What is the best way to get rid of stumps?

[DavidT]

I bushhog some lots that have some old stumps. Other than grinding the stumps, what is the best way to get rid of them?

 

[JDT3120]

TNT

 

[boreality]

Ideally digging out all the roots with an excavator would have the best results. Any wood under turf causes mushrooms. You know, it's all about the turf. The grinder is the most cost and time effective though.

 

[tomthetreeman]

Voodoo and magnets.

 

[cerviarborist]

I saw a post on youtube where a fellow was using an old woods jack and loppers and a saw to remove stumps. I was surprisingly effective.

 

[DavidT]

I was think more like some kind of poison. I will not get paid to remove the stumps but it would make the lots easier to cut. I've been cutting around some of these stumps for years.

 

[boreality]

I don't know about poison as the stump is dead and you'd want to promote fungal growth which causes decay. I know they use yougurt and oatmeal mix spread on a rock wall to promote moss and lichen growth so the rock looks older. Might promote decay on a stump as well, still a slow process though.

 

[countryboypa31]

Or you could drill and plant mushrooms! That would def promote decay and then you have tasty mushrooms in the end! I've always liked that idea, think i picked it up from Stacy and Jesse at Dave Leonard in Kentucky. I really want to try it. Might take some time though.

 

[cerviarborist]

A good old boy buddy of mine once showed me how he was clearing Slash Pines off his homestead lot. He was leaving 4' high stumps, after felling the trees.

He explained that leaving any shorter of a stump left insufficient wood to draw wood destroying insects. He'd leave the stumps just like that, and over three years time, the stumps would decompose to below grade, to the point he'd be backfilling a hole in the ground, all without having to lift a hand to work the stump. He had examples on hand from the three previous years.

Neat trick if the site can accommodate a stump for three years. I suppose that different tree species would decompose at different rates, and you'd have to make sure that the stump would die, rather than reemerge.

 

[boreality]

Here's a link to Kim Coder's stump decay research.

 

[southsoundtree]

depending on size, species, decay/ age, maybe a winch.

 

[treebing]

they sell some kind of chemical at home depot. i dont know what it is or how it works. I just saw it there.

 

[altissimus]

... if all you are doing is mowing ... flush cut'em with a saw ... old work is supriseingly easy ....

 

[southsoundtree]

[ QUOTE ]
they sell some kind of chemical at home depot. i dont know what it is or how it works. I just saw it there.

[/ QUOTE ]

I've heard StumpOut doesn't work.

 

[countryboypa31]

I've heard of something that you drill out a couple holes and pour in so that you can burn the stump. It smolders for a couple days and then the stomp is gone. Might work.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

after reading coder's article it sounds like composting them works as well as anything. i remember now about reading that method. keep a moist compost pile cooking on top and the roguish fugiis will eat the stump.

drill large holes
scuff and nick the stump w chainsaw
nitrogen fert
compost on top
cover w/geotextile fabric

 

[treclmbr]

[ QUOTE ]
I've heard of something that you drill out a couple holes and pour in so that you can burn the stump. It smolders for a couple days and then the stomp is gone. Might work.

[/ QUOTE ]

using diesel fuel works but the forest fire department doesnt like it too much due to the fact that fire can travel through the root systems. Best bet is an excavator or you could try one of these http://www.ironwolf.com/ check out the ironwolf slasher!

 

[surfarmer1]

The old timers would take a pry bar and make a bunch of deep holes in the ground around the stump and pour in some honey and then let the hogs in the area and the hogs will dig up the stump to get to the honey.. crude but it works..


pray for a good crop but keep hoeing