Yes, we know about grinding, I’ve rented a stump grinder a time or 3. The next issue, stumps don’t really bother me, especially in the outer areas. Of course, common protocol is to cut them low, but not in the dirt. I’m trying a method that’s kinda new to me. That method is to hasten decay. Basically one keeps the stump wet, adds high nitrogen fertilizer, then covers it. Holes or a cavity cut down to trap moisture. This is supposed to speed up fungal growth, decay. I think it’s more of a warm weather technique, but I thought I’d try some before cold weather sets in. Over the years, the ‘epson salt’ method is about useless. I never feel like cutting the roots down in the dirt & mud. I know some type of wood rots quicker than others. Has anyone tried covering the stump? Other methods?
I usually just cut them flush enough to mow over and use the nose of the bar to cut in a cross-hatch pattern so it holds water to help speed up decay...after a few years they usually soften up and I can work on them with the tractor bucket to get them below the dirt. Whatever you do, don't try to burn it. Charcoal doesn't rot.
A few years ago when I had a new septic system put in, I had to clear a bit of my woods. I left the stumps high, maybe 2 feet, and their excavator had no trouble grabbing on pulling them out. I know, it is cheating
Our great grandfathers just went down to the hardware store and got some dynamite. So jealous of the freedom they enjoyed.
You don't have to go back that far. I remember on the farm using dynamite to blow stumps. Some of the neighbor ladies didn't like it because the big boom was so loud. I don't remember when they quit selling the good stuff but we always had some fun, usually in the spring.
If explosives were not available, this was another method where you only needed a draft team, some fittings and a long beam. I always try to understand that virtually ALL the pasture that I see around here was MADE. My area would have been almost completely covered with forest long ago. Not mentioning the work of felling and moving all the logs, then they had to deal with the stumps with no machinery to help. Millions and millions of stumps were dealt with one way or another to create farmable acreage. Amazing. We all stand on the shoulders of Giants. I'm sure there were many methods employed. They had animals, hand tools, ropes, fixtures and fire to work with.
A method that I've thought of trying is to cut a low spot in the stump with the chainsaw...basically just cut like you are trying to take it down to ground level, but then keep the nose of the bar lower, so as to make a bowl...it should hold water and rot quickly, I'd think...
jo191145 cut a pyramid out of a TOH stump last year when we were cutting at his place. That was 13 months ago. Mebbe he can give us an update.
Some of those methods are interesting and very labor intensive. Not being lazy, but I’m trying to keep the labor level down. Small stumps I can usually cut low enough to mow over, harder with larger stumps.
Not much has changed. My idea was to get rid of some excess Epsom salts kicking around the house. Maybe it would follow the root system back and kill off the suckers. Never applied the salt. Internet seems to think it was a dumb idea
I know lukem said not to burn, and I understand why. Here is my story. I cut down a dying white birch tree back in May. It was maybe 12" in diameter. I drilled some holes in the flush cut stump and let it dry out over the summer. I burned it down to a nice bowl shape just using charcoal. Hit the remaining part with an axe and it was ready for dirt. I never had much luck just building a fire over it. No matter how long it burned and how big and hot the fire got. But charcoal worked quite well. Had to do it about 4-5 times over a month. Not sure I would recommend it, but it did work.
I like to take my saw and cut into the stump just above the dirt line, keeping the tip of the bar pointed slightly downward. Get the tip of the bar close to the center of the stump as possible then work your way around the stump. If you do it right you will leave the stump with a bowl shape that will hold water to help the stump rot quicker. Also you can mow right over it.
For large stumps, especially in places I want to be able to mow, I dig around the stump and expose the roots, using a square shovel to remove dirt as much as possible from the wood. Then I use my electric saw to cut out all the roots and then go straight across the main stump slightly below grade. Fill back in with dirt, toss some grass seed on top. After a year there is barely a visible spot and after two years there is no trace.
The only two big stumps in my yard I ever had I burned out. The key I found is duration of the fire. I wasn’t in any sort of rush to get them burned out. Just simply figured if I’m burning waste wood in the backyard I might as well burn it over the stumps Doing a little campfire to enjoy the evening will barely touch a wet stump. Keep that fire going for 3-4 days at a time and it will begin to disappear. Whenever you let the fire go out shoveling the ashes back off the stump and start again. I had a lot of pine to get rid of. The best was all the gnarly maple I had brought home and found the work to make firewood was just not worth it LOL. Big chunks just smoldering for days on end does a good job.
Been harvesting dead standing oak lately,,,,,status quo. Taking a break after dropping a triple stem out of one big stump,,just lookin, enjoying the day. Usually I like to knock the stumps down low even in the forest. Looks nicer and makes travel easier. I don’t want this short fat stump tho. Too much work for too little yield. Thought of this post and had a crazy idea, status quo. What if you cut into the stump down at ground level but don’t cut all the way through. I wonder if carpenter ants would find that a beautiful starter home LOL. It’ll always be wet which they enjoy. Certainly not the fastest removal method. Call it the lazy man’s special
