Thread: stump poisoning?

Originally Posted by makka619

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I am sure the tree loppers wouldn't charge to much extra to remove the stumps as well... I will check into that. I mean, they are currently charging $2200 to lop the trees - and I think he originally quoted me $3000 including stump removal, which is much more cheaper then the excavator.... unless you meant $400.

Hi Macca,
No I meant $4000. About $3000 for the tub grinder and $1000 for the excavator - 25 tonner including float. That way you get all the roots. If you grind them all you usually do is create a 400mm deep x 1m wide crater in the root mass .... on a large stump that is literally scratching the surface.
Here are some shots of a tubgrinder I took a few years back when constructing a wetland.
Attachment 32415

Attachment 32416

Photo 1 is tub grinder in action Photo2 shows how much heat can be generated in a pile of mulch

Now for the lazy buggers way.

Drill holes into the stump and plant mushroom type fungi into each hole. Theses are sometimes available and are in wheat grains to make them feel at home. The flat orange coloured fungi are best in my books. Place an open ended drum over each stump, and fill it with damp straw, and leave it all alone apart from damping it now and then. In a year or two, the stumps can be pulled out by hand sometimes, as nothing much is left of them once the fungi enters the wood and eats it away.

As for explosives, some blow upwards, and some blow downwards. What goes up, must come down. :eek:

Here in the US there are three ways to remove stumps that the homeowner has access to.

The first is axe, shovel and dig. A lot of work but it is possible.

The second is a stump grinder. Basically the machine is a roto-tiller or renovator with a 250mm to 500mm carbide toothed blade. These just saw the stump into saw dust and mix the stump remains into the soil. You may have to keep after any weed trees that may start to sprout for the next few years. The process is very effective and the machine can be rented or contracted with an operator.

The third method is a chemical solution that is designed to cause the stump to decay rapidly. (6 months) Holes are drilled into the stump, 25mm in diameter and 50-75mm deep. The chemical is poured into the holes and kept moist for several months. Then the holes are filled with diesel fuel and the stump is burned. I've never had much luck with this method.

Usually I'll hire the contractor to grind the stump out as part of the tree take down process.

BTW - It take an extraordinary amount of vehicle power to pull a stump out of the ground. Think of it this way, the stump has been supporting the mass of the tree and when a vehicle argues with a tree, the tree almost always wins.

Too bad it's not as hard to dig up two year old threads as it would be to dig up the tree stumps and give answers to that the original poster has probably by this time forgotton he ever asked the question.

Originally Posted by Barry_White

Too bad it's not as hard to dig up two year old threads as it would be to dig up the tree stumps and give answers to that the original poster has probably by this time forgotton he ever asked the question.

Makka you bloody dill! I hope you don't do that again. Next time mention in your post your bringing something back from the dead will you!:mad:

Thanks Barry

hmm, the fungus would have done it then.

Oops resurrection is a bad thing then.

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Thanks for the tips guys in regards to bringing threads from out of the woodwork hehe and of course my question on stump removal.


And explosives lol - Now that could be an interesting approach, on the upside it would be quick, on the down; it must come down and I don't think it would be pretty.

Originally Posted by rrich

BTW - It take an extraordinary amount of vehicle power to pull a stump out of the ground. Think of it this way, the stump has been supporting the mass of the tree and when a vehicle argues with a tree, the tree almost always wins.

Great way to put it...