what is the easiest way to remove a tree stump?

Question

24 inch diameter tree stump in back yard

Answer 1

A stump grinder. Sometimes you can rent small ones, or hire someone who has one.

However, if you want to do it yourself, you'll need to dig and cut roots and dig some more and cut some more roots, etc.

I did that a few times, only I was lucky enough to have a tractor that I could use to pull on the stump to help lay it over and make it easier to cut the roots.

If you have enough time, you can try to rot it out of the ground by drilling big holes into it and pouring some high nitrogen fertilizer into them, and then keep it wet for a few years.

Answer 2

The easiest way? Hire someone to dig it out for you. I recommend that over grinding for a couple of reasons. First, they can only grind a stump about a foot into the ground. And, it takes years to rot away. So, you can't really plant something besides grass or small plants, because their roots will be stopped by the remnants of the stump.

Second, a 2-foot diameter trunk belonged to a pretty good sized tree. And, the root runners will have extended at least the length of the longest branches of the tree. So, they may extend 20 feet or more. If you grind the stump without removing these runners, they may turn up some later time when you want to plant something else in your yard.

But, if it's just in a field, and you don't care about what will grow over the stump remnants or care about the root runners being left in, then your best bet is to grind it up.

Answer 3

Hire a tree service with a stump grinding machine

Answer 4

Call a stump grinding service. They will cut it off at ground level, then grind it down with a machine to below the soil level, then you can just cover it over.

If it actually has to come out, you'll have to trench around it, cut all the roots, and then lift it out, probably with a piece of equipment.

Answer 5

10 years ago in NC it was $90. minimum to have a stump ground down. If you have an ax you can chop the stump down below the ground level and fill in with dirt and it will rot itself out.

Answer 6

Stump grinder, or dig it out. If have time, drill holes in it to speed it falling apart. I drilled and smashed out the center of one in mine, and use it as a flower planter. Looks rustic, and natural.

Answer 7

Hire a removal service.

Answer 8

get a stack of scrap wood and build a real hot fire on top of it and let the fire burn down till you have a bed of hot coals and rake them out and set up an old box fan point the fan at them it might take a day or two but it will burn