Digging out tree roots?

Wookey

mysparrow wrote: »

Not sure I'd trust myself with a chainsaw, there might be a bit more than dirt on it after I'd finished!

Wookey - do you happen to know if I could plant around the treated stumps? Or would it be a case of leaving that side of the garden bare while it works?

Yeah you can plant around them np, if you are going to dig them out a bit though when they have rotted down you will probably be disturbing your new plants. If you are going to treat them with oil then cut into the stump a bit with a hatchet or saw and ensure the oil is worked down in, it isn't advisable to pour gallons of oil onto them either, just a simple coating with a paintbrush will suffice.

laurel7172

You can plant around them, and if you leave them long enough, they'll just rot in place. It may take quite a few years though-a tree stump I inherited when I moved in here took about seven more years to go all "corky", at which point it could be chopped up with a spade. Cut a grid pattern into the top of the stumps to hold water and accelerate the rot.

Digging the stumps out is a BIG job. I've taken out smaller ones with a crowbar, shovel and axe, but I wouldn't attempt a job that size. I don't have the time as much as anything. I remember it taking me, my ex, his brother and the next door neighbour half a day to shift an apple tree stump from the middle of a garden once, and it wasn't even all that big...Unless you have a lot of time on your hands, if you're really bothered, get in a man with a stump grinder. But I'd just plant around and over the top...

BikerKieron

I had several leylandii trees in my garden and when i cut them down, I was left with the stumps - I dug around the stumps, tied a heavy duty rope around them, checked no water/electric/gas pipes near them, then tied the rope up to my land rover and yanked them out :T. Took many tries but got them out - however it did take me, my dad and two friends 3 days to do it. Otherwise oil on top and patience....

Plasticman

Depending on the thickness of the trunk, it may have been better not to cut them down. I got rid of a dozen 6" trees by chopping off some of the branches, climbing the tree and then swinging from side to side! The tree basically acted like a lever and pulled the roots out of the ground. It doesn't work on bigger trees, but is fine for smaller ones.

As you've already chopped them down, I would be tempted to leave them for an easier life!

mysparrow

Thanks everyone. Got a fair few ideas there! As I've got 16 stumps I may try removing alternates if possible & leaving the rest in the ground to compost away. I'm planning on staying in this house for a long time so I can wait!

Wookey

Problem with that may be roots growing over the top of each other, can end up like trying to unravel a huge ball of stuff.

ixwood

I wouldn't even bother trying to remove them. It'll take a huge amount of effort.

Leaving them in is probably better for wildlife anyway. Dead wood is rare these days and loads of wildlife depend on it. Including good guys like slug/slug egg eating beetles.

And the roots will rot underground releasing the nutrients back to the soil and improving drainage.

I'd drill loads of holes for solitary bees and other bugs, grow some ivy up some, and then just plant around them.

How high are the stumps? Could you use them somehow? Bird table? Seat?

fdavid_2

I agree with others in that they won't regrow. Drilling holes downwards will help

You can hasten rotting of stumps and roots by applying a solution of urea - anyone in the Forestry or farming business can get you some.

Failing that, you could try repeated applications of your very own urea solution

mysparrow

fdavid wrote: »

Failing that, you could try repeated applications of your very own urea solution

Well now I don't have a 6ft hedge that may be quite disturbing for the neighbours!:D

Thanks again everyone. I like the idea of drilling holes for beetles etc.
What a lovely forum this is!:T

Joly_Roger

I've removed 25 10 foot leylandi that were encircling our garden and my technique was to use copper nails on the stumps. Hammer about 10 of these into each stump and it will greatly accelerate the decomposition process. Within 2 - 4 weeks they will be soft and a lot easier to remove.