removing tree stumps

[darcyvuqua]

i have a fenced of piece on my allotment that i want to bring back into production i have heard that the guy before me had chickens up there in this bit it is ideal for chickens as there is alot of stone/rocks and 4 tree stumps

i have been informed that they no longer let plot owners have any live stock on our site so i want to remove the tree stumps gravel the area add a bench and some half barrel planters full of flowers well thats the idea anyway


the thing is how would i be able to remove the tree stumps without breaking my back

[Capsid]

A stump grinder is the best, but that will cost and there may be an access issue.

[Poolcue]

Have the same problem,attacked the stump with an axe to smash it up.

[darcyvuqua]

Have the same problem,attacked the stump with an axe to smash it up.

did it have any affect?

[MartinRSharpe]

How big are the stumps?

If they are a couple of inches across they are not too bad to get out with a sharp spade maybe a cheap axe and a bit of effort. Bigger than about 12 inches and you are really looking at getting someone in or hiring specialist equipment.

if you have quite a bit of time there are some biological and chemical options but I am not sure I would want these to near my fruit and veg.

If you have loads of time then just smash it up as much as possible, leave it to rot then do it some more and repeat.

[darcyvuqua]

How big are the stumps?

If they are a couple of inches across they are not too bad to get out with a sharp spade maybe a cheap axe and a bit of effort. Bigger than about 12 inches and you are really looking at getting someone in or hiring specialist equipment.

if you have quite a bit of time there are some biological and chemical options but I am not sure I would want these to near my fruit and veg.

If you have loads of time then just smash it up as much as possible, leave it to rot then do it some more and repeat.

there all between about 11-14 inch mark but like i said this is down the bottom of the plot thinking about gravelling and potted flowers so chemicals would be no where near veg beds there is one that im going to try and work in to the design as it is about 27 inches but thats not a problem as its just inside my area and will be made into something lol im not bothered about the roots just the pertruding stumps

[veggiechicken]

Are they stumps still living - will they sprout in the spring? You could dig around to expose the roots and cut through them, leaving a stump like a loose tooth. Then use a crowbar to lever them out. May take a year or two!!
Or Work with them! Put a compost heap over the top?

[rustylady]

Just a thought, are any of the stumps in a position to form the "legs" of a bench by fixing a plank to the top of them?

[chris]

I just dig them out, but it is hard work. I've taken 17 trees out (4 taller than my house) of my garden. Crazy saplings that just grew and grew and grew. The largest, the stump I couldn't get my arms around. That took me 3 months to get out by hand.

[Mikey]

No wonder it took 3 months Chris hands aren't the best tools for getting stumps out with!!

I would hack away at the top with an axe, then put my compost bin over top of it as rustylady suggests.

[Aberdeenplotter]

Right guys, you need a bit of practical advice here. Tree stumps can be taken out without the use of machinery. Simply don't attack the job close to the stump. Dig a circle round the tree 3-4 ft out from the stump. Cut any roots you fine with a lopper or with a saw. Dig out the rest of the soil towards the stump and get your spade under the stump to cut any tap roots that may be lurking in there. If you can get hold ofone use a pinchpar to get some leverage. You won't do it in 5 minutes but prolonged application will get you there

[Dusty Rhodes]

Some people burn them out...it's a slow process.

A backhoe or tractor and chain would pull them out, but I doubt there's any way of driving over the neighboring plots.

If you dug around them a couple feet, you could use a chainsaw on them. You don't want to let the chain touch the soil.

[darcyvuqua]

Some people burn them out...it's a slow process.

A backhoe or tractor and chain would pull them out, but I doubt there's any way of driving over the neighboring plots.

If you dug around them a couple feet, you could use a chainsaw on them. You don't want to let the chain touch the soil.

yes i have been watching a few videos of this method on youtube think i might try the digging around it and cutting the roots

[mothhawk]

Blow the expense, this is the way to do it!

[veggiechicken]

But just what would you plant in a hole that deep afterwards