Gardening with Gary

Gardening Advice from an Expert

Stumps

Barb writes~ Do you have a secret for removing stumps?

A. It depends on the type, number and size of stumps. Some trees have big wide root systems, such as pine trees. Some trees, like oak, have deep roots and a tap root that goes straight down, which makes digging extremely tough. Digging by hand works best for small, shallow-rooted trees. Dig and expose roots, then cut to pull the roots out of the ground and put in the compost pile. Stump grinder chews 6-12" below ground level. Remove grindings to compost pile and fill the craters with loam. If you enjoy running such equipment, these machines are available at rental houses. Many arborists have stump grinders and will do the grinding on a per-stump-inch price basis. If you have many stumps to get rid of, a stump grinder is the most economical way to go. There are several chemicals available at garden centers that will hasten the rotting of a tree stump. This involves drilling a series of holes in the stump and adding the chemicals. While this method definitely does speed up decomposition time, do not expect it to be fast. The stump will still take a prolonged period of time to break down. Or, use scrap wood to start a fire on top of a stump and keep it going until the stump is gone. This is good if you have a few stumps to remove and have scrap wood you want to get rid of. Remember to check with local officials on the time of year when you are allowed to burn in your area.

Assistance from This Old House