Rotting Out a Tree Stump - What Has Worked For You?

[BHopkins]

I've recently cut down a tree, and now am looking for methods to get rid of the tree stump. I have heard varying degrees of success from using tree stump rot chemicals, with some reporting that years later, the stump is still hard as piece of seasoned firewood. A few neighbors have had reasonable success by drilling holes in the stump, filling the holes with diesel fuel, and letting it soak for several days, and then igniting the stump on fire. It will smolder for several days.

I'm not sure I want to burn the stump, especially if if there are better options. Have any of you had particularly good success with any method to rot out a tree stump?

I'm not totally against paying for someone to come with a stump grinder to remove it, but if there is another way that actually works, I'd like to try it.

 

[walterjay]

What is the diameter of the stump?

 

[MasterSolenoid]

What is the diameter of the stump?

And the type of tree.
Hard Maple ?
Pine ?

 

[skyactiv]

Are you able to rent a stump grinder from the Home Depot and do it yourself?

 

[IndyIan]

On my trails, I cut them very low with my least favorite chainsaw so I can mow/drive over them, and put a couple shallow slots in it with the chainsaw to hold water and put some dirt in the slots. The seem to rise up with frost over a couple years, but by then they are soft enough to mangle with my bush hog, or the box blade on the tractor. A real rot resistant species in a dry area would stay there for a long time though, something like White Oak on a ridge is probably best to burn or grind if you want it gone this decade. Probably what your long time resident neighbors are doing is a good plan.

 

[BHopkins]

What is the diameter of the stump?

And the type of tree.
Hard Maple ?
Pine ?

The stump diameter is about 10". It was some type of long needle pine, so soft wood.

 

[BHopkins]

On my trails, I cut them very low with my least favorite chainsaw so I can mow/drive over them, and put a couple shallow slots in it with the chainsaw to hold water and put some dirt in the slots. The seem to rise up with frost over a couple years, but by then they are soft enough to mangle with my bush hog, or the box blade on the tractor. A real rot resistant species in a dry area would stay there for a long time though, something like White Oak on ridge is probably best to burn or grind if you want it gone this decade. Probably what your long time resident neighbors are doing is a good plan.

Fortunately, it is not in a lawn. But it is in an area where I would like to plant a small tree variety, perhaps next year, if I can clear out the area well enough. I've already cut out all the roots that were close to the surface, but I'm sure there are more roots that are deeper.

 

[PandaBear]

I hired a guy on craigslist to grind it out. Mom tried burning it with a whole bag of charcoal and it doesn't do much other than killing a few termites.

 

[BHopkins]

Are you able to rent a stump grinder from the Home Depot and do it yourself?

I hadn't thought about stump grinder rentals. I can get one local for $66/4 hours. That may be a good option.

If I did get it ground down below ground level, and wanted to speed up the decay process, what works for other?

 

[PandaBear]

I hadn't thought about stump grinder rentals. I can get one local for $66/4 hours. That may be a good option.

If I did get it ground down below ground level, and wanted to speed up the decay process, what works for other?

The grinder guy I hired said just not much he could do for the smaller root outside of the main stump. It would take a few years for them to decompose. I'm not sure if he meant not much he could do for the money I paid him or not much he could do regardless of how much I'm willing to pay.

 

[walterjay]

I just did a willow stump larger than that. I cut it down to ground level with my chainsaw. I then cut into it in sections below grade and hacked it up. Then chopped out what was left. Covered it with soil but only about 2 inches of soil could be put there.

 

[Pablo]

The best way to burn is a combination of holes/cuts, diesel, fire ring with a stove pipe top and forced air base. Plus some digging to expose big roots. Build a hardwood fire in the ring and get blower going….

 

[hemitom]

If you can dig down around the stump as deep as you can cut out as much as possible with saw cover with ground

 

[RooflessVW]

The best way to burn is a combination of holes/cuts, diesel, fire ring with a stove pipe top and forced air base. Plus some digging to expose big roots. Build a hardwood fire in the ring and get blower going….

That's what I remember from my youth. Kerosene and used motor oil and drilling a bunch of holes.

 

[JeffKeryk]

It's a small stump. You could dig around it and chop at it with a pick-axe, etc. But the best chemical is a stump grinder.

 

[Capt W]

A few years ago I had this nasty looking tree about 20 feet tall with an 8-inch trunk diameter. Don't know what type of tree it was, but it dropped about a million little brown spiky balls the locals (St Louis area) called "popcorn balls." I cut it down and left about 2 inches of stump above the ground. Upon the advice of a neighbor, I drilled several 1/2" holes in the trunk about a foot deep and filled those holes with about a pint of Roundup. In less than a year, the trunk died and crumbled into several black pieces, leaving a hole about 12 inches deep by 10 inches wide once I dug everything out. I filled the hole, planted grass, and all was well.

 

[JeffKeryk]

A few years ago I had this nasty looking tree about 20 feet tall with an 8-inch trunk diameter. Don't know what type of tree it was, but it dropped about a million little brown spiky balls the locals (St Louis area) called "popcorn balls." I cut it down and left about 2 inches of stump above the ground. Upon the advice of a neighbor, I drilled several 1/2" holes in the trunk about a foot deep and filled those holes with about a pint of Roundup. In less than a year, the trunk died and crumbled into several black pieces, leaving a hole about 12 inches deep by 10 inches wide once I dug everything out. I filled the hole, planted grass, and all was well.

Liquid Amber.
Can be beautiful, but I hate the balls.

 

[blain450]

I had a red oak stump, 4 1/2+ across. It had about a 1' hole rotted out of the middle.
I plunged my chainsaw into it several times to create gouges. Then any time I was washing cars or watering something, I'd dowse that stump to help keep it moist.
I figured I'd do everything you're NOT supposed to do to keep wood in good condition. If I had leaves or grass clippings, I'd toss them on the stump.
That stump rotted in a couple of years.

If I were doing it today, I'd get fancy and add rock salt into the plunge cuts.

 

[MasterSolenoid]

Liquid Amber.
Can be beautiful, but I hate the balls.
View attachment 284015

We didn't have those trees when I was younger.
The seeds would have been good to throw at each other.
When visiting my uncle's cabin, we had to use rotten apples.

 

[Pablo]

We didn't have those trees when I was younger.
The seeds would have been good to throw at each other.
When visiting my uncle's cabin, we had to use rotten apples.

We used oranges, apricots, plums, peaches.....whatever was getting ripe. Avocados.