Easy Stump Removal

[cabinetman]

I had two tree stumps that I had cut close to the ground, and got bids on stump grinding. They varied from $170 to $240 each. Thought I'd try burning them out. I cleared an area around each one and covered them with a small pile of charcoal briquets. It only took two piles (2 applications) of briquets to completely burn the stump down below ground level.

LOML thought it was a stroke of genius, but she's biased.
.

[Uncle Cracker]

If you didn't take advantage of the opportunity to roast a pig, then you ain't that much of a genius...

[cabinetman]

If you didn't take advantage of the opportunity to roast a pig, then you ain't that much of a genius...

They were Psrythesymelethesitrtiulveyis trees and if burned produce gasses not conducive for cooking.
.

[LCHIEN]

A real genius would have time-travelled into time past to prevent those seeds from germinating.

[WayneJ]

Darn, I was expecting a video with about 10 lbs of C-4 stump remover.
Wayne

[jking]

If you live in an area where the neighbors won't complain about that method, go for it. Several years ago I had some prices for getting a tree stump removed & hauling away the sections of trunk. One guy that looked at it mentioned if I thought the neighbors wouldn't complain, he'd cut the stump flush with the ground & then dive his saw into the remaining stump several times. Then he gave some specific instructions on how to burn it out. I figured the neighbors wouldn't go for it, plus I didn't like the idea of having the unattended fire (more like a smolder) during the day. If I lived in a more rural area, I'd have probably tried it.

[smorris]

I burned one out once, the roots smoldered for several days with wisps of smoke coming out of the ground further and further from the stump until it finally burned itself out.

[crokett]

Mike,

I may try that trick. Got a couple stumps to remove. I don't need to get them down deep, just enough to get a few inches of dirt over em so I can plant grass.

[mschrank]

We just had about 6 dead/dying fir and oak trees felled. I was researching stump removal yesterday and saw this idea mentioned. I live in a rural area, and thought it might be the way to go....until I remembered that my natural gas main is buried about 2' away from the stumps Don't think I'll be trying it.

[charliex]

????? Psrythesymelethesitrtiulveyis ????
Chas

[JSUPreston]

Psrythesymelethesitrtiulveyis

Bless you, and please go see a doctor about that cold.

[Uncle Cracker]

Bless you, and please go see a doctor about that cold.

Cold? I thought it might be some kind of seizure disorder...

[Mr__Bill]

They were Psrythesymelethesitrtiulveyis trees and if burned produce gasses not conducive for cooking.
.

Interesting what you get when you google Psrythesymelethesitrtiulveyis

I have done the same thing only drilling holes in the stump and poring kerosene in, letting it set for a while... day or so and then lighting it. Burns nice for a few hours and then smolders for a few days but the stump was gone. Did the same thing on a quince bush/tree. That was 6 years ago and the #@$%%^&@* quince is still popping up in the lawn from the root system. Have to mow the suckers even when the grass does not grow. Roundup just washes the dirt off of the leaves, Oh well.

Bill, on the Sunny Oregon Coast

[ksum]

You could also rent a stump grinder and run it yourself. Saves a lot of $ without the fear of the neighbors/fire department showing up.

At 2' from a gas main, I would suggest that poster either dig it out by hand, leave it, or hire someone with insurance.

Karl

[jonmulzer]

Another possible option is to drill several large holes in the stump and then fill it with the highest nitrogen fertilizer you can find at the home center and then water it down real well. It speeds up the natural rotting of the stump. Some people even go so far as to put a tarp over it and cover it with mulch. Depending on the species of the tree, the level of it above the ground and other things it may takes a month or it may take six months. But it will get rid of it and not harm your gas main.

Careful how much nitrogen fertilizer you buy at a time, you may end up getting a visit from the Department of Homeland Security. :P