Best way to remove a stump by hand
10 ways to remove a tree stump
Although cutting down a tree may seem like a big task, tree stump removal is usually the bigger issue, which is why it doesn’t tend to be included in the tree removal cost. So, here are six ways you could go about removing a tree stump:
Stump GrindingIf you’re looking to save time, hiring a stump grinder service might be a good idea. It may be the most expensive option, but the job will be completed faster. You can also rent a stump grinder, which often makes sense if you have multiple stumps to remove and you have the training and knowledge to use one safely.
Pulling or WinchingAlternatively, smaller tree stumps can be pulled out with a winch. These can be hired but require training and the knowledge to use them safely. For leverage it is necessary to leave a good-sized stub on the stump (up to 1.2m (4ft) high) rather than cutting it off at ground level.
ChainsawYou can remove a tree stump with just a chainsaw by simply digging around the stump, cutting it as low as possible. Then cut criss-cross slices into the stump 4-6 inches below ground level. Bear in mind that this can often damage or break your chain and won’t get rid of the stump completely.
Removing a tree stump by hand is a lot of work, but it saves a lot of money. To remove the stump by hand, simply dig out the soil from around the stump exposing the larger tree roots.
Depending on the size of the roots, use loppers, a pry bar and/or a hand saw to cut them into manageable pieces and pull what you can out of the ground, clearing away as much of the root system as possible.
After severing as many roots as possible you should be able to easily dislodge the stump. You may need to use the spade to dig underneath the stump and cut a few more roots under it before you can get it out. The stump once removed, can now be chopped up and added to your compost heap. Some roots will inevitably be left in the ground, but the majority should eventually rot down.
If you happen to have access to a mechanical mini excavator, it makes sense to use this.
BurningWe do not recommend burning down stumps in situ, as they are usually too wet to do this straight away. Other things to consider is the time it will take and if it is in a safe place to burn.
A fire pit can be the most practical and fun method. Just put a ring of rocks around the stump and you’ve got yourself a campfire to enjoy for the night. Each time you have a fire the stump will burn down more and more until it is completely gone.
If you’re looking for the safest burning method, using a burn barrel is probably your best option. Just get a metal drum and cut a hole in the bottom, side and top. Place it upside-down on the stump, add firewood to the barrel, and let it burn.
RottingFinally, you could just let the tree stump rot by simply bury it in compost and let it sit for a couple years. Hopefully over time the stump will have broken down enough to then remove it with either an axe or spade.
To find out more about our tree care services, including stump grinding, contact us at Hi-Line today.
How to Remove a Stump Without a Grinder
After you hire a commercial tree service to remove a tree, they can also remove the remaining stumps for an extra fee. Or, you can hire a different company to come in and do this work. But if you have felled the tree yourself, the task of removing the stump is left up to you—and it can be as difficult as removing the tree itself. You can hire a firm to come in with a large mechanical grinder to churn the stump into sawdust, but this can be expensive. Commercial stump removal can cost as much as $800 for a large stump or one in a tricky location. You could also rent a stump grinder for $150 to $400 per day, but getting this tool on-site and using it safely is no easy feat. But there are several methods that you can use to do this work without contractor costs or large equipment.
Equipment / Tools
Manual Method
- Digging bar
- Bow saws
- Shove
- Ax
- Steel-toed work boots
- Work gloves
- Mattock
Chemical Method
- Drill with large bit
- Chain saw
- Plastic tarp
Burning Method
- Drill and large bit
Materials
Chemical Method
- High-nitrogen garden fertilizer or potassium-nitrate tree stump removal granules
- Garden mulch
Burning Method
- Stump Out chemical
- Kerosene
Watch Now: How to Remove a Tree Stump Without a Grinder
When to Remove a Tree Stump
A tree stump can be removed at any time after the tree is felled, but manual removal is sometimes easier if the stump has aged and dried out somewhat.
If you have the ability to let the stump remain in place for a full year or even two, the dried wood may be easier to cut out than when working on a new stump that is still green. Chemical removal, however, should begin immediately after you remove the tree.
Before Getting Started
A small- to medium-sized stump can be removed by good old-fashioned muscle work. But larger stumps can involve so much work that it's not practical—unless you can drag it out of the earth with a chain attached to the back of a pickup. For larger stumps, use the chemical method instead. A useful tool for manual removal is a mattock, which has a broad end for digging and a sharpened end for slicing. Everyone has favorite tools to use, though, and the more various digging and cutting tools you have on hand, the better. For larger stumps, you may want to enlist the aid of a helper or two to speed the work.
For those who are not up to the physical effort, or have a tree stump is too large to remove by hand, there is an easier—though much slower—method.
All wood will eventually decay and rot away, and it is possible to speed up this process by keeping the stump moist and adding nitrogen in the form of a high-nitrogen fertilizer or potassium nitrate stump-removal granules. This is not an instant process—it can take a matter of months or even a year or so before a stump vanishes completely—but it is quite easy.
There is a tree stump removal product that comes in a powdered form, called "Stump-Out," which is designed to break down the wood fiber of stumps, leaving them porous. The porous wood then absorbs kerosene readily. After the porous wood is soaked with kerosene and ignited, it begins to burn away, and the fire soon becomes a low, smoldering flame. If the use of kerosene and flame is acceptable to you (and allowed in your community), this is another cheap and easy option to remove a tree stump.
Disposal of large tree stumps can be difficult. Contact your local waste disposal authorities for instructions on how and where to dispose of large garden waste items.
Safety Considerations
The Spruce
How to Remove a Tree Stump Manually
The Spruce / Ana Cadena-
Dig Down Around the Stump
Dig around the stump with the mattock's broad end. Once you have loosened the dirt in this fashion, shovel it out of your way. Be prepared to clear away a lot of soil. The bigger the stump, the more earth you'll be moving. This is necessary to gain access to all the roots that need cutting.
When digging out a stump by hand, a hose or pressure washer can be helpful to wash away dirt to expose roots as you dig downward.
The Spruce / Ana Cadena -
Sever Visible Roots
Use the other end of the mattock to start chopping your way through the tree roots. A bow saw can also be used to sever the roots as you uncover them.
-
Expose the Tap Root
Dig and chop your way under the root ball to the taproot. For all but the smallest of trees, taproots will be imposing enough to require cutting with an ax or large bow saw.
Clean excess dirt off the taproot with a wet rag before cutting. -
Sever the Tap Root
Chop through the taproot with your ax or with a bow saw. Be careful that the area is clear of people, pets, and objects before you start swinging the ax. Aim the ax carefully so that it does not strike dirt (which would dull the blade). Always wear steel-toed boots when wielding an ax.
Warning
It's best not to use an ax unless you have been educated in handling one properly. If you're not confident, try to use a bow saw for all your cutting. It may require more digging to expose the roots, but it will be safer.
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Extract the Stump
Pull the stump from the hole. This may require the use of ropes or chains, as well as the assistance of helpers or a vehicle to yank a large stump from the ground.
How to Remove a Tree Stump Chemically
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Cut Stump to Ground Level
Use a chain saw or bow saw to cut the stump down as close to the ground as you can, without allowing the chain saw's teeth to strike the ground (this will dull your chain).
Wear steel-toed boots for this part of the job. -
Drill Holes and Add Chemical
Drill holes a few inches deep into the stump in numerous places, using the biggest, widest drill bit you have. The wider and deeper the holes, the better.
Fill these holes first with water, then with a fertilizer high in nitrogen or stump-remover granules.
Warning
Potassium nitrate is considered a hazardous substance, so use caution when applying potassium nitrate stump-removal granules.
-
Water and Cover the Stump
Soak the ground all around the stump. Cover the stump with a plastic tarp. The tarp will act as a barrier to help retain moisture in and around the stump. Moisture is a powerful ally to have on your side for this project.
Apply an organic mulch over the plastic tarp, and water it thoroughly. An organic mulch such as tree bark or hay will hold additional moisture, keeping the area even wetter. Wet mulch is also heavy, which will help weigh the tarp down so that it doesn't blow away.
For additional weight, roll some heavy stones onto the tarp. The mulch also serves the purpose of hiding the tarp from public view. Covered with mulch, the tree stump will be invisible as it begins to rot away. You can even cover the mulched area with various planted pots and container gardens.
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Tend the Stump While It Decays
Over the coming weeks, periodically remove the mulch and tarp and apply more water and nitrogen to the stump, then cover it again. Some patience is required here, as it can still take quite some time for the stump to completely rot away. But it will be considerably faster than the decay process normally occurs in nature.
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Remove the Pieces
After four to six weeks, the stump may become soft and spongy enough to begin breaking it apart with an ax. Whatever wood cannot be broken up and removed should be treated again with water and nitrogen. At some point, you can bury what remains and let it complete the decay process underground.
How to Remove a Stump by Burning
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Drill Holes and Apply Chemical
Drill holes into the stump with a drill and a large bit. Apply Stump Out chemical granules, then fill the holes with water. Wait four to six weeks for the chemical to do its work.
The more porous the stump, the more kerosine will be absorbed and the longer it will burn.
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Soak With Kerosene
Slowly pour kerosene over the stump, taking care not to allow the fluid to run off and pool on the ground. Take your time to allow the kerosene to soak in. Never use gasoline or motor oil to burn a stump—gasoline is dangerously explosive, and motor oil creates toxic smoke when burning.
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Tend the Fire
Ignite the stump and observe it from a safe distance as it burns. Remember that the stump may continue to smolder underground for quite some time, so put up barricades to prevent people or animals from accidentally walking over the embers.
Warning
Check out local community ordinances regarding open burning before using this method. While it is generally allowed in rural areas, urban and suburban locations often do not allow open burning of stumps.
A Sample Contract for Tree Removal
When to Call a Professional
No matter what method you use, a tree stump of any appreciable size involves quite a bit of hard manual labor and often the use of potentially dangerous tools or materials. If, after reviewing these various methods, you have concerns about safety or the physical fitness required to do the work, it is best to call a professional removal service, who will have the tools and personnel to do this work quickly and safely.
It's very common for a homeowner who removes a stump themselves to then resolve to never, ever, do it again. The cost of professional stump removal often seems like a bargain to anyone who has ever tried to do it themselves.
8 ways to remove stumps.
✅ Blog SpilKursk.PRO - MAIN
- BLOG
from manual uprooting to chemical burning
Author: Goncharov Ivan Comments: 0 Reading time: 5 minutes
A stump in a garden plot can cause various problems: pests start growing in it, young shoots begin to grow, it interferes with the construction of new structures and simply takes up a lot of space. Because gardeners try remove the stump from the felled tree. There are different methods for removing stumps: mechanical or chemical. The former involve the use of manual force, tools or special equipment. Chemical methods are based on the application reagents that treat wood, as a result, the stump is destroyed, or completely burns out under the influence of fire. Each of the methods has its own characteristics and difficulties, so they need to be analyzed separately. nine0009
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Table of contents- Hand uprooting
- Stump crusher
- Fire burning
- Mushroom method
- Saltpeter destruction
- Stump salt nine0003 Decomposition by urea
- Iron or copper sulfate
Hand uprooting
Effortlessly and quickly destroy the stump from a sawn tree excavator.
But it is sometimes impossible to drive large-sized equipment to the site. A reasonable decision would be to contact a specialized company dealing with arboristry, in the arsenal of which there is a crusher, for example, SpilKursk.PRO But organizations in far from every region have such equipment, therefore, one has to look for a method, get rid of the stump yourself. nine0009
Uprooting stumps by hand is quite time consuming and requires preparation which involves clearing the ground. This can be done by digging the ground around the stump and its roots. Then remove the soil by discarding it in side. It remains to pull out the remains of the tree. There are several options for how to do this:
- Mechanically - saw off or cut off all lateral roots. The central root will remain, to separate which the stump must be turned and tilted in different directions so that it loosens well. nine0004
- Use winch - tie a rope around the trunk and roots, or pass it through specially drilled holes, and then gradually pull the tree debris out of the ground.
Cutting down a stump and uprooting it yourself is quite profitable, since such an approach does not require serious funding. During the day, using the manual method, they successfully get rid of several stumps on plot. But manual uprooting also has disadvantages, which are due to the laboriousness of the process, the need for additional assistants, the difficulties with digging a near-stem hole, and the remains of roots that interfere with construction. Although they remain with all methods, requiring additional uprooting. nine0009
Stump crusher
The crushing technique involves the use of a special unit - a pneumatic crusher. The essence of the method is that the stump is crushed into chips together with part of the root system to a depth of to 50 cm . Crusher differs in small dimensions, therefore it will easily pass to the site through the garden gate.
See how the stump removal process looks like with a stump crusher:
The method has many advantages:
- after crushing, only a pile of sawdust remains in place of the stump;
- crushing does not take much time - about 30 minutes are spent on the average stump;
- after the destruction of the hemp in this way, plants can be planted immediately in the vacant place;
- method is suitable even for large stumps over a meter in diameter.
nine0007 - Drill several deep holes in the stump.
- Pour kerosene, gasoline or coal lighter and other combustible liquid inside.
- Set fire to wood remains.
- If the stump is old, then the wood has already dried up, therefore it will quickly catch fire and burn out to the roots.
- Drill a few holes on the top and side of the stump.
- It is good to spill them with water and sow mushroom mycelium. Mushrooms and oyster mushrooms are best suited.
- Suitable planting material can be purchased from specialized stores, or you can make your own from freshly picked mushrooms. To do this, the caps are crushed and poured with water, then they mix well and pour the solution into holes made.
nine0004 - The best time for sowing mycelium is May-August.
- It is better to wrap the stump with moss and branches, moisten periodically.
- In just a few months, mushrooms will sprout on the stump.
- Many 30 cm holes of the largest possible diameter should be drilled in the remains of the sawn wood.
- Saltpeter is poured into the holes and well filled with warm water. nine0003 To speed up the process, it is better to cover the stump with plastic wrap.
- If you carry out the procedure in the spring, then by the onset of autumn, the saltpeter will completely saturate the stump and have time to decompose.
- If the stump from a fruit tree is up to 15 cm in diameter, then 1 kg of saltpeter is enough for backfilling. If it is thicker, and the wood is harder, then the amount of saltpeter must be increased.
- When the wood is completely saturated with the chemical, the stump is set on fire. nine0004
- Drill deeper holes in the stump on all sides.
- Fill them with table salt.
- Pour water over and cover with foil for a couple of years. nine0004
- Once the stump has turned to dust, it can be removed by hand without much difficulty.
- Drill more holes in the stump.
- Fill the holes with urea and fill with water.
- Cover the stump for efficient and more intensive decomposition with polyethylene.
- saltpeter of any origin is very flammable, explosive substance, which must be remembered when setting fire to the treated stump;
- you can’t even smoke next to the stump in the first three months after laying the reagents, since they emit combustible gases;
- vitriol in dry form is safe for people, but it is necessary to work with it only with gloves; nine0004
- When burning stumps, keep a fire extinguisher on hand, a garden watering container filled with water, in order to quickly extinguish a spreading flame if necessary.
- Is it easy to make trees on the site manually
- Special equipment and tools for removing stumps
- 6 Ways to remove stumps
- 1. Lom, crowbar and ax
- 2. Fire
- 3. Water
- 4. With crowbar and winch
- 5. Ammonium nitrate and urea
- 6. Salt for removing roots
- 7. With a wedge
- Difficult work
- Uprooting stumps with lateral roots
- Removal of thick roots
- Important points and precautions
- Who can carry out such work
- Removal of tree residues from dry ground
- Features of using a winch
- Features of work near buildings What weather is worth uprooting
- What can be done with the stump if it was not possible to remove it
- First, dig a trench around the stump, 1 meter deep.
- Remove the side branches of the roots with an axe.
- Bring a crowbar under the stump and loosen it from side to side.
- Cut off or saw off exposed lower shoots with a hacksaw.
- Remove the remains of the trunk from the pit by lifting it with a crowbar.
- Dig the ground around the remains of the old tree trunk, making a hole up to a meter deep.
- Drive a pin into the ground, stepping back 6-8 meters from the stump, leaving 10-12 cm visible. Then attach a winch to the protrusion of the pin, and connect the second end of the installation with a loop that must be thrown over the stump of the apple tree.
- Tighten the loop and begin to tighten the winch. In this case, the pin should firmly “sit” in the ground. If it is impossible to drive in a pin, then the winch can be attached to the trunk of a tree. nine0004
- After pulling out the stump, pull out the pin, placing a block under it. Pull out the pin with a crowbar. It will act as a lever.
- Using a hoist, move the uprooted tree stump to a free area.
- Dig a groove around the saw cut.
- Fill the furrow thickly with salt.
- Water. You can let the rain and snow dissolve the salt crystals.
- shovel;
- chainsaw;
- scrap;
- sledgehammer;
- any board with a section of 30-50 mm.
- removal of a stump with lateral roots; nine0004
- uprooting of a stump without removing the roots;
- removal of thick roots.
- First dig a hole around the removed bushes;
- Having reached the roots, dig them;
- Hook up the winch and pull out the snag along with the root.
Without a winch, you can pick up a crowbar. For small bushes, such uprooting is quite acceptable. - Draw a circle around the stump, the diameter of which should be about 10 times the diameter of the trunk, but not less than 1 meter. nine0004
- Dig up the upper and side roots from all sides so that a hole is formed under them, 15-20 cm deep.
- Insert a crowbar into the recess under the root, swing the old stump. If it moves at least 2–3 cm, then the horizontal and lateral roots have already been chopped off. If the stump has moved only a few mm, then it was not possible to remove the roots.
- Protective goggles and gloves must be worn when working with blue vitriol;
- When using fine salt for uprooting felled trees, it is better to wear goggles;
- If you try to destroy stumps with fire, then you need to dig a fire ditch around them, and put a fire extinguisher nearby;
- When working with chemicals, do not stand on the side where the wind is blowing.
You can inhale chemicals.
Among the minuses is the low crushing depth. A lawn is planted in the vacated place or a garden bed is equipped, even a garden path is laid. But for building a foundation or laying communication systems you will need to get rid of the root system completely, which is typical for other rooting methods.
Stump removal companies in the vast majority do not use any other removal methods other than manual uprooting and crushing, because. only these two methods can guarantee complete and rapid destruction of the stump. nine0009
Goncharov Ivan Arborist. Technical specialist at SpilKursk.PRO
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Fire burning
Free method how to get rid of a stump - burning out. It is focused on the use of open fire. But just burning the wood remains is not enough, you will also have to remove the root system, since it will interfere with further.
The burning method helps to remove the old stump without uprooting. But it is necessary to approach getting rid of the stump with fire wisely. nine0009
With this method, it is important to observe fire safety techniques so that the fire from the stump does not spread to summer cottages and does not cause a fire. For safety, it is worth pouring an earthen rampart around the pit so that the fire does not spread over the earth. The entire combustion process must be monitored, since the stump during smoldering can shoot strongly with long-lasting sparks, which can become a source of fire. For safety, you must prepare a fire extinguisher in advance and keep a hose nearby, connected to the water supply.
nine0009
This method is well suited for small old stumps (up to 50 cm in circumference and up to half a meter in height). Removing a large fresh stump with the help of fire will be problematic and expensive: you will have to kindle a fire more than once, and the cost of poured fuel can be equal to the cost of removal by crushing. The method also involves constant monitoring of the combustion process.
Mushroom method
nine0008 Another option how to remove the stump peacefully is to plant mycelium on it. It's easy to do:Mushroom picker will draw moisture from the stump season after season, loosening the wood. The average stump gives a tolerable crop of mushrooms for 6 years , and then turns into dust. Then the residues can be easily removed without involving special equipment or chemicals. nine0009
Saltpeter destruction
One of the universal methods to remove the stump chemically is the use of saltpeter. The essence of the technique is as follows:
Saltpeter burns well, which makes it easy to destroy even deep-growing roots. But the method also has a significant disadvantage. It will be possible to plant only flower crops on the site for several years, since the soil will not be suitable for vegetable crops. Therefore, this method is used when it is necessary to free up land for the construction of real estate.
See also: How to cut down a tree. 8 ways removal. nine0091
Stump Salt
Another interesting option for the destruction of stumps on the site is etching with salt.
Edible salt is a reagent substance that destroys wood remains. For the procedure you need:
A significant drawback of the technique - after the use of salt, the soil will become unsuitable for growing crops, whether it be flowers or vegetables. For horticulture, you will have to wait a couple of years for the reagent to wash out of the soil.
Degradation by urea
One of the oldest methods of getting rid of stumps is urea. This method is the most effective and harmless, the substance is used to protect against pests and fertilizer, therefore it will not cause damage to crops. any harm. The reagent is absorbed into the wood species and destroys them from the inside. How to remove a stump with saltpeter:
Urea is not as harmful as other methods. After it, there are no salts and nitrates that pollute the soil. Decomposition begins quite quickly, and after a year or two, all the remains will rot, and on fertile land will remain in the cleared area. The method has one drawback - slow decomposition, which can stretch for 2-3 years .
See also: How to legally cut down a tree.
Iron or copper sulfate
These reagents are aggressive and are used as intended for root disinfection. They kill any bacteria. Chemicals are introduced into drilled holes 5-10 cm deep and 5-8 mm in diameter. Reagents must not be used near metal pipes due to increased metal corrosion. The concentration of vitriol in 3-5 meters the radius around the stump is so high that nothing will grow here, and if and it will be extremely bad.
If the roots are uprooted after the decomposition of the stump, then in a couple of years the increased amount of these substances will be reduced to the optimum and the soil will return to normal. If the roots are burned, the soil will remain unsuitable for planting. plants more more than 10 years .
Safety measures
nine0008 When using any substances, always remember safety:
It is not recommended to use glyphosate-based reagents (Santi, Typhoon, etc.), which do not decompose in the soil themselves, but get into plants and their fruits, which is dangerous for people.
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Author
Goncharov Ivan
Arborist. Forest feller of the sixth category. Technical specialist in the organization SpilKursk.PRO, which provides services for the care of green spaces.
See also:
How to cut a tree correctly
How to cut down a tree by professional arborists.
All about legal tree felling
Where to go and how not to get fined.
How to prune fruit trees
Professional gardener's advice.
7 ways to remove stumps by hand
When it comes time to renew plantings in the garden or build country houses, the old plants are cut down. The remaining stumps interfere with the planting of new seedlings, and also make it impossible to start building houses, verandas, gazebos, or simply rise ugly in the country.
Cutting down a bush that interferes is not difficult, but how to uproot a stump? nine0009
Content
Is it easy to uproot trees on the site manually
Uprooting stumps is not an easy task, especially in a small area of the site.
It is impossible to use a special technique, so you need to look for ways to uproot the stump yourself. Using improvised means, with a little effort, you can easily clear the site of old snags.
There are two ways to remove stumps - chemical and physical. The chemical method is to remove the stump without uprooting. In this case, you will have to use chemicals to turn the skeleton of the tree into dust. nine0009
How to physically uproot trees? Take an axe, saw and shovel and start the removal process. It will not work quickly, so you have to work hard. But there are special tools with which you can uproot all the snags.
Special equipment and tools for stump removal
To remove a large snag on the site, you need to use special tools: milling cutter, crusher, uprooter, hand winch, chainsaw.
How to remove a stump using tools? If you invite professionals, they will quickly remove the stump with a crushing plant. This method can be applied if there are no buildings on the garden plot yet, because the crushing machine must be delivered and placed.
On a site free from buildings, lawns and flower beds, you can call masters with earthmoving equipment and quickly solve the problem. The uprooter will clean the site without leaving roots, but it needs a lot of free space to place it. nine0009
If the territory is landscaped, it is more convenient to uproot trees with a cutter. The cutter is able to crush the stump to a depth of 20-30 centimeters. Using this tool, you can be calm for the safety of the landscape of the site.
But this service is too expensive. The calculation of the cost for the removal of tree roots is per centimeter.
Another option is to simply take a chainsaw, remove the tree and cut the stump flush with the ground. But the remaining roots will interfere with the development of the site. Here you will not break the lawn, you will not make a garden bed. The stump on the site will interfere for a long time, spoiling the beautiful view. nine0009
Wood cut can be crushed with a crowbar and an ax, covered with earth, and wait for it to rot.
6 ways to manually remove stumps
To uproot a stump without using special tools, you can use the following methods: uprooting by hand, burning with fire, flooding with water and exposure to chemicals.
1. Shovel, crowbar and ax
This is the cheapest way to remove the stump by hand. A small stump can be uprooted using a shovel, an ax and a crowbar. nine0009
Dig the rhizome from all sides with a shovel, chop off the roots with an ax, and pry off the snag with a crowbar and pull it out. Manually, you can remove stumps of about 30 cm in diameter. For the remains of trees of a larger diameter, another uprooting will be needed.
2. With fire
You can uproot a stump in the garden with your own hands much faster if you burn it with fire. To destroy the stump with fire, it is also drilled in several places. Or, using a chainsaw, make a deep cut from above in the form of a cross. nine0009
Kerosene is poured into the cut or hole, the wood is allowed to soak and set on fire.
If there are a lot of stumps on the site, then this dangerous method is better not to use.
A safer method is to cover the stump with grass, leaves, dry branches and always throw in new material. When it starts to rot, the stump will also rot. But this process is very long, and you always want to quickly get rid of the roots of trees on the site.
3. Water
A cut down tree with overgrown roots is very disturbing. Roots can give new shoots that will break through any obstacle in their path. How to get rid of a stump with lateral roots? nine0009
A series of actions will help get rid of the roots:
To provide better access to the roots of felled trees, they are watered with a hard hose or high pressure washer. The exposed shoots are chopped off with a shovel. nine0009
If the growth from a sawn bush reappears, then it can be watered with a strong saline solution or hot tea brewing. Water until the sprouts can be removed.
4. With a crowbar and a winch
Each garden plot has different varieties of apple trees. No matter how long their life span is, they age over time, and they have to be replaced with new ones. A winch and a crowbar will help get rid of old landings.
How to uproot an apple tree if other apple trees grow nearby? In this case, you can’t bring equipment, so you have to work with your own hands. If the trees are large, then it is better to adapt the winch with a force of 3-6 tons and uproot the rest of the trunk. nine0009
What needs to be done to remove a stump with a winch?
If you will attach the winch to a tree on the site, then take a wide belt made of nylon or leather.
Important! Attach the winch to the tree as close to the ground as possible, and position the loop on the stump as high as possible. So it will be possible to uproot the old apple tree.
Hooking the belt on a live apple tree, check if you have damaged the bark or moved its roots? After completing the work, water it abundantly.
5. Ammonium nitrate and urea
If planting is not planned on the site, then chemical methods of root removal are quite acceptable. If the snag is large enough that it cannot be dug up, then chemical methods can be applied.
Ammonium nitrate works well. Saltpeter is used in small quantities as a fertilizer. And in large doses, it is the strongest poison. nine0009
How to use this chemical correctly? So that he can destroy the stump, first deep holes must be drilled in the snag, at least 50 centimeters deep. Then pour saltpeter into them, pour water, wrap it with a film so that air does not break through.
When the sawn tree is not in the way, the chemical can simply be sprinkled around the saw cut and sprinkled with water. Saltpeter will be absorbed, get to the roots, and they will begin to decompose.
If there is one small stump with a diameter of 15 cm in the summer cottage, then 4-5 holes should be made in its trunk to a depth of 30 cm, and about 2 kg of saltpeter should be poured. The roots will rot in a year, but the earth will remain poisoned for many years. nine0009
This method must not be used on peaty soils as fire may break out.
Here it is better to get rid of saw cut with urea. The procedure is the same. Urea will not spoil the soil, but it will be necessary to keep the tree in a wrapped film for at least 2 years. Herbicides, copper sulfate are used in the same way.
6. Root removal salt
It is not uncommon to cut small trees in the area by sawing, and then deal with stumps. In order not to harm the soil, experienced gardeners pour hemp of cut trees with a strong salt solution. An affordable method for eliminating tree roots with salt was used by our ancestors. nine0009
How to destroy an old stump with salt:
7. Using a wedge
What you need:
Complete removal of the stump requires digging to expose the thick lateral roots. Using a chainsaw, you need to saw through the visible main branches of the roots and cut the stump lengthwise crosswise, as long as the length of the bar allows. nine0009
Then you need to make wedges from the board. When inserting wedges into the cuts in the stump, you need to drive them with a sledgehammer. As they dive, they will split the tree. Feeling that any part of the stump has already completely broken off, it must be pulled out with a crowbar.
Difficult work
If it is not possible to use the equipment, then you can get rid of the skeletons yourself.
What works can be done without equipment:
Uprooting stumps with lateral roots
In most trees, the roots grow almost to the diameter of the crown. To free the site from all the roots is not an easy task. Uprooting stumps without removing the roots is possible if the burning method is used, with the help of chemicals or a winch.
How to get rid of tree roots in a summer cottage where there are no buildings yet? In the absence of buildings, you can install a winch and pull out any roots. nine0009
Stumps with shallow roots can be uprooted as follows:
Roots may also remain outside the dug hole. How to remove them correctly? Over time, they will rot on their own, but this will take 15-20 years. It is better to uproot such roots with a crowbar or a winch, because they can germinate and interfere with construction work in this area. nine0009
Elimination of thick roots
If you come across a site with centuries-old trees, then you will not be able to get rid of them with one cut. Very thick roots will remain deep in the soil.
How to uproot trees? You can get rid of the stump with a hand winch.
First you need to drill holes. Then thread the winch cable through the drilled holes, and pull the stump out of the ground.
Proceed as follows:
One can hope that there will be no shoots from stumps without thick roots, and no shoots will appear on the summer cottage. But there are exceptions. Therefore, it is necessary to cut down the main vertical root, and then burn out everything that remains in the ground. nine0009
Cut the main root close to the ground.
If it was not possible to cut it, then use a crowbar to tilt the snag and cut it with an ax from the side of the bend.
If you managed to cut the main root, then start digging in the lower row of lateral processes and chop them away from the root. Then insert a crowbar under them and turn the stump out of the ground.
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Who can carry out such work
If a tree or several trees have rotted in front of the house, they can fall on the house, causing great trouble. In this case, you need to contact the appropriate organization that provides tree cutting services. It is in every locality. nine0009
You need to write an application to the organization and get permission.
Do not do this work yourself. Specialists will be able to cut and uproot stumps professionally, legally, and then take out the uprooted trees.
Removing tree residue from dry ground
If you need to uproot a tree that has grown in dry ground, you can use any uprooting method, listening to the recommendations of professionals.
What to do if the roots are in dry soil. The instructions advise to proceed as follows: to remove a stump from dry soil, water the soil around it 2 times a week, 2-3 buckets of water for a whole month. nine0009
Moisture that has penetrated to the very roots will make the soil soft, more pliable for rooting.
To better soften the soil and tree roots, make 10–15 holes 20 cm deep around the stump with a pickaxe or crowbar. Then get rid of the roots with a crowbar or winch.
Features of the winch
The main feature of the winch is that it quickly removes high stumps. If you plan to use this uprooting method, then do not cut the tree down to the ground. Leave a trunk up to 1 meter high. nine0009
Another feature of removing tree snags with a winch is to tie a rope around the snag you want to get rid of as high as possible.
After tying with a rope, a beam or a metal pipe is placed under it (from the side of the winch). These preparations are needed in order to create tension in the rope between the cut tree and the support.
Features of work carried out near buildings
If you need to destroy a snag that is located close to a building, then the correct method of uprooting is a chemical method, because manual removal can lead to soil movement.
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As a result, cracks or voids may appear in the foundation. Voids can freeze, then expand, causing walls to crack.
In what weather is it worth uprooting the remains of trees
Uprooting the stumps of sawn bushes is recommended only in dry and calm weather. It is especially dangerous to work in the rain. You can slip and get injured.
Do not work on a windy day - the smallest sawdust or dust can fly into your eyes. Do not work at night - with an ax or a shovel, you can cause serious injury to yourself or an assistant. nine0009
What can be done with a stump if it was not possible to remove it
An uprooted stump can be simply removed from the site, or you can make beautiful crafts, for example, garden furniture - a chair, an armchair, a bench.
Creative gardeners can make a bird and animal feeder. The feeder will attract birds, and they will not peck at cherries and other berries in your area.
The stump will be the decoration of the site, on which other plants will be grown.
You can simply destroy it, or you can turn an old stump into a fairy tale by making a rutary.
Rutarium is a decorative composition of stumps and tree roots.
In order not to uproot the driftwood, you can simply create a flower bed. This style is getting more and more popular. After all, a unique creation is created with their own hands.
If it is not possible to manually remove huge stumps, then you can scatter mycelium on them. Mushrooms grown on stump will feed on wood until it is “eaten”. This may take 6 years. Within 6 years, mushroom dishes will appear on your table. nine0009
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Do you have to uproot an old stump? Choose any of the ways to remove it or turn it into a beautiful corner of the garden.
