There are various techniques you can employ to kill tree stumps.
You don’t have to be a pro to kill a tree stump. Although some tree stump removal procedures require skills and/or knowledge.
People have various reasons to cut a tree; perhaps it could be for lumber, clearing land for a new-built for potential development, or because of the concern that it could shed branches or even lay on one of our homes.
At the end of it all, there is a tree stump sitting in our yard, adding to the aesthetics or becoming a nuisance by occupying the yard.
What to expect? To kill a tree stump, you will require that some damage occur to the heartwood of the stump. The heartwood is actually the root. You can kill tree stumps in various ways including using motor oil, fire, or grinding.
If things look too complicated or daunting, hire a professional to remove the stump for you.
Proven Ways To Kill A Tree Stump?
The majority of confirmed techniques for killing a tree stump require more skill, commitment, money, and tools to do in comparison to most two-step homemade chemical remedies.
However, you can be assured that using these methods will more than likely be successful.
1. Dig the tree stump out
The easiest and most straightforward way to remove a tree stump is to dig it out.
Of course, this may not be as easy as it sounds.
Smaller tree stumps are fairly simple to remove, but that won’t be the case with larger tree stumps.
However, with larger tree stumps, this may take quite a bit longer—so you may want to ask a friend to help you with it.
Even better, we recommend hiring a professional, who has the necessary skills and equipment to dig out the larger tree stump for you.
This would not only save you time, but it’s also the safest method. If you go at it alone, you may potentially damage your garden.
If you still want to take the DIY route, you’ll need the following:
- a heavy shovel
- a digging iron
- an axe
To dig out your tree stump, start with loosening the soil away from the stump. Then, dive into chopping up the roots that you’re exposing with the axe.
Work all the way around the tree stump, digging down, and inward toward the tap root that sits beneath the tree stump.
When you reached the tap root, take your axe, and chop straight through the tap root with the sharp side of the axe. When this is achieved, the stump should be loose enough to lift out.
Depending on the size, you may need assistance lifting the stump out. After the stump is removed, you simply just fill the hole with dirt or mulch.
While this is a good way of removing a big tree stump, it’s also more invasive – meaning this method takes longer, more work, and saw and axes.
Key Takeaway: Good news – you have opened up a fresh slate and you are free to do any landscaping project you desire. But now you need to fill in that big hole.
2. Grinding the tree stump
Grinding is another effective way to get rid of a tree stump; however, you will need a grinding machine.
This is also one of the fastest means of getting rid of a tree stump.
You might choose to hire a professional, as it takes a little bit of effort and some technical skills, but if you do have a grinder machine, you can do it yourself. Most of us don’t own these machines, but you can actually rent a grinder and get the job done.
This could take anywhere from fifteen minutes to one hour.
However, running a grinder is dangerous for you and for the people around you, because of flying chips, rocks, etc.
Safety First – If you choose to do it yourself, be sure to wear protective gear, which includes the use of hearing protection, and safety glasses to protect your eyes from debris. Trimming the stump and removing any rocks in the surrounding areas are also good safety measures.
Of course there are pros and cons.
On the pro side, it is less labor intensive than digging it out. It is also more efficient and requires less effort.
In addition, you can use the woodchips in your garden as mulch. On the downside, they are more expensive than digging it out, and require specialized tools and skills.
3. Burning the tree stump
An additional productive and cost-efficient way to remove a tree stump is to burn it.
This technique is inexpensive to kill a tree stump, but may be restricted by fire codes in your area.
Remember that areas with a dry climate that are designated fire-safety zones, will limit the use of this technique. Always verify with your local fire department before burning a tree stump.
After consulting with your fire department about this method, once you receive the green light, this is another option for removing your tree stump.
If you’re given approval to take this approach, here’s how to go about it.
- The first step involves drilling holes twelve inches deep into the stump’s surface, one inch apart.
- Next, pour kerosene or gasoline oil in each hole until the tree stump is completely saturated, and pour on the top and sides as well.
- Using scrap wood or charcoal, ignite the stump on the side and top as well.
This method is relatively risky so keep an attentive eye on the fire as the wood burns.
Although it is a slow process, it is very effective.
Note that in some cases, multiple repeats of this process will be required before cutting the stump off.
Home Remedies You Can Use To Kill A Tree Stump?
Home remedies that have been claimed to kill tree stumps are totally ineffective!
They tend to waste your money, time, and resources on remedies that just might fail.
The one home remedy that has shown some degree of success is to treat it with Epsom or rock salt.
4. Using Epsom or Rock salt
Although this process is worthwhile, you will need to be patient because it can take several months (typically six to twelve) for the stump to die.
You should never use regular table salt as it causes adverse effects to the soil.
Epsom salt works to remove the moisture in the stump, speeding up the decay process.
Do not add other ingredients to the Epsom salt so that you do not harm the surrounding stump soils fertility.
The proposed steps for this method are:
- To begin, drill a series of deep holes into the stump’s surface in a pattern. While drilling, attempt to drill the holes about a half or inch deep and at least nine inches in diameter. Doing this allows the salt to penetrate deeply into the stump.
- After you have finished drilling, fill the holes with Epsom salt. Pay attention to filling the holes accurately so that you do not pour salt all over your farm where it could hurt your soil and plants.
- Next, spray some water on the stump and cover it to protect the soil from the rain wiping it out.
- Covering the stump also denies it of sunlight which speeds up the degradation process.
- Lastly, repeat this process after a week or so for faster and better results!
What Should I Avoid When Killing Tree Stumps?
While some techniques, such as burning, have proven effective at killing a tree stump, you should know that they come with a certain amount of risk.
So, it is important to avoid a few things like:
- You should never use diesel fuel to burn tree trunks. Even large amounts of kerosene and diesel can harm surrounding plants.
- Avoid using chemicals because they will kill or harm your garden or lawn as well. If they are leached into your soil, you’ll end up with infertility, and possibly all your vegetation dead. They also tend to stick around for a long time!
- Although bleach can kill a tree stump, we will recommend against it because it can be harmful to surrounding plants.
- And, avoid the possibility of danger as perhaps leaving the fire unattended.
Final Thoughts
If you wish to remove a tree stump in your yard, pick one of the previous methods.
You can kill the stump without professional assistance, but the quickest solution is to hire a professional.
No matter what you choose to do, please remember to follow all safety precautions concerning yourself or your surroundings.
Some of these methods are very dangerous, and you need to be very cautious.