Usually, when a tree falls or is felled, the stump tends to be removed.
In a domestic setting, it is probably more of an aesthetic consideration for the client, but in any setting, stumps should be removed to prevent fungus causing the roots to rot and to stop ‘suckering’ – where new shoots sprout from the roots and remaining stump.
So, how should you go about removing one?
Firstly, the way not to remove a tree stump is to burn it in place.
A newly felled tree root will be too wet to burn, not to mention the time it would take, the potential hazards, and the smoky mess.
This is because it’s not just as simple as setting fire to it. Really, the stump would need to be angled in a particular way with bore holes ground into the trunk. After that, potassium nitrate and hot water would be added to the holes and only then would this be followed by a controlled fire.
And having got that far, if the stump went deep into the ground, its highly unlikely that enough oxygen would be reaching the fire to keep it going so you’d just end up with a charcoal-like mess.
This is not a method of tree stump removal that anyone should feel encouraged to have a go at.
The best way to have a tree stump removed is to get a tree surgeon to do the job safely and professionally.
Having assessed the job, a tree surgeon might decide that a mini excavator would be the best way to remove a widespread root system, or that a smaller root could be pulled out with a winch, especially if it is a relatively large stump. Both methods will leave a relatively wide surface footprint.
However, the most common process for having a tree stump removed is using a stump grinder. Although individuals can hire a stump grinder, professional tree surgeons use professional level equipment that does the job far more quickly, and efficiently.
A stump grinder is a specialized piece of equipment that grinds the main root out of the ground using a heavyweight rotating cutting disk. The teeth on the disk power through the trunk at high speed, grinding the stump down below surface level into woodchips and sawdust which can then be returned to the hole, removed, or mulched. Because the stump is ground down below the surface, it won’t go on to grow annoying suckers that keep on having to be removed.
Apart from getting the job done in the least amount of time and to a high standard, an accredited tree surgeon will use the appropriate safety equipment to fulfil health and safety requirements a domestic user may not even know about.
They will also avoid power lines or water pipes, and they will have a range of differently sized stump grinders enabling them to use the most appropriate equipment for the job, from skid grinders to riding grinders to rear-hitch grinders.
Someone attempting it for themselves is more likely to use a stump grinder they’ve hired based on price or availability – which may not be appropriate for the job they need to do.
Using an experienced tree surgeon to remove tree stumps is certainly recommended if you want a well sone job with peace of mind.
