Kew Stump Removal & Tight Access
Stump grinding 300–400 mm below ground in Kew, including tight-access side paths and courtyards. No regrowth, clean finish.
- Free quotes
- Fully qualified & insured
- 16+ years
Stump removal and tight access in Kew, done properly
Stump grinding in Kew (3101) is an easy job for us to slot in. Api quotes it free, and for most stumps the crew is in and out in an hour or two with the yard swept behind them.
The nearest suburbs we also cover are Hawthorn (2 km), Abbotsford (3 km), Burnley (3 km), so a job in Kew is often paired with one next door. 1 of the reviews on this site are from customers in Hawthorn, Abbotsford and Burnley, next door to Kew.
We measure the stump, check for stones, pipes and cables — Dial Before You Dig where there is any doubt — and set up the grinder. The cutting wheel takes the stump down in passes to 300–400 mm below ground level, then follows the main lateral roots out. The grindings go back into the hole, mounded slightly because they settle, and the surrounding lawn or paving is left clean.
For tight access the sequence is the same with smaller gear: a compact grinder that fits a 750 mm gate, or a mini machine for courtyards. It is slower than the big grinder, but the result is identical — the stump is gone below the surface, not cut flush and left to sprout.
Stump Removal & Tight Access in Kew — what we do
Stump grinding
Down to 300–400 mm below ground, surface roots chased out.
Tight-access grinding
Compact and mini machines for side paths and courtyards.
Large & multi-stem stumps
Mature hardwoods, palms and cypress rows.
Backfill & tidy finish
Grindings back in or removed and replaced with soil.
A tip from Api
If the stump is near a boundary, fence or retaining wall, we grind it from the accessible side with the guard on and the neighbour’s side protected. Tell Api if the tree was a shared one — it affects who owns the job.
The full service pages: Stump Removal and Tree & Palm Removal — every one available in Kew.
Guides from Api: Tree removal insurance: what home insurance covers when a tree comes down · Tree removal near me: how to find the right crew in Melbourne's west
Do you need a permit to remove a tree in Kew?
The rule that applies to a tree in a Kew garden is the Tree Protection Local Law — here is what it says.
Boroondara’s Tree Protection Local Law is one of the strictest in Melbourne. A canopy tree is any tree with a trunk circumference of 110 cm or more at 1.4 m above the ground, or 150 cm or more at ground level, with multi-stemmed trees measured by adding the stems. You need a permit to remove a canopy tree even when it is dead or a recognised weed species; pruning is allowed without one provided it follows Australian Standard AS 4373-2007.
Significant trees need a permit for pruning as well as removal, and works near any protected tree need a permit of their own. The council’s free Tree Protection Local Law and planning enquiry tool gives a guide answer for an address before an application is lodged.
The state canopy-tree clause applies in the residential zones on top of the local law.
Source: City of Boroondara — trees on private property. Read 13 September 2026; councils change their local laws, so Api checks the current rule when he quotes.
Across Victoria since 15 September 2025
Clause 52.37 Canopy Trees
A canopy tree is a tree more than 5 m tall, with a trunk circumference over 0.5 m at 1.4 m above the ground and a canopy at least 4 m across. In a residential zone a planning permit is needed to remove, destroy or lop one in a residential zone if the lot is vacant, or, where there is an existing house, if any part of the trunk is within 6 m of the narrowest street frontage or 4.5 m of the rear boundary.
Dead trees, emergency and safety works, maintenance pruning and listed weed species are exempt; councils usually condition a permit on planting a replacement canopy tree, and most decide these through VicSmart in about ten business days.
What this means for you: tell Api where the tree sits on the block and he will tell you whether a permit is needed before anything is cut — and where one is, we can prepare the arborist assessment the application needs.
Stump removal jobs by Api and the crew
Real jobs, real photos — Api, the crew and the truck, across Melbourne’s inner east. Nothing staged, nothing stock.
What customers near Kew say
Kate
Hawthorn · June 2021
Very professional and got the job done quickly.
Stump removal around Kew
The same crew, the same day rates, in the suburbs next door:
Other services in Kew
Tree services made easy
At Aps Tree Removal, we simplify the tree and hedge removal experience with a clear, step-by-step approach.
Contact us
Want to learn more? Call 0422 856 090 or send the form and speak with Api.
Get a quote
Getting a quote is quick, easy, and free.
On-site inspection
A quick, thorough site assessment — species, access and risks.
Professional removal
Clean and safe work, chipped and cleaned up — no mess, no hassle.
What clients across Melbourne’s inner east say
paul stumpo
3 Sept 2025
Api and team done a excellent job cutting my two pencil trees down in no time cleaned up good I'LL Recommend Api to any one that wants excellent job d…
Sneha
28 Aug 2025
Api and his team did a fantastic job in cutting down 3 big pear trees and pruning other trees in the front-yard. The whole process of getting the quot…
Thomas Atkinson
12 Aug 2025
Api and the team did a great job working hard, doing lots of pruning removing trees, as well as pruning my ginormous oak tree. They worked tirelessly…
leo Baldacchino
7 Aug 2025
Api and he’s team did a sensational job removing a numerous amount of large trees from my backyard! Communication was above exceptional, friendly and…
K Y
7 Aug 2025
Api and his team have done a beautiful job. Api pruned trees and trimmed tall hedges for us. Api also removed rubbish and cleaned the place tidily. We…
Emily Joseph
28 July 2025
Amazing work done by API and his team! Great communication and very friendly people. Would defiantly use again in the future and recommend to friends…
Jacob Xavier
18 June 2025
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 Stars I recently hired Aps tree removal company and couldn’t be more impressed with their work. From start to finish, Api and team was profess…
The Visiting Vet
24 May 2025
Removed some trees from our property, was very quick and have done an amazing job in a very quick time. Highly recommend.
jeff ramos
27 Mar 2025
Api and his team were an absolute gents! honest and caring. Removing tree stumps and several bushes. He was very clear to what is in-scope and out of…
Rob Licciardo
23 Mar 2025
Pleasure to have API and his crew a challenging job to cut down 6 x 40 foot dangerously overgrown trees at my residence in Keilor this week . The Enti…
Natalie
17 Jan 2025
Absolutely fantastic service! Very quick, efficient, and super professional - Api and his team is the best for any tree job. He was able to prune and…
Ramani R
4 Dec 2024
Great job. Thank you
Kew Stump Removal & Tight Access — common questions
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Kew?
Yes, for a canopy tree — 110 cm or more around the trunk at 1.4 m (stems combined), or 150 cm at ground level — Boroondara requires a permit to remove it, even if it is dead or a recognised weed. Canopy trees can be pruned without a permit to AS 4373; significant trees need a permit to prune or remove; and the state canopy-tree clause applies as well. Across Victoria, Clause 52.37 Canopy Trees also applies since 15 September 2025: a planning permit is needed to remove, destroy or lop one in a residential zone if the lot is vacant, or, where there is an existing house, if any part of the trunk is within 6 m of the narrowest street frontage or 4.5 m of the rear boundary. Api checks both at the quote.
How much does stump removal cost in Kew?
Priced per stump by its width at ground level and how the grinder reaches it. Ask for stump grinding on the tree quote if a tree is coming out — it is much cheaper on the same visit.
How long does it take?
Quick. The grinding is usually done before the morning is out; larger jobs take half a day.
Can you get in if the access is tight?
Yes — tight access is in the name of the page. The compact grinder needs about 750 mm; where the gap is narrower still, we have a mini machine and hand options.
What happens to the waste?
The grindings go back in the hole unless you ask for them to be taken away and replaced with soil. Anything above that is loaded on the truck and the area is raked and blown clean.
How deep do you grind, and can I plant or pave over the spot?
Standard depth is 300–400 mm, which takes the crown and the top of the root plate. Turf can go on the next day; concrete or a deck footing can go in once the grindings are removed and the hole is filled with compacted soil.