic situations, and the one professional tree surgeons use for the majority of residential jobs.

A stump grinder uses a rotating cutting disc to chip the stump down below ground level - typically to 150-300mm below the surface - turning it into a wood chip that can be used as mulch or disposed of.

Hiring a stump grinder:

Petrol-powered stump grinders are available from tool hire companies (typically £100–£200 per day) and are manageable for a DIYer with reasonable experience. They require protective equipment including goggles, hearing protection, and sturdy footwear.

The machine vibrates significantly during operation - if you haven't used one before, start at the edge of the stump and work methodically inward rather than plunging straight in.

What stump grinding does and doesn't do:

It removes the stump below ground level and chips it into workable fragments. It doesn't remove the lateral roots that spread out from the stump - these are left in the ground to decompose naturally, which takes several years.

For most garden applications this is acceptable; if you need the area immediately available for construction, paving, or planting, full manual root excavation or professional root removal is needed.

After grinding:

Remove the wood chip from the hole. Fill with topsoil - don't use the wood chip to backfill, as it competes with soil nitrogen as it decomposes and inhibits grass and plant growth in the area. See the MyBuilder tree stump removal cost guide for current professional grinding costs.

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How to Remove Tree Roots

Root removal is a separate challenge from stump removal, and the extent of the work depends on why the roots need removing. Surface roots causing trip hazards, roots lifting paving or damaging drainage, or roots that are spreading into neighbouring property all require different levels of intervention.

Before starting any root removal near structures or boundaries:

Check for underground services. Roots that have grown around or near buried pipes, cables, or drains can cause serious damage if the root is removed without identifying what it's near. Contact your utilities supplier or use a cable and pipe locator before excavating near structures.

Removing surface roots (cosmetic or trip hazard):

Expose the root by digging around it. Cut through the root cleanly with a pruning saw or loppers on both sides of the area to be removed. Remove the section. Don't grind the cut faces - a clean saw cut heals better than a ground surface. If the root is structural (large, close to the trunk), removing it affects the tree's stability - consult a tree surgeon before cutting major roots.

Removing roots lifting paving or drainage:

The same approach applies, but with added complexity from the structure above. Remove the paving or identify the pipe, expose the root, cut and remove the section, and reinstate. Where a root has grown into a drainage pipe, the pipe may need repair or replacement — see our guide to drain pipe repair for cost context.

General rule on root removal from living trees: Never remove more than approximately 25% of a tree's root system at once. Removing too much destabilises the tree structurally and damages its capacity to take up water and nutrients. For living trees with problematic roots, a tree surgeon should assess how much removal the tree can tolerate.

Chemical Stump and Root Treatment

Chemical treatments won't remove a stump or root physically, but they can prevent regrowth and accelerate decomposition - useful where mechanical removal isn't practical.

Glyphosate (stump killer):

Applied to the freshly cut surface of a stump immediately after felling (within minutes - the vascular tissue seals off quickly). Paint or pour undiluted glyphosate onto the cut surface, particularly into the cambium layer just inside the bark. This kills the root system progressively and prevents regrowth. For stumps that have been cut for longer than a few minutes, drill holes around the stump perimeter and apply glyphosate directly into the holes.

Stump accelerator products:

Granular products (such as Rootkill) drill into the stump and release nitrogen compounds that accelerate fungal decomposition. These don't kill the stump immediately but make it soft and crumbly within several months, at which point it can be broken up with a mattock more easily than a fresh stump.

The epsom salt method:

Packing drill holes in the stump with epsom salt draws moisture out and inhibits growth. It's slower than glyphosate but chemical-free and safe around other plants. Reapply monthly and keep the stump covered to prevent rain from diluting it.

What chemical treatment won't do:

Remove the physical stump or roots. Chemical treatment is about preventing regrowth and aiding eventual decomposition - if you need the area cleared promptly, grinding or manual removal is still required.

How Much Does Tree Removal Cost?

Professional tree removal costs vary significantly depending on the size, species, location, and complexity of the job.

• Tree felling: Small trees (up to 5m) typically cost £150–£400 to fell professionally. Medium trees (5–10m) cost £300–£1,000. Large trees (10m+) cost £800–£2,500 or more depending on access and complexity.

• Stump grinding: £60–£400 per stump depending on size. Most tree surgeons offer a reduced rate when stump grinding is done at the same time as felling.

• Root removal: Charged on time and complexity — typically £150–£500 for straightforward surface root removal, more for roots causing structural or drainage damage.

See the MyBuilder tree removal cost guide and tree surgeon costs guide for detailed pricing across all tree surgery work.

When to Call a Tree Surgeon

Tree surgery is one of the most hazardous trades in the UK. The physical forces involved in felling even a medium-sized tree, combined with working at height with cutting equipment in unpredictable conditions, produce serious injuries every year. DIY felling is realistic only within the narrow parameters outlined above.

You can find and compare available tree surgeons near you on MyBuilder. Post your job with details of the tree size, species if known, and what needs removing - surgeons in your area will respond with their assessment and quotes.

All tradespeople on MyBuilder undergo checks at registration, such as ID documents, company details, certifications for regulated jobs and skill assessments, allowing you to hire with confidence.

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FAQs: Tree, Stump and Root Removal

How Long Does a Tree Stump Take to Decompose Naturally?

Without any treatment, a tree stump typically takes 3-10 years to decompose fully, depending on the species (hardwoods take longer than softwoods), the size of the stump, and soil conditions. During decomposition it can attract fungi, beetles, and in some cases termites. Treating with a stump accelerator reduces this to 1-3 years.

Grinding removes the problem immediately. You can browse tree surgery projects on MyBuilder to see what professional stump removal looks like.

Can I Burn Out a Tree Stump?

Burning a tree stump is sometimes cited as a removal method but is generally not recommended in UK gardens. Open burning is restricted in many areas and burning close to structures, fences, or neighbouring property carries obvious risks.

Burning also doesn't remove the root system and produces limited results on freshly cut stumps which have a high moisture content. Grinding or chemical treatment are more effective and safer alternatives.

Do Tree Roots Grow Back After Removal?

This depends on whether the stump is treated after felling. Many species - particularly ash, willow, and most fruit trees - will produce vigorous regrowth shoots from the cut stump and surviving roots if left untreated. Applying a stump killer (glyphosate) to the freshly cut surface immediately after felling prevents this. Without treatment, manage regrowth by cutting shoots as close to the stump as possible consistently, eventually the root system's energy reserves are exhausted.

See our guide to removing bamboo for how this persistence applies even more forcefully to invasive plant root systems.

What Happens to Tree Roots After a Tree Is Removed?

The roots of a removed tree gradually decompose over several years as the root system dies without the tree above it. During decomposition, soil can settle slightly as organic matter breaks down - this should be considered when laying paving or structures near a recently removed tree.

On shallow-rooted species, surface roots may remain visible for several years. See the MyBuilder tree pruning cost guide for related tree surgery costs if the tree only needs management rather than removal.