Anyone got any tips to speed up getting a stump to rot away quickly? Or at least a little faster than normal. I think I can flush cut it low enough to mow over. The stump in question is a cedar (at least that’s what it is called around here, you folks tell me it’s a juniper of some sort) they don’t rot very fast and often used for fence posts
I’ve read to drill lots of holes and pack em full of rock salt. Then cover with soil and mulch and dump water on it. There are products to treat with that are supposed to speed up rot. I’ve never done it that way. Did the holes and diesel truck and light it up but probably not in town any longer. Burn barrel over the stump with a tube and leaf blower can be fun too
If your end game here is to make the stump disappear below ground level I’m in favor of burning it. No digging up massive root balls, no beating on your truck trying to yank the thing out, no waiting for it to rot. I’ve had good luck in the past keeping a steady fire going on the stump and letting it chew right through it. Come back the next day and fill the hole in with dirt.
We cut down sagebrush that were on steroids (huge) from feeding off our leach field that was on a steep cliff, like above, drilled a hole in them and bought a chemical from the nursery.
I’d agree with Eric. Especially on a rot resistant species. It’s the easy way to get rid of em. Dig around it a little and build a looong duration fire on top and don’t let it go out. It’s not a stump, it’s a new fire pit
I will cut slits or try to carve out a swell to hold water. Covering with mulch seems like it would speed up the decay process too. If it’s that cedar next to the house, fire is not an option.
Not for cedat unfortunately. It is actually a junoper even though we call it Eastern red cedar around here. Try making some "hashtag" (#) cuts in the stump to expose more area for rot. Maybe cigarsmokingzombie can give you some tannerite!
I gots plenty of tannerite myself, but the stump’s location dictates other options. The hashtag bore cuts is probably the route I’ll go with and let nature take it’s course. Was hoping for a suggestion of something to pour into the cuts. Like Fifelaker suggested, do you think the stuff for RV holding tanks would work? Gotta be basically the same stuff I would think.
I'd probably just go with the commercial stump rot stuff from the hardware...assuming it can't just be burnt out.
Drill holes or cut slits in it to hold water or chemicals. If you use chemicals put a cover or barrier of some sort to keep animals from tasting. Anti-freeze isn't the only thing some try.
I've heard of guys drilling a bunch of large holes in it and pouring lamp oil in the holes then lighting it. When it goes out just repeat the process. Reason for the lamp oil is it doesn't smoke that much Note-I've never tried this myself.
I used (used motor oil and diesel). 1” drill bit left holes about 6 inches deep half full of chips. It works
# bore cut it and use charcoal briquettes to keep a low slow fire going build up a Little chimney with bricks safe effective and can be used really close to the house! Diesel and oil plus compressed air source makes it more fun and flammable
Fertilizer will speed up the rot if you drill Some holes and pack it in.. I think same thing as the marketed “stump rot” products. It still takes a while, but I hear diesel + fertilizer will burn it up pretty quick. Go sparingly as it could go boom.
I just had this pop up in a news feed How to kill a tree stump: a guide to natural and chemical methods | GardeningEtc
