4 Ways to Remove Tree Stumps – wikiHow

Steps

Method 1

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Pull out the roots. Use a grub hoe to wrench the remaining embedded roots out of the ground to their very tips. If you need to make more cuts as you go, do so it will make pulling them out of the ground easier. Keep going until you've removed all of the major roots, then go back and pull out anything that's left.

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Fill in the hole. The final step is to fill up the hole with loam or sawdust. If you fail to do so, the ground around the hole will collapse and you'll have a large dent at that spot in your yard. As the loam or sawdust settles, the ground will sink in a bit, so you may need to keep adding material to the area every few months before the ground will stay flat.

Method 2

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Position it over the stump and start grinding. Following the manufacturer's instructions, position the stump grinder and turn it on. It will grind the stump's surface and work its way down into the ground to grind up the roots. You'll need to move the stump grinder around the circumference of the stump in order to take care of the aerial roots as well.

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Shovel out the grindings. The ground will repair itself more quickly if you remove the ground up wood. Shovel it out and put it in your compost pile or dispose of it in another way.

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Method 3

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Find out if it is legal to burn the stump. There may be restrictions in your area for open fires, especially if you live someplace with draught conditions. Before you begin, call the local fire department to make sure it's okay to burn your stump.

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Keep the fire burning. It will take several hours to burn the stump. Keep adding more wood so that the fire stays large and hot. Keep it burning for as long as it takes for the stump to alight and burn down to the ground.

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Shovel out the ash. After the stump has burned, shovel the ash out of the hole and discard it.

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Fill the hole. Replace the ash with loam or sawdust. Keep adding matter to the area when it sinks every few months.

Method 4

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Drill holes in the stump. Use a drill with a large bit to drill a series of holes in the top of the stump. The stump will absorb the chemicals through these holes, so make sure you space them evenly.

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Keep children and animals away from the stump. If the stump removal powder is ingested, it can cause harm to kids and pets, so make sure they don't go near it.

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Monitor the stump. It should begin to soften and rot within a few weeks. When you deem it to be soft enough to easily remove, it's time to finish the job.

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Chop it up. Use an ax or a shovel to chop up the softened stump. Remove pieces as you chop them away. Keep going until you've leveled the stump.

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Burn the rest. Build a fire over the remaining softened wood and let it burn all the way down. This way you'll remove what's left of the stump and its roots.

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Replace the ashes with loam. Dig out what's left after the fire has burned and discard it. Fill up the hole with loam or another filler, like sawdust. Keep adding more material over the next few months until the ground stays leveled.

How do I remove the little starter trees my plum trees created, along with the stumps?

wikiHow Contributor

If they aren't more than 1 to 2 inches thick, yank them out, or use a shovel to pull it out. The roots will decay. Saplings can be pulled by hand.

What are some consequences of leaving the stump in the ground?

wikiHow Contributor

It decays after a few years. Stumps can become nesting grounds for snakes and ants. If cut too low, stumps can damage lawnmower blades.

Is it possible to kill and decay a tree's roots prior to cutting the tree down? Could I drill holes into and around the base of the tree, pour in the chemical, and wait for the roots and lower trunk to soften, then remove the tree, the softened stump material and roots?

wikiHow Contributor

That doesn't sound like a good idea because you can't predict the point where the stump no longer has the strength to hold up the rest of the tree. Bad news for the car, house, or anything else close by.

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4 Ways to Remove Tree Stumps - wikiHow