Remove tree stumps yourself
How To Kill a Tree Stump
From home remedies to professional solutions, here’s everything you need to know about getting rid of a tree stump in your yard.
Reviews by This Old House Reviews Team 10/05/2022 2:05 pm
Cutting down trees in your yard is a great way to improve the natural lighting for other plants and make way for new trees to grow. If you’ve removed a tree in your yard, you know how pesky its leftover stump can be.
While you could leave it alone, it could start to grow, sprouting annoying shoots from its roots, or it may take years to naturally rot and decompose. Try the following techniques to kill the tree stump and remove it from your yard or find a tree removal expert to take care of it for you.
Home Remedies for Tree Stump Removal
Here are a few ways you can get rid of a tree stump before getting your hands dirty with physical removal.
Epsom Salt
This is a common DIY method for killing tree trunks, as it accelerates the decomposition process to 6–12 months, as opposed to three to seven years for natural rotting. Epsom salt contains magnesium and sulfur, which are beneficial to plants but deadly in large quantities. Overdosing the stump with Epsom salt pulls the moisture out of it, killing it and accelerating the decaying process.
Here’s how to use Epsom salt to kill a tree stump:
- Drill deep holes in the stump about an inch wide with a power drill and a wide drill bit.
- Sprinkle the stump with water after covering the top of the stump with Epsom salt.
- Cover the stump with a tarp to keep the rain from washing away the substance.
- Repeat this process every few weeks to ensure its success.
If this process is successful, the stump will die within two to three months and be close to full decay after a year. This is a great solution for homeowners who want a slower, natural approach to killing their tree stump.
Rock Salt
Similar to Epsom salt, rock salt can help kill and decay a stump with minimal effort. Here’s how to kill a tree stump with rock salt:
- Drill holes into the stump.
- Pack the holes with rock salt.
- After all of the holes are packed and the stump is covered in salt, pour soil and mulch over the stump.
- Then, pour water over the mulch—this will dissolve the salt, help the roots absorb the solution, and pack the soil.
Keep watering the stump every few days for one to two months to keep the stump moist with the saltwater solution, promoting absorption and the growth of fungi that can accelerate the stump’s decomposition. You can also add a potassium nitrate fertilizer to further support the growing fungi.
Plastic Bag or Tarp
Perhaps the easiest method to kill a tree stump is forcing darkness on it. Without sunlight, the tree stump will die, accelerating the decomposition process. Rotting should start to take place in two to three months.
Here’s how to kill a tree stump with a plastic bag or tarp:
- Similar to other methods, cut the stump as close to the roots as possible with a chainsaw, hatchet, or handsaw.
- Cover the stump with a black trash bag.
- Weigh the bag down with heavy rocks or bricks. For a smaller stump, use a dark-colored bucket or container to cover the stump.
This technique requires little to no effort, but it can be slower compared with the physical removal methods.
Boiling Water
You don’t need to purchase any substance or solution to try this remedy—all you need is hot water.
- Expose as much of the stump’s root structure as possible.
- Drill holes into the roots and on top of the stump—this will help the scalding water reach as much of the root system as possible and kill the roots with heat.
- Once all the roots are exposed, pour boiling water over them. The heat from the water will shock the root system, severely damaging it and killing it.
Once the stump and roots are dead, the natural decomposition process can begin.
Techniques To Physically Remove a Tree Stump
If you have the time and resources to use physical methods to kill and remove your tree stump, consider the following techniques.
Compared to home remedies, they are much quicker but take a bit more effort, tools, and money to perform.
Use Fire To Kill a Tree Stump
Use some kindling or kerosene to burn the stump so that it doesn’t protrude from the ground. This method will kill the tree, but it won’t completely get rid of the tree roots and stump. Keep in mind that this may not be an option if you live in an area with a dry climate that’s prone to wildfires. Check with your local fire department to see if burning a tree stump falls in line with the local fire code.
Once you have approval to burn your tree stump, there are a few ways you can move forward. You can drill holes into the trunk, pour kerosene into each hole, light scrap wood on the surface of the stump, and carefully monitor the wood as it burns. This method is slower, but it burns the wood from deeper within the stump.
You can also cut criss-cross lines in the wood that are about five to six inches deep with a chainsaw, then simply light some kindling on top and monitor the stump until it’s burned down below ground level.
Dig the Tree Stump Out of the Ground
Digging out a tree stump is one way to remove it from your yard, but it can require time-consuming work that can be potentially destructive to your yard or garden. This method allows you to remove as many tree roots as possible and ensure that the stump doesn’t continue to grow. To save time and effort, consider hiring a professional with digging equipment to handle the job.
Here’s how to dig a tree stump out of the ground:
- Dig around the stump, exposing as many roots as possible.
- Use a chainsaw, hatchet, or handsaw to cut the larger roots. As you continue digging, you may find smaller roots that can be cut with clippers or loppers.
- Once you’ve cut all of the roots around the stump, lift and remove the stump from the ground.
- Fill the hole with dirt and cover it with topsoil or mulch.
Note: This process can take multiple hours of labor, depending on the size of the tree stump and the root structure.
Free Quote: Get your free quote on professional stump removal today
Grinding the Tree Stump
This is the quickest method for killing and removing tree stumps. It involves hiring a tree removal specialist or renting a stump grinder machine to break apart the wood in the trunk and tree roots. Typical prices for this job are around $100–$400. Stump grinder machine rental costs typically fall between $80 and $150 for a four-hour window.
To grind a tree stump, start by trimming the stump with a chainsaw, digging around it and removing any rocks. Then, use the machine’s cutter blade to chip away at the wood and cut any roots that are connected to the stump. This process can take anywhere from two to six hours depending on the size of the stump. Once you’re finished, spread dirt in and over the hole, adding topsoil or mulch if desired.
What To Avoid When Killing Tree Stumps
Here are a few factors to consider when removing or killing tree stumps to ensure safety and effectiveness:
- Bleach—Bleach can be used to kill a stump when poured over it in high quantities, but we recommend avoiding this method since it can be detrimental to the surrounding plants.
It would be much healthier for the environment of your yard to use a more natural method like Epsom salt, as this can be beneficial to plants and soil. - Diesel fuel—Avoid using diesel fuel or gasoline to burn tree trunks, since these solutions don’t offer a slow, effective burn needed to properly break down the wood. Diesel fuel and gasoline can also be toxic for the surrounding plants in your yard. Instead, we suggest using minimal amounts of kerosene and kindling wood for your stump fires.
- Potential dangers—Even if your city allows for burning a stump, monitor and maintain the fire until it’s finished burning to keep it from spreading beyond the controlled area. You should also take safety precautions when using tree removal equipment, such as a chainsaw or stump grinder, and wear the proper protective gear.
- Proximity to other plants—If your stump is located near plants that you wish to protect, be careful when adding chemicals to the stump and keep them off any surrounding plants.
For example, even though the magnesium sulfate in Epsom salt can be good for plants, too much of it can dry them out.
The Bottom Line
If you’re trying to remove a tree stump from your yard, try one of the above methods. While we recommend the DIY techniques if you’re not in a hurry, renting a machine or hiring a professional to help grind the stump is the fastest solution.
Free Quote: Get your free quote on professional stump removal today
Enter your ZIP code into the tool below to find tree removal experts in your area that can help you get rid of your pesky stump.
Frequently Asked Questions
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5 Drill Bit Kits We Think Every DIYer Should Have
There’s no such thing as a drill bit style that does it all. Different tasks call for different types of drills. Here are five of the types you should have on hand to tackle every “hole-creation process.
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Twist Bits
The one basic drill set everyone should have first is a high-end twist bit index. The vast percentage of the time, you’ll be chucking in a twist bit when drilling holes up to 1/2 in. in just about any material you can think of. Unless you’re a machinist, you won’t need an index with dozens of bits. A basic 21-bit set will do the job. The more you spend, the tougher the bit and the longer it’ll hold an edge.
Most of the holes you drill in metal require twist bits. Here are 12 great tips for that job.
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Forstner Bits
If you do cabinet or furniture building, a set of Forstner bits are must-have drills. They bore an incredibly clean, perfect hole every time with no tear-out at the surface. And they’re the only drill that leaves a perfectly flat bottom if you’re drilling a hole that needs to end partially through the wood.
A drill press is an easy way to drill perfect holes every time. But drill presses are set up for metal work, not woodworking. Here’s how to convert your drill press for that type of work.
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Masonry Bits
There’s only one way to drill holes in masonry, be it concrete, brick, tile or cinder blocks. That calls for masonry bits. Just like every other drill bit you can buy, the more you spend, the longer they’ll last. One other little expense you’ll have, though, you won’t have much success using an ordinary drill motor, you’ll need a hammer drill for sure.
If you’re wondering about hammer drills, read this.
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Brad Point Bits
Just like Forstner bits, brad points are a favorite of serious woodworkers. The sharp “brad” tip ensures perfectly placed holes exactly where you want them.
And just like Forstner bits, there’s little or no tear-out.
Some projects cry out for dowels and brad point bits are the best way to drill them. This bench project is one of those projects.
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Spade Bits
Spade bits (AKA paddle bits) drill lots of holes up to 1-1/2 inches wide really fast, really cheap. Don’t expect clean, un-splintered entry and exit holes, though. These are for utility work like drilling holes to run wires through framing.
Drill motors can do more than drill holes. Here are some specialty accessories you should know about.
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Every product is independently selected by our editors. If you buy something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Originally Published: March 20, 2021
✅ How to uproot a stump by yourself
How to uproot a stump by yourself
How to uproot a stump by yourself earth-sweeper
How to uproot a stump yourself
Self-removal of stumps on the site can be carried out by 2 methods: chemical and mechanical.
The first is the destruction of wood from the inside by various means that are freely available in stores. The physical method involves cutting off the roots and pulling out the stump. The second method is preferred for a number of reasons.
To destroy a tree from the inside, one of two substances is used:
- a solution of potassium or sodium nitrate. In the middle of the stump, a wide hole is drilled into which the substance is poured. From above, the notch is covered with a film so that it is not washed away by rains and not inflated by the wind. After a few weeks, the wood will be saturated with saltpeter, and it will be possible to set it on fire. Even the roots located underground will burn out. The method is not applicable on peat soils, since their underground burning may begin, which is almost impossible to stop;
- coarse salt. If you sprinkle a tree frame with it every day, then in a year it will rot. But this method can only be used to clear the site for construction, as the land will also suffer.
It is undesirable to use chemical methods of uprooting stumps in areas that are planned to be used for agricultural activities. In addition, they require too much time.
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Stumps are mechanically removed in several steps:
- Exploration - the search for the largest roots. A lot of water is poured around the object of removal so that the soil becomes soft. After that, a metal pin 400–500 mm long is taken, and the largest roots are “palpated” with it.
- Excavation and cutting. It is necessary to dig out the found roots so that they can be reached with a hacksaw or saw, and then separate them from the trunk. An ax cannot be used - the wood is elastic, and there is no good stop.
- Stump of the central root. To get to it, you need to tilt the stump with a lever or winch.
If there are more than three stumps on the site or the stump diameter is more than 200 mm, it is better to entrust the work to professionals.
Also, do not get down to business if you need to prepare a site for the foundation. The described methods assume that the earth will be excavated for agricultural needs - this requires about half a meter in depth. If it is planned to place a house on the site, it is necessary to remove the root system more thoroughly.
Professionals use special equipment. It allows you to remove stumps quickly and efficiently. The following units are used in the work:
- tractors. With a tractor bucket, it is possible to remove a lot of stumps in a few hours, taking into account the preparatory work. Its use is expedient in large areas;
- shredders. There are two types of equipment: drills and saws. The first ones drill the stump deep, leaving only the root system from it, which will rot itself over time, and when dug up it will not create many problems. Saws allow you to turn the top of the stump into sawdust, raze it to the ground.
Here you can see the current prices for uprooting stumps.
8 ways to remove stumps. ✅ Blog SpilKursk.PRO
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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.
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Table of contents- Hand uprooting
- Stump crusher
- Fire burning
- Mushroom method
- Saltpeter destruction
- Stump salt
- 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 such equipment is not available to organizations in every region, therefore, one has to look for a method get rid of the stump yourself.
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.
- 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.
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.
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.
Goncharov Ivan Arborist. Technical specialist at SpilKursk.PRO
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Employees of the SpilKursk.PRO company will help to remove the stump without a trace!
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Fire burn
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; the root system will also have to be removed, 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.
- Drill a few deep holes in the stump.
- Pour kerosene, gasoline or charcoal 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.
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.
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 spilled fuel can be equal to the cost of removal by crushing. The method also involves constant monitoring of the combustion process.
Mushroom method
Another option how to remove a stump peacefully is to plant a mycelium on it. It's easy to do:
- Drill a few holes at 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.
- The best time for sowing mycelium is May-August.
- It is better to wrap the stump with moss and branches, moisten periodically.
- Mushrooms will sprout on the stump in a few months.
Mushroom picker will draw moisture from the stump season after season, loosening the wood. The average stump gives a tolerable harvest of mushrooms for 6 years , and then turns into dust. Then the residues can be easily removed without involving special equipment or chemicals.
Saltpeter destruction
One of the universal methods to remove stump chemically is the use of saltpeter. The essence of the technique is as follows:
- 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.
- 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.
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.
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:
- 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.
- Once the stump has turned to dust, it can be removed by hand without much difficulty.
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:
- 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.
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 over 10 years .
Safety measures
When using any substances, always remember safety precautions:
- 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;
- 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.
It is not recommended to use glyphosate-based reagents (Santi, Typhoon, etc.), which themselves do not decompose in the soil, but get into plants and their fruits, which is dangerous for people.
