What is the best method to remove a small tree stump, 4-6" in diameter, without digging it up or grinding?

Answer 1

Please don't use the redneck truck pull method, much as I love a good afternoon with a beer and a righteous smoking of the tires, should the rope or chain snap or slip off, the resulting backlash is strong enough to cut a man in two instantly, same could happen if the stump came out suddenly, nevermind collateral damage potential to house or car(s) and the fact it ain't good for the truck anyhow.

You want it gone, best I can tell you is take a chainsaw and carefully cut it as close to the ground as you can get it, keeping in mind dirt will dull the chain like lickety split, you'll want to pay special attention and keep it out of the dirt, but you should be able to get it pretty close to ground level.
Then, paint it with a brush and a heavy concentration of round up to help it along and prevent it from growing or sprouting into a tree again.

Answer 2

Without either digging it up or destroying it, the only real option would be one of two things.

Either to use a vehicle and a chain to pull it out of the ground, or to get some stump killer

The stump killer is basically a herbacide. Most of them are pretty easy to use... take a drill... drill a hole in the top of the stump... fill hole with granules. Stump killer can be obtained at most large hardware stores (Lowes, Home Depot, etc). It's not very fast or very effecient but it will eventually do the job for the most part.

Answer 3

Drill several holes in stump as deep as you can and pour stump rot in holes. This take a few months but it does work. Stump rot is found at your local hardware store or stores like Menards, Wal-Mart and Kmart and so on. Still the fastest way is to dig and chop roots. Good luck.

Answer 4

I'm one of the lazy ones. I've dug down a few inches around the trunk and sawed it off just below ground level. Cover it over with soil and plant grass or whatever over that spot. It'll eventually rot away. If the tree keeps sending up sprouts, just rip them off until it realizes that you don't want it there anymore. Sometimes it takes a year or two. With my two Wisteria vines, it's taken five years and they still haven't given up. Even tried digging up the roots of one of them, but if you don't get every little piece of root, it comes back. Some trees aren't that determined. Good luck.

Answer 5

The most energy efficient way to remove a stump that size is to chain it to a truck bumper and yank it out.

Wrap the chain underneath the stump itself, circling the roots 2-4 wraps.

Answer 6

Drill a couple of holes in it and dump some stump killer in it. It is available at your local home store. Or you can just drill in the holes and let nature take its course. It should be mushy and you can just dig it out in a year or so.

Answer 7

If it's only 4"to 6" you can probably just use a saws-all with a 12" blade. Cut around the perimeter until you can lift it out.

Answer 8

If you can get a rope around it you could pull it out with your truck, or car. Thats how I tend to get 'em up in anycase. Sometimes you have to put a spike on the opposite side then that which you are pulling to get it to come up without the rope slipping off.

Another option?... Dynomite. *evil grin*

Answer 9

Get a 20 lb. sack of bar b que charcoal and a large can of lighter fluid cost about 12 bucks and is well worth it.

Answer 10

I have been told that by pouring salt on the stump you accelerate it's decompsosin. (is that a word?)