Tree stumps are an unsightly tripping hazard in your yard. How do you remove them? It’s not as hard as you may think. Here’s how to remove tree stumps.
Step one: cut the stump down
First, use a pickax to dig a trench six to ten inches deep around the circumference of the tree stump. This will allow you to cut the stump below ground level and expose its roots.
Next, after donning safety glasses and gloves, use a chainsaw to cut the stump down as far below ground as possible without getting the blade into the soil. Then, cut the stump at a 45-degree slant around its circumference, creating a downward-sloped edge.
Step two: remove the remainder of the stump
You can remove the rest of the tree stump with a stump grinder or with Epsom salts.
Stump grinders are available at equipment rental stores. These powerful machines use a spinning wheel covered in teeth to chew down the stump, shredding it into sawdust and chips. Within minutes, the stump will be eliminated well below ground level. Afterward, you can cover the area with dirt, and it will be as if the stump never existed.
The Epsom salt method is slower but still effective. When mixed with water, Epsom salts create a solution that accelerates the natural wood decomposition. To use this method, make a series of parallel cuts with the chainsaw across the top of the stump, cutting two or three inches deep into the wood. Then, make another set of cuts perpendicular to the first set to create a crosshatch spanning the top of the tree stump. Alternatively, drill a series of holes all over the top of the stump. Make the holes two or three inches deep and one to one-and-a-half inches in diameter.
Next, pour Epsom salts over the entire top of the stump until the cuts or holes are covered. Smooth the salts with your hand, forcing them into all the grooves or holes. Spread Epsom salts in the soil around the circumference of the stump. Then, cover the stump and surrounding area with dirt. The Epsom salts will cause the stump to deteriorate, and the surrounding soil will absorb it.
Related – Should You Cut Down A Tree?
