removing conifer tree stumps (about 10!!!)

babysteps24

whats the best (cheapest) :beer:way to remove tree stumps

agent_orange_2

I recently removed about 8 conifers, including stumps. Dug them out as best I could. Cost nil, but takes time and effort. Basically dug down around stump, cutting roots with an axe as I came to them. On virtually all the stumps there was like a tap root directly down from stump and this was where the hardest work was.

When you cut them down, leave enough of the stump in order to wriggle it about as you cut roots

STOCKWIRE

Cheapest ~ Leave them to rot
Hardest ~ Dig them Out
Easiest but with a cost ~ Hire a stump grinder.

londonsurrey

I came across blog of someone who was left with a bunch of trees they wanted to remove.
Their process was cut down tree, stack as firewood to dry (they left it for a year, but this is up to you)
Burn firewood round stump, which burns it down.

Move on to next tree.

Mojisola

STOCKWIRE wrote: »

Cheapest ~ Leave them to rot
Hardest ~ Dig them Out
Easiest but with a cost ~ Hire a stump grinder.

With conifers, you could be waiting for a very long time for them to rot down.

We got rid of ours using agent orange's method.

System

When I cut my conifers down, I chopped the top of the tree off leaving about six foot of the trunk to use as a lever. I trimmed all the side branches back to this main trunk, and then dug around the root ball to a depth of about 1 foot, chopping the thicker roots as I went.

I could swing on the trunk to break the root ball free.

I then simply cut the trunk and root ball into manageble pieces to fit in my trailer, and took it all to the local tip and dumped it in the green waste skip - after checking with the attendant which skip to use.

alleycat`

A Mattock is what you need.
O and some patience a lot of sweating.
I find swearing helps too.

Mojisola

BAA1 wrote: »

When I cut my conifers down, I chopped the top of the tree off leaving about six foot of the trunk to use as a lever. I trimmed all the side branches back to this main trunk, and then dug around the root ball to a depth of about 1 foot, chopping the thicker roots as I went.

I could swing on the trunk to break the root ball free.

I then simply cut the trunk and root ball into manageble pieces to fit in my trailer, and took it all to the local tip and dumped it in the green waste skip - after checking with the attendant which skip to use.

That's what we did. Leaving enough stump so that you have some leverage made it much easier.

You might find people on Freecycle/Freegle would be happy to take the wood away, even if it is from conifers.

crazyguy

Not my idea hear but I see a friend cut them down to a stump and then drill several holes into them and then pour diesel into the holes it seemed to work as a few weeks later he dug them out quite easy,

Emma_whitnash

You can also buy tree stump killer (great with ivy too), can't remember what it's called of the top of my head. mix with water and pour over it. or drilling holes and putting salt in I think someone else told me? I will be using the tree stump killer on my conifer stump!

gardenroute

Very few conifers will grow back from a stump. Salt, diesel, stump killer, etc are a waste of time IMHO. They will not make the stump easier to dig out either.
Big stumps will take many years to break down. Grinding is the only way to get rid of these. Digging out is fine for smaller trees but it is hard work; you could try with one and see how you feel about the other nine.

Btw burning stumps out never works.