Killing a tree stump can be effected in a number of ways. But if you don’t kill it, the roots will be able to continue to thrive, upsetting structures or buildings or even walking areas.
A tree stump can take many years to decompose as it depends on the density of the wood.
Grinders can be quite expensive and blowing up the stump is just plain dangerous.
One of the best way to deal with tree stumps at home, is to simply pour some motor oil on the roots, or to simply burn up the tree stump using motor oil.
Key takeaway – This method is very well recommended, because motor oil is cheap and readliy available. Moreover, when used rightly, it’s considered more environmentally friendly than other chemicals.
How To Kill A Tree Stump Using Motor Oil?
Pouring motor oil to the heart of the tree stump
You can destroy a tree stump with motor oil by specifically pouring it at the heart of the stump.
The oil will break down cellulose and lignin. This will block the vascular systems preventing water running through the roots to the tree stump.
However, this method may block the natural decomposers from decomposing the stump.
Decomposers like fungi break down organic matter.
What steps should I follow to kill a tree stump using motor oil?
- At the base of the stump, drill overlapping holes angled downward. Drill holes into the base and holes into the surrounding soil. They must go at least two or three inches deep and if you have the oil drip system or syringe match the drill size with the fitting on it.
- If there are visible roots on the tree stump, use those roots to drill holes into, as roots absorb nutrients and water to create the potential to initiate regrowth.
- Once you drill the holes, you put the oil in the holes, generally with either a funnel or an oil drip system. When the oil has been absorbed, drizzle more into the holes for maximum effectiveness. Most people suggest burning the tree after sufficient oil has been absorbed. This method can be equally effective, however, requires more caution.
How long does it take for motor oil to kill a tree stump?
Using motor oil is labor-intensive and the process takes time. You must be patient.
To speed this process up, you can burn it. If you want a quicker kill, you can use gasoline. With gasoline it will kill it in six months.
However, it is dependent on the size of the tree and many other factors. If you want to speed up the process, you can kill the tree stumps by burning them.
Burning the tree stump using motor oil
Motor oil is flammable, and you can burn a tree stump with it.
Use a drill with a one inch bit and drill forty-five degree angle holes completely around the tree stump.
Using a funnel, pour two spoons of motor oil into each hole. Put a little kindle at the top, and light it up.
This method is much more efficient than just pouring motor oil into the drilled holes. This is because it takes way more time than the first one.
What steps should I follow when burning a tree stump using motor oil?
- Gather the materials you will need for the process. You will need especially a long one inch bit drill in order to reach inside the tree stump. Make sure to choose, high torque drill. In addition, you will need a funnel, lighter, sticks and twigs, kindler, and motor oil.
- Drill evenly spaced holes at a forty-five-degree angle around the tree stump, approximately four-inch intervals and three inches deep, then drill another hole on the top of the tree stump.
- The number of holes total varies on the size of the tree stump. You will have to drill more than one hole for a larger stump, however for a smaller tree stump you may only need one hole.
- Pour two to three tablespoons of motor oil in the total number of drilled holes using a funnel. Do the same for around the drilled holes on the tree stump.
- Put the smaller twigs and sticks on the stump and add a kindler to ignite the fire.
- Light the fire and step back to a safe distance from possible harm.
What precautions should I consider while lighting the fire?
Never leave the fire unattended.
Not knowing can turn into a huge fire endangering your home, plants, and vegetation.
If the fire gets out of control, keep some buckets of sand close by or have a working fire extinguisher.
Caution: Do not wet down a fire – dousing a fire using water can cause a fireball explosion, which can be even more dangerous when you are close. Smothering the fire can generate heat and airflow and the fire can get out of hand.
Can Used Motor Oil Kill Tree Stumps?
Used oil contains a lot of contaminants obtained upon from the running engine.
That said, you can use used motor oil to kill tree stumps. Although this method will take longer, you can apply either of the methods identified.
This is a low-cost method to eliminate a tree stump.
If you have a car or machine that runs on motor oil (e.g. power saw), then you have the opportunity to recycle it and save money.
What Are The Drawbacks Of Using Motor Oil To Kill A Tree Stump?
While motor oil is not demonstrated to be best, and have dangers and side effects, what I can say is the method can work quite well if you do it right.
Some of the disadvantages of using motor oil are:
- When you pour oil, it will end up on the ground. Then the next rain will wash the oil deeper in the ground reaching the water table where most people get drinking water. Not just people, but other companies or other animals if they drink water.
- Some trees release toxic smoke when you burn it. The smoke can affect other living creatures and animals, just be aware of the tree species you are working on.
- Leaving the fire on is a problem with the living things near the fire, due to the smoke clogging the leaves of other plants with no space to expel the waste oxygen that keep them alive.
- Motor oil will kill any vegetation it comes in contact with when you pour the motor oil on the ground. It will kill the grass, plants, weeds, and even flowers on the ground.
- For multiple tree stumps or large tree stumps, you have to buy oil that covers to kill the tree stump. The oil cost money especially if you do not use any recycled oil. Also, you may do a lot more damage to your farm, due to using a lot of oil.
- To work efficiently, you are going to have to buy an oil drip system. This can be very costly if you want to get rid of one tree stump. If you don’t have an oil drip system, and then it will be difficult to the more oil you get to the stump bark.
- The use of motor oil can create a great mess. If you pour the motor oil on the stump it will look disgusting.
When Should I Call For Help?
If you have a small stump, it is relatively easy and safe to remove, but if you have several stumps or a big stump in your yard, the work can be labor intensive and difficult. For this reason, you should hire a professional.
Fire, too, can be intimidating for many people as they may fear not controlling the fire.
If you are poor at managing the fire, or feel that you do not want the job.
If you have been working on the tree stump or stumps for some time to no avail, you can contact a professional to consider alternative methods.
Final Thoughts
Most people consider motor oil as a wood preservative, since it is hydrophobic.
Nevertheless, you can still use it to kill tree stumps. Applying motor oil to the roots or the tree stump by itself will not kill it.
But as long as you pour it into the most important parts of a tree, the oil should successfully kill the tree stump.
You can also use the motor oil to burn the tree stump too. This could be dangerous without using proper steps and safety precautions.
If you find using motor oil too difficult, you could always ask for help.