How To Remove Stumps In Yard

Related Guides: Stump Removal Price Guide, Tree Removal Toll Guide, Stump Grinding

Although cutting downwardly a tree may seem like a major project, it's actually straightforward when compared with removing a stump. Stump removal is a lot more involved, which is why it's not usually included in the cost of tree removal. It's as well why many people accept old stumps in their yards. Stump removal isn't easy, but information technology is doable. You'll go the task done more quickly and hands when you use the right techniques and methods, and there are a handful of viable options available.

Reasons to Remove a Stump

Later going through the trouble to have a tree removed, it doesn't brand a lot of sense to leave the stump sitting at that place. A few of the top reasons to remove stumps from your one thousand include:

They are Eyesores – No one likes gazing out into the thou and seeing onetime stumps dotting the mural. They look even worse when weeds and other plants start growing on them, which inevitably happens over time.
They Have Up Valuable Infinite – About people want the widest, clearest yards possible, and stumps really become in the way.
They are Hazardous – Some stumps are obvious, but others get camouflaged by grass, weeds and other plants and become tripping hazards. Nothing is worse than stubbing your toe on an quondam tree stump.

Assessing a Tree Stump

assessing a tree stump Some stumps are easier to remove than others and therefore different techniques tin can be applied. Being prepared ahead of time and knowing which techniques and methods to utilize for which blazon of task will make things much easier for you lot in the long run. For example, pine tree stumps tend to exist easier to remove than stumps from deciduous trees. The roots of pine trees tend to be wide, flat and relatively shallow while deciduous tree stumps' roots tend to be long and deep.

What makes a stump easier to remove? Generally, the age and size of the tree are the best indicators of stump removal difficulty. Just put, the older a stump is, the easier information technology is to remove. Besides, minor stumps are too easier to remove than big ones. Another practiced thing to keep in listen before choosing a stump removal method is to consider the total number of stumps that need to be removed. Do you really want to remove 100 stumps past manus? Or even iii? This guide volition help yous make up one's mind which stump removal techniques and methods are appropriate for you.

Removing a Stump by Grinding it Away Yourself

If removing a stump manually won't work and you'd similar to become rid of your stump (or stumps) rapidly, you can always rent a grinder and grind the stump away yourself. These heavy-duty machines counterbalance effectually 1,000 pounds, and y'all can expect to pay betwixt $100 and $200 to rent i for a single day (see our guide to Stump Grinding Prices & Costs) . Therefore, it only makes financial sense to do the job yourself when at that place are several stumps to remove.

In addition to the grinder, yous will need a shovel, a mattock, a chainsaw and a rake.

Use a shovel or mattock to clear rocks away from around the stump.
Cut away as much of the stump as possible with a chainsaw. Try to get it equally level to the footing as possible.
Using the hydraulic lever, enhance the grinder bicycle a couple of inches to a higher place the stump. After turning information technology on, lower it about three inches into the stump. Motion it side to side with the lever.
After grinding downwardly to about four inches with the grinder wheel, movement it forward. Repeat the process until the entire stump is at least 4 inches below ground.

Keep in mind that a stump grinder is a dangerous piece of equipment and that y'all should ever article of clothing protective gear. Be particularly diligent nigh wearing protective goggles or glasses considering wood chips and other droppings volition fly everywhere. If you've never used a stump grinder before, it's too a skillful idea to have someone at the rental place teach you lot how to use the auto before bringing information technology habitation or having it delivered.

If you just have 1 or two stumps, a professional company will probably but charge around $100 to $200, then that might exist the way to go nether those circumstances. As an added bonus, many companies will haul abroad the stump too.

DIY Method #1: How to Remove a Stump by Hand

People who set out to remove stumps past hand ofttimes go about it the wrong manner. To do this successfully, it helps to be dealing with a relatively pocket-sized tree stump. If it's from an older or diseased tree, that helps a lot too.

To remove a stump yourself, information technology'due south essential to have the correct tools. You'll need a chainsaw or limbing saw, a pick mattock, a shovel, a excavation bar, an ax, a 4-wheel-bulldoze truck and some chain.

Follow these steps to remove a stump manually:

Use a chainsaw or limbing saw to remove whatever lower branches from the torso.
Remove the elevation portion of the torso, but get out enough to apply as leverage.
Use a shovel, choice mattock and earthworks bar every bit needed to reveal the roots around the stump.
Apply a hose or ability washer to rinse dirt away to reveal more roots.
Cut the major roots with an ax.
Try pushing the trunk. If more than roots are exposed, cut them with the ax. Continue pushing and pulling the trunk until the tree trunk is entirely uprooted.
If the trunk won't budge, wrap chain around information technology and connect it to a four-wheel-drive pickup truck.
Alternating between slowly pulling forwards and reversing to wiggle the trunk until it is uprooted.

DIY Method #two: Tree Stump Killer and Chemical Stump Removal

If transmission labor isn't for you, you could ever endeavour the chemical route. To remove a stump chemically, you'll need a drill, a chainsaw, potassium nitrate, an ax and fuel oil or kerosene.

Here's a summary on how to remove a stump with chemicals:

Cut off as much of the stump every bit possible with a chainsaw.
Drill 1-inch holes around the perimeter of the stump. Motility inward past almost iii or 4 inches and drill some more holes. Ideally, these holes should be betwixt eight-12 inches deep depending on the size of the stump.
Drill additional holes effectually the sides and then they meet with the other holes to create 45-degree angles.
Pour liberal amounts of potassium nitrate into the holes.
Make full the holes with water.
Wait four to six weeks or until the stump becomes very spongy.
Use an ax to break up the spongy stump.
Optional: Saturate the stump with fuel oil or kerosene and allow it to sit for some other week or so.
Optional: Ignite the stump and let it fire and smolder until it is completely gone.

Learn more nigh tree stump killer and chemical stump removal hither.

DIY Method #3: Burn a Tree Stump

Let's say you've chopped downwards a tree on your holding and cleaned upwardly all of the pieces except for that unsightly stump. Instead of trying methods that will either break your wallet or potentially interruption your dorsum, yous could also try removing the stump by burning information technology.

Summary of Stump-Called-for Directions

Drill a hole into the heart of the stump about eight to 10 inches deep.
Clean all of the debris out of the hole.
Continue drilling holes, leaving about one inch between each hole.
Scoop potassium nitrate into each hole.
Pour hot water into each hole.
Proceed pouring water into the holes until the potassium nitrate has dissolved.
Place the scrap forest on superlative of the stump.
Lite the scrap wood and wait for the stump to ignite.
Apply your shovel to break upwards any large roots or stump pieces that are left over.
Bring in soil to make full the hole every bit needed.

Acquire how to burn a tree stump hither.

DIY Method #four: Rot a Tree Stump

Very much the same as burning a tree stump, you tin as well remove a stump by rotting it and and then filling in the hole after the process is complete.

Summary of Directions on How to Rot a Stump

Drill holes into the stump eight to 10 inches deep.
Fill the holes total of your high-nitrogen substance.
Pour h2o into each hole.
Chip off pieces as the stump gradually softens.
Fill the hole with dirt as needed.

Acquire how to rot a tree stump here.

Disposing of Old Tree Stumps

It may not be easy to dispose of an especially large tree stump. The city may non choice information technology up along with the residual of your k waste. Contact your city to notice out whether information technology will be picked upward or not. If not, inquire if at that place are whatever additional options. In some places, local recycling centers will take large tree stumps.

If you accept several tree stumps to dispose of, it may be worth it to hire a woods chipper and then use the wood chips for various projects around the yard. If it's immune in your expanse, y'all may also be able to fire your old tree stumps. If you do this, be sure to cover them with bit wood first. If the stumps are especially large, it may have a long time for them to burn completely away.

Many companies will haul abroad old tree stumps for an additional fee or include it in the cost of the service, so make sure to enquire before you hire a stump removal company.

How to Use the Space

After removing a tree stump, fill up in the hole with topsoil, spread grass seed over the top, and so comprehend it with mulch hay. Water information technology well and monitor its progress. After grass has covered the spot, you lot tin use information technology however you run into fit. Even if yous choose to just continue the spot grassy and clear, you lot volition love how much better your k looks.

Conclusion

If y'all're going to remove one stump from your yard, you might likewise remove all of them. You can practice the job yourself, merely you should weigh the time, cost and effort that are involved carefully before doing and then. There's a expert take a chance that you'll have to buy or rent tools to become the job done, and so information technology may ultimately be best to let the professionals exercise it instead.