Stump Removal

[mass_burner]

I have a spruce stump that is too big for grinding, about 6-8' diameter and 12-18" tall. Has anyone tried that injection stuff sold at TSC? I also thought about burning it down, anyone tried this?

 

[Ralphie Boy]

I have a spruce stump that is too big for grinding, about 6-8' diameter and 12-18" tall. Has anyone tried that injection stuff sold at TSC? I also thought about burning it down, anyone tried this?

I've burned a few stumps, but not spruce, and it worked okay, but nothing grew in that spot for a couple of years?!?

 

[mass_burner]

I've burned a few stumps, but not spruce, and it worked okay, but nothing grew in that spot for a couple of years?!?

Can you please give a brief description of your process?

 

[Ralphie Boy]

Can you please give a brief description of your process?

I cut the stumps as short as I could without killing the chain on my saw, removed a couple of inches in depth of soil from around the stumps then dumped about 10lbs. of charcoal on the stump and the shallow hole around it, then lit it. When the charcoal turned all white I put a metal garbage can lid over the whole works then put a couple of heavy rocks on top to the lid and let it go. I had 2 really big stumps that took a double dose of burning to be burnt deep enough to recover with fresh soil.

 

[mass_burner]

I cut the stumps as short as I could without killing the chain on my saw, removed a couple of inches in depth of soil from around the stumps then dumped about 10lbs. of charcoal on the stump and the shallow hole around it, then lit it. When the charcoal turned all white I put a metal garbage can lid over the whole works then put a couple of heavy rocks on top to the lid and let it go. I had 2 really big stumps that took a double dose of burning to be burnt deep enough to recover with fresh soil.

Thanks. Now all I need to do is find a garbage can the size of a kiddie pool.

 

[Ralphie Boy]

Thanks. Now all I need to do is find a garbage can the size of a kiddie pool.

Sheet metal roofing, used of course, shoot, even a double thickness of aluminum foil, just something to slow the burn.

 

[drewmo]

Thanks. Now all I need to do is find a garbage can the size of a kiddie pool.

Did you give it a go? How'd it work? I'm having three Norway Maples removed soon and would like to get the stumps removed on the cheap.

Any other removal methods? What's a fair price for stump grinding?

 

[jaychino415]

I watched my landscaper friend dig around stump and use a old splitting maul to hack at roots. Stump is gone and remaining roots will decompose over time.

 

[smokedragon]

I have a spruce stump that is too big for grinding

Get a company that has a manual grinder (looks like a push mover with the grinding wheel at the front). It will grind any size stump.

+1 on the burning. I found that drilling 1" diameter holes before burning helps with the job.

 

[KD0AXS]

I think this is how I would do it.

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[Ashful]

The stump grinders I'm familiar with are about the size of a skid steer (think Bobcat), and I can't imagine they'd have trouble with 6' - 8'.

Last time I had 6 stumps ground, I paid $400. If you just have a single stump, expect to pay $100 - $150 for a normal 24" - 30" stump. Something as big as yours might be a few hundred.

 

[Soundchasm]

If you rent a grinder, don't rent it unless it's the biggest one. I rented one on tracks to do five stumps, 3'+ on one. Get somebody to help clean the noodles as you go because you simply can't see inside the mountain of shavings. Once you clean up, you're bound to find something you missed, and that's annoying. Good luck with whatever method you choose.

 

[Beer Belly]

Here is what we did.....cut it close to the ground, hack out the middle, top soil, Mulch......then planted a big Hasta in the middle....the picture was taken before the BIG Hosta....they charge $10 an inch at the widest point to grind it....we were'nt having any of that

 

[mass_burner]

Did you give it a go? How'd it work? I'm having three Norway Maples removed soon and would like to get the stumps removed on the cheap.

Any other removal methods? What's a fair price for stump grinding?

Just so happens I was planning on getting this going. In the place I want the stump ground, I planning on putting 2-3 multi level horizontal planting beds since the grade slopes toward the street. Think I'll drill alot of holes first as suggested. Uh, this thing's roots run deep, is there any danger of fire?

 

[Ashful]

I've done it in the past by drilling the thing full of holes (bottomed in the root / stump, don't break thru!), then filling the holes with diesel or kero, and lighting. It works, but takes a few rounds, and I'm sure is none too good for the ground, as there's sure to be some residual diesel spilled or otherwise not burned. I like Ralphie's charcoal method better.

If you really want it gone, it's best to built a temporary chimney to provide the required draft to really get a good fire going on it. Lot's of demo's on youtube using a 55 gallon drum for this purpose, with both ends cut out, and some air inlets in the sides of the drum near the bottom. Very impressive fire, with those rigs.

 

[Pennsyltucky Chris]

I have a 9hp grinder with 4 pairs of teeth..... takes about 30-45 minutes to take a 30" stump that's 2 inches tall to 2 inches under ground. I'd charge about $150 if that was the only stump. A 6' - 8' stump? That seems like an all day job. I wouldn't do it for less than $400, and that depends on how tall the stump is.

You might want to invest in some dynamite.