Forum home› Garden design

Stump reduction ideas...

DaveKearleyDaveKearley Posts: 130
in Garden design
I need to reduce this fir tree stump , hopefully by about 8"

No chance of getting it ground out so need DIY ideas :)

My first one is to use a 1" auger drill bit and drill many holes down into it and then break it up/off.

Any other ideas might work?



«1

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 86,100
    Hire a stump grinder …. Most tool hire places will deliver. Pretty simple to use. 

    Or if you’re older/not so fit etc I’m sure most landscapers would do it. Just a few hours work. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • DaveKearleyDaveKearley Posts: 130
    In an ideal world, yes. Trouble is, its almost touching the concrete gravel boards behind and its in a small raised bed, also my budget is tight on this one :)

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 86,100
    We had a huge ash tree stump ground out in a corner just a foot from next door’s garage wall. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 10,933
    I think your drilling idea would work. If you drilled enough holes there wouldn't be much left to remove, which you could do with a saw right at the base.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • SYinUSASYinUSA Posts: 233
    If the wood isn't too dense, a reciprocating saw would be a good place to start. Otherwise, drill as many holes as you can into it as possible. If you have time to wait, root-rot-accelerator crystals down the holes will speed up the rotting process. If you need it gone faster, then what you suggest will work. 
  • FireFire Posts: 17,349
    How long has the stump been a stump? Do you want to get the roots out too? A mattock might make a start on break things up.
  • DaveKearleyDaveKearley Posts: 130
    It was a conifer tree, about 20' tall, was cut down 18m ago.

    I'll give it a go with the drill idea, finish with an axe or even old wood chisels. I do have a small recip. saw which might come in handy. Not worried about the roots, just lowering the stump
  • SkandiSkandi Posts: 1,717
    What my husband does is just cuts it down lower with a bow saw. He's done hundreds of sycamore stumps, we get them down flush with the ground so we can mow over them.. a good way to stop them coming back!
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 86,100
    I’m afraid that some ‘tree men’ leave a stump ‘cos they know there’s then a chance they’ll be asked to grind it out and they’ll be able to charge extra. 
    When we had a large tree felled we stipulated that the stump should be ground to 8” below surface level as part of the quoted price. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • WonkyWombleWonkyWomble Posts: 4,468
    If you go for the drill method you could plug mushroom spore in the holes and grow them whilst it decomposed 👍
Sign In or Register to comment.