Small Tree Removal, what to do with stump?

[Blackbeard]

Hello.  I have a small dead tree in my front yard.  It's in a landscaped area and it also provided great shade for the kitchen.  What do we do with the stump? 


We are trying to decide whether to dig it out or plant shrubs around it.  I'm leaning more to replacing the tree with another similar tree.  A tree there definitely helps with curb appeal. 

Thanks for any advice.

[Greg]

If you want to dig it out, go for it, but it can be a lot of work.  If you want to let it rot, and it's truly dead, you can help it rot by drilling holes in it.

[Dollarafterdollar]

Im Stumped....

Okay seriously, if you decide wont don't want to dig it out, you can create a container garden. Here's a tutorial I saw on Lowe's website..

http://www.lowes.com/creative-ideas/lawn-and-garden/tree-stump-container-garden/article

[HipGnosis]

You can speed up the rotting (dead or not) by drilling straight down into the stump and putting copper sulfate into it.
Copper sulfate is sold as root killer for drain pipes, but it's much cheaper bought by the pound online (amazon has it).
Or you can put sugar into the stump to attract insects which will burrow into and eat the stump and roots.  You probably don't want to do this if it's close to the house.
But, if you want to plant another tree soon, I think you will have to dig up the stump.  Get a big axe, a hoist w/ rope or chains (aka fence puller) and invite the biggest friend you have...

[Gone Fishing]

I dug out a large pine stump (tree was probably 24") by hand in a day.  Used a shovel to dig around the stump, then the sawzall with an old blade to cut through the roots.  Used the garden tractor to get it out of the hole, but any vehicle would have worked.  Probably weighed 3-400 lbs.  I could have had it ground for $100-200, but then I wouldn't have been a badass!

[Bob W]

Find a local stump grinder dude--  Probably $100 to grind away.

[BananaJr]

I dug out a large pine stump (tree was probably 24") by hand in a day.  Used a shovel to dig around the stump, then the sawzall with an old blade to cut through the roots.  Used the garden tractor to get it out of the hole, but any vehicle would have worked.  Probably weighed 3-400 lbs.  I could have had it ground for $100-200, but then I wouldn't have been a badass!

Agree with this.  I had five stumps around my property from having some invasive black locust trees removed, about 8-12" stumps.  Dig around and cut roots as you go.  A long iron pry bar helps, as does a good arborist's saw (but make sure roots are clear of dirt lest you dull the teeth), as does a good vocabulary of colorful language.  Takes an hour or three but eventually you'll get to the tap root out out it will come.  A very rewarding workout!  If I had more to remove I'd start a business called StumpFit^TM.

If you decide to use the chain + tractor or truck method, a word of advice: pull statically (start with the chain taut); don't try to get speed and yank it out.  My brother-in-law did some serious damage to the frame of an F-250 when a stump decided not to co-operate.

[Maseroni]

You can also typically rent a stump grinder for $50-$100/day.  They are pretty medieval-looking machines, but they make short work of an old stump, then you have a ton of wood chips left over that can either be composted, or spread in an area to suppress weeds, etc.

[Jack]

If you decide to use the chain + tractor or truck method, a word of advice: pull statically (start with the chain taut); don't try to get speed and yank it out.  My brother-in-law did some serious damage to the frame of an F-250 when a stump decided not to co-operate.

Also -- this should go without saying for anyone competent enough to consider attempting it, but that's exactly why it needs to be said -- the chain should be attached to a solid point on the frame of the vehicle, not the bumper. And trying to pull a stump with a unibody car is probably not a great idea either.

[Gone Fishing]

If you decide to use the chain + tractor or truck method, a word of advice: pull statically (start with the chain taut); don't try to get speed and yank it out.  My brother-in-law did some serious damage to the frame of an F-250 when a stump decided not to co-operate.

Also -- this should go without saying for anyone competent enough to consider attempting it, but that's exactly why it needs to be said -- the chain should be attached to a solid point on the frame of the vehicle, not the bumper. And trying to pull a stump with a unibody car is probably not a great idea either.

I will also add that my stump was completely loose before pulling. I was simply getting it out of the hole at that point, not ripping roots from the ground.

[TomTX]

1) Drill some holes into the stump.

2) Go to grocery store for marshmallows and hot dogs.

3) Build campfire on/around stump.

4) Set out cool drink, shade umbrella and whittle some sticks for your hot dogs and marshmallows. Or unbend old wire hangars and burn off the coating before using. Keep the fire going.

5) Cook and eat marshmallows and hot dogs, enjoy cold drinks.

My city requires a permit for outdoor burning. Unless it's a cooking fire. :D

[a1smith]

My neighbor hired someone to grind stumps in her yard.  I went over and talked to him and got him to grind 5 stumps in our yard for $50 cash.  :-)

[PFHC]

I've used this before with great success. Comes from the legendary Ashley Book of Knots. It requires minimal digging and uses the power of physics in your favor!

As you drive away slowly, the post is forced into the ground, then the chain/rope digs into the top of the post, pulling it forward which acts to pry the stump out of the ground.

I even once used this to pry a buried car out of the ground! 2000 lbs of metal. I was using a big dumb truck, but I didn't have to even use the gas, just idled away and out it came. :)

[PFHC]

BTW, here's a link to the Ashley Book of Knots. Free!

http://www.bethandevans.com/pdf/ashleybookknots.pdf

[worms]

BTW, here's a link to the Ashley Book of Knots. Free!

http://www.bethandevans.com/pdf/ashleybookknots.pdf

What an incredible book!  Just lost an hour of my life...and only got to page 74 of 638!

[PFHC]

BTW, here's a link to the Ashley Book of Knots. Free!

http://www.bethandevans.com/pdf/ashleybookknots.pdf

What an incredible book!  Just lost an hour of my life...and only got to page 74 of 638!

:) I have lost many many hours in there.

Sent from my XT1094 using Tapatalk

[patrat]

Lazy man method: Read up on Hugelkultur, and "woody beds". Throw some extra dirt and compost on top, plant some edible garden stuff, and act trendy when challenged on it by a friend, family, or neighbor.

[MsPeacock]

I have a stump that is about 4 feet in diameter and has changed the slope of the yard due to the enormous root ball. I had it ground down, which cleared it about 6" below ground just in the stump area. Threw some dirt over. Now I want to put in raised garden beds and have to figure out how to grade the lawn in this area.

Small stumps(meaning like 12" of so) - just cut off as low as possible, drill holes, cut off any suckers that might shoot up, cover with dirt or mulch, and proceed with your life.

[paddedhat]

I have to second the recommendation to have a go at any small stump with a sawzall. I removed a bunch of small ones from my yard by using a long "demolition" blade in a corded sawzall. You basically plunge the blade into the earth and do a full circle around the base, while keeping the saw buried up to the end of the blade. Next step is to take a pickaxe and use it to pry the root ball loose. If you can get the ball even a bit loose, roll it over as much as possible, and use the blade to cut the roots that head straight down. It takes a few minutes to turn a 4-6" tree root ball into a nice octopus looking piece of debris, stacked in the wheelbarrow.

[zolotiyeruki]

No mention of stump remover, a.k.a. Potassium Nitrate?  Drill a hole in the stump, pour some KNO3 in the hole, and wait a few months for mother nature to take care of the stump for you.

[dilinger]

Turn your stump into food.  Drill holes.  Insert mushroom plugs of your favorite variety.  Oyster and Shiitakes are pretty easy to grow. Cover the plugs back up with wax, let them grow.  In a year, edible mushrooms will be growing out of the stump (or if you just want to be rid of the stump or aren't comfortable identifying mushrooms, ignore whatever mushrooms grow; there may already be something living in your stump, if it has been dead for a while).  After a few years, your stump will be mostly decayed, and you can probably just kick it over.  This is the lazy but slow method. :)

[Spork]

No mention of stump remover, a.k.a. Potassium Nitrate?  Drill a hole in the stump, pour some KNO3 in the hole, and wait a few months for mother nature to take care of the stump for you.

I will always remember the instructions on a bottle of stump remover:  Drill holes every 3 inches in stump.  Sprinkle stump remover on stump.  Wait 6 months.  Pour diesel on stump and set it on fire.

I am pretty sure if you left off the "sprinkle stump remover on stump" ... you'd get the same result after 6 months of standing water in the holes, a gallon of diesel and match.

[NextTime]

I have to second the recommendation to have a go at any small stump with a sawzall. I removed a bunch of small ones from my yard by using a long "demolition" blade in a corded sawzall. You basically plunge the blade into the earth and do a full circle around the base, while keeping the saw buried up to the end of the blade. Next step is to take a pickaxe and use it to pry the root ball loose. If you can get the ball even a bit loose, roll it over as much as possible, and use the blade to cut the roots that head straight down. It takes a few minutes to turn a 4-6" tree root ball into a nice octopus looking piece of debris, stacked in the wheelbarrow.

I did something similar. I dug out the dirt all the way around the base of the tree (small tree). Then went to town on the roots with the reciprocal saw and pried it out with a pry bar.