Trees don’t come out of your yard without leaving something behind. Whether the tree fell on its own or was cut on purpose, you’ve now got a stump sitting in your yard. And unless you want to mow around useless tree stumps for years to come, you’ll need to do something with those pesky stumps.
Method 1) Repurpose
First, decide whether or not you need to take the stump out of your yard. There are loads of DIY projects using tree stumps that you can try. For example:
- Turn large stumps into outdoor tables.
- Paint lines onto the top of a stump to make an outdoor checkerboard.
- Fill stumps that are starting to decay in the middle with potting soil and make a flower planter (this will also speed a stump’s decomposition so it’s easier to remove later).
- Level the top of the stump and use it as the base for a birdbath bowl.
- Make a fairy garden on top of the stump.
Method 2) Soften
This method works best on stumps of trees that have been dead at least a year. Using a chainsaw, cut the stump off as close to ground level as possible. Next, drill deep holes in the stump using a large drill bit. A 1-inch bit that’s 8 to 12 inches long will work well. Space the holes 3 to 4 inches apart all across the top of the stump.
Fill the holes with a chemical stump remover, such as potassium nitrate. Follow package directions for handling and activating the stump remover. Then leave things alone for a few weeks or months to let the wood decompose. Once the stump is softened by the stump remover, you can finish getting rid of it using Method 3 or 4 below.
Method 3) Dig
If you want to remove the stump completely, digging it out of the ground by hand is one option. This works best on smaller stumps from trees with shallow root systems or on stumps that you’ve already used chemical removers to soften.
If you used a chemical stump remover, you can skip right to chopping the stump up with an ax. If not, dig a trench around the stump to expose the roots. Once the roots are visible, use an ax to chop the roots off. Continue working your way around the stump with an ax, shovel, and pickax until the stump is loosened enough to pry it out of the ground. Do not try to hook the stump up to a vehicle and pull it out – you’re more likely to damage your vehicle than move the stump. After the stump is gone, fill the hole with soil.
Method 4) Burn
Before lighting anything on fire make sure you check your local fire codes. If your location allows burning, start out by drilling holes in the stump just like you would for Method 2. You can also burn after using a chemical stump remover. Pour kerosene or fuel oil (never gasoline) into the drill holes. Wait 1 to 2 weeks for the fuel to soak into the wood.
Before lighting the stump, check that there aren’t any temporary bans on fire in effect due to something like drought. Then drop a lighted match into each hole. The burning stump will smolder for several days, so keep a close eye on it and set up a barrier to keep kids and pets from wandering toward the fire. Once the stump has burned down completely, scoop the ashes out with a shovel and fill the hole with soil.
Method 5) Grind
To get rid of a stump quickly, you can’t beat the stump grinder method. A stump grinder will work on large or small stumps of any age. Start out by cutting the stump off as low to the ground as you can. Next, clear away rocks in the immediate area. Before you start grinding, put on safety gear. Long sleeves, long pants, eye protection, and steel toe boots are a must.
A stump grinder will grind or chop the stump up into wood chips. That will bring the stump below ground level faster than any other method. Once the stump is ground down, shovel the wood chips out of the hole and fill in with soil.