Stump removal can be hard, unless you know what you are doing.
Your children are running around the backyard playing when one of them trips over a tree stump. Luckily, the child is okay other than a scraped knee.
Tree stumps are more than a falling hazard. They’ll attract insects when they begin to rot, and the roots can destroy your pipelines.
Having a huge stump in your otherwise gorgeous yard can also ruin your curb appeal. That’s why it’s important to get rid of it as soon as you can.
You can call in the professionals to handle it or learn how to remove a stump yourself. Keep reading for instructions on what it takes to handle the latter.
Remove it Manually
Stump removal can be a difficult task, no matter which method you use. This one is the most grueling, however. It takes a lot of manual labor and time to pull it out of the ground.
It can take up to twelve hours to get the job done. The good news is that this is one of the fastest ways to get rid of the offending stump, and once you’re done, it will be out of your hair for good.
To remove the stump manually, you’re going to need a bow saw, digging bar, mattock, and an ax. On top of having the right tools, also pick up safety gear such as eyewear, boots, and work gloves.
Instructions
Before getting started, it’s important to note that this method is best for small and medium-sized stumps. If you’ve got a large one on your hands, you’ll have to grind the stump down a bit first. We’ll get into how to do go about that a little later.
For now, let’s move on to the manual removal instructions. First, grab your mattock and use the broad end to dig away at the dirt around the stump. Get a shovel and remove the dirt that you loosened up.
When you’re done, you should be able to see the roots of the tree. Chop the roots with your mattock tool. Keep this process up until you find the tree’s taproot.
If you’re not sure what the taproot looks like, it’s a thick root that taps deeply into the soil. When you find it, you’ll have to use your ax or bone saw to chop through it.
Once you finally get through the root, you should be able to use the digging bar to wiggle the stump out of the ground. This process can take hours.
Use Chemicals
How much does it cost to remove a stump? The answer is quite a bit unless you go with the chemical method. If you already have all the tools on hand, you can finish the job for about 20 bucks.
The biggest issue with using chemicals is that it’s a slow process because you’re rotting the stump from the inside out. It can take well over a year if you’re trying to get rid of a large one.
You’re going to be poking holes in the top of the stump, so you’ll still need power tools. Pick up a drill, chain saw, garden mulch, a plastic tarp, potassium nitrate, and a trusty ax.
Since you’re working with a chain saw, you’ve got to have safety goggles to protect your eyes. Don’t forget your work gloves and steel-toed boots as well.
Instructions
Take your chain saw and cut off as much of the tree stump that’s protruding out of the ground as you can. Next, grab a drill and poke holes into the top of the stump.
Place the holes closely together and go as deep down as you can with the drill. Put your tool to the side and fill the holes up with water followed by the potassium nitrate.
Soak the ground around the stump with water and cover it with the tarp. This will help hold in moisture and speed up the rotting process.
You can retain even more moisture by covering the sides of the tarp with mulch and soak it with water. After a few months (sometimes longer) the stomp will become spongy enough for you to chip it away with an ax.
Use a Stomp Grinder
If you’re dealing with a huge stomp, you can get rid of it by using a grinder. It’s possible to rent them for about 200 dollars. You’ll also need a few additional tools.
While you’re at the home improvement store, pick up a rake, chainsaw, shovel, and mattock.
Instructions
First things first, get rid of any rocks and debris from around the stomp. If you don’t, the grinder may throw the rocks back at you, which can be dangerous.
Use the chainsaw to cut the stump down to ground level. Place the grinder wheel a few inches above the stump. Turn the device on and lower it down.
As you lower the device down, move the lever from side to side. Once the stump is four inches into the ground, fill the hole up using woodchips. You can then cover the wood chips with topsoil and start a garden over the area if you want.
Ask for Outside Help
As you can see, no matter what removal method you use, it’s labor-intensive and a little dangerous. If you don’t feel comfortable doing the job yourself, don’t be afraid to call in someone who can remove a stump for you.
Most professionals charge around 60-300 dollars to remove a stump. If you need to get a tree cut down, many companies will get rid of the leftover trunk for an extra charge.
How to Remove a Stump on Your Own
Learning how to remove a stump is important to keep your yard safe and insect-free. While it’s not difficult to handle the job, it’s labor-intensive, and working with tools and chemicals can be dangerous.
If you don’t feel comfortable handling it yourself, we can take care of it for you. Contact us to get a quote on our services today.
