Safe & Non-Toxic Ways to Get Rid of a Tree Stump
By Marlene Affeld
How to Remove Bush Stumps
How to Dig Dormant Japanese Maples
What to Do With Sawdust From Tree Stumps
Home Remedies to Kill a Tree Stump
Types of Peonies
Cutting down a tree is the easy part. If you have removed a dead or dying tree from your landscape, the question remains as to what to do with the ugly stump. If the tree is part of a naturalized area, the stump can remain and rot naturally as part of the landscape. If the offending stump is in the middle of a manicured lawn, however, you may call a professional tree removal service or attempt to remove the stump yourself. Although the task is laborious, you can find safe and nontoxic ways to rid your yard of the tree stump.
Disguise It
Cut off as much of the exposed tree stump as possible. Build a raised flower bed around the remainder of the stump. The bed can be built of bricks, rocks or wood. Build the bed deep enough to cover the stump. Fill the flower bed with potting soil and plant annuals or perennial ground cover. The moist soil, fungi and warmth will cause the stump to decompose and rot away over time. Addition of a nitrogen-based fertilizer will speed up the decomposition process. Coffee grounds are rich in nitrogen and are a useful organic amendment to garden soil or the compost pile.
Depending on the size of the stump, digging may be one of the quickest ways to remove it. Use a No. 2 shovel and remove the soil around the roots. Chop out the exposed roots with an ax. Continue to dig until all pieces of the tree root are exposed and removed. A heavy chain can be attached to the root mass and the stump pulled out of the soil with a garden tractor. A large, mature tree may present a huge root mass that is virtually impossible to remove by hand-shoveling. In this case, the services of a backhoe may be required.
Drill the Stump
Drill holes in the top of the stump and around the perimeter. Use a spade bit with an extension and drill 1-inch-diameter holes about 12 inches deep and 3 to 4 inches apart across the top of the stump surface. Drill additional 1-inch holes in the side of the stump at a 45-degree angle to connect with the vertically drilled holes. The holes provide vents for air and moisture to aid the decomposition process.
Grinding a large stump is an effective method of removal. Stump grinders can be rented at home and garden centers, or hire a professional tree service to preform the job. Grinding works best on aged stumps. Grinders are not effective on newly cut tree stumps.
University of Missouri Extension: Falling, Limbing and Bucking Trees
University of Massachusetts Extension: How To Kill A Stump
A passionate writer for more than 30 years, Marlene Affeld writes of her love of all things natural. Affeld's passion for the environment inspires her to write informative articles to assist others in living a green lifestyle. She writes for a prominent website as a nature travel writer and contributes articles to other online outlets covering wildlife, travel destinations and the beauty of nature.
How to Stop Tree Stump Regrowth on a Fence Line
How to Stop Trees From Sprouting After Cutting
Ways to Kill Tree Roots & Stumps
How to Kill a Sweetgum Tree
Tools for Tree Stump Removal
Getting Creative With a Large Tree Stump in a Front Yard
Is Borax an Effective Way to Hasten the Rotting of Stumps?
Does Chemical Stump Remover Work?
2 How to Stop Tree Stump Regrowth on a Fence Line
3 How to Stop Trees From Sprouting After Cutting
4 Ways to Kill Tree Roots & Stumps