How to Perform Tree Stump Removal
Epsom Salt
Epsom Salt is an incredible way for do it yourselfers for decaying tree stumps. It speeds up the decomposition process to less than a year. Typically tree stumps take at least five years to decay naturally. To use epsom salt to kill a tree stump, mix it with water. Drill at least a dozen holes 1 inch wide and at least 10 inches deep. Pour the mixture into the holes and cover with a tarp to prevent the mixture from washing away. Repeat this once a month until the stump is gone.
Forced Darkness
We recommend this method if you are looking for a low effort and inexpensive way to speed up the process of decaying your tree stumps. Tree stumps need light to continue to grow. Covering them with an opaque material will prevent sunlight, inhibiting any new growth. After six months it will have killed the stump, after this the natural rot will start.
Rock Salt
Rock salt is similar to table salt, but much less refined and comes in large chunks. The rock salt method is similar to using Epsom salt to kill a tree stump. To use rock salt to kill a tree stump, start by drilling holes into the tree stump. Then, pack the holes with rock salt and cover the stump with rock salt. Add a thick layer of soil and mulch on top of the stump, then pour water on top of the soil and mulch layer. The water will help the rock salt dissolve and encourage fungi growth, accelerating the tree stump’s decay. For this method, continue watering the stump every couple of days for the first month or two to keep the tree stump damp and ideal for fungus growth.
Physical Tree Stump Removal
Burning
Burning is a quick and cost effective way of getting rid of a stump in your yard. However this is not recommended it can be a very dangerous approach and even illegal in some areas. Make sure to check with your county and to have a water hose handy as you burn your stump.
If you choose to burn your stump, start by clearing any flammable material around it. Drill at least 12 inch deep holes at least two inches wide. Pour kerosene inside the holes, then build a fire on top of the stump. Light the fire and continue to feed it until the stump is completely burned up and turned to ash. Remove the ash and fill with dirt. The fire needs to be monitored the entire time so as not to allow the fire to spread.
Digging
Digging a tree stump out is effective, but either expensive or incredibly laborious. It will also make quite a mess of your yard and or garden.
When you dig out a tree stump, you’ll also need to remove the roots. Dig around the stump and find as many roots a possible and cut them off or use loppers to remove as much as possible. After this you should be able to lift the stump out of the ground and fill the hole in with dirt.
We recommend either renting an excavator or hiring a professional, as to do this by hand will be incredibly time consuming and back breaking.
Stump Grinding
Of all of the methods this is the most efficient and effective. You will need to rent a stump grinder or hire a professional. If you choose to grind the stump yourself, make sure to trim the stump as low as possible to the ground, this will make the grinding much easier. Use a shovel to make sure there are no rocks around the stump, it will stop the stump grinder dead in its tracks. Next use the stump grinder to wear the stump down and chop any roots that are connected to the stump. You will be left with a huge pile of mulch in it’s place.
We recommend hiring a professional, as most of the stump grinders available for rent cost several hundred dollars for a day and are not very powerful. Not to mention that you have transport it. It is recommended that you call a professional for cost and ease.
