Best way to kill a tree stump

[Radio Ron w4ron]

I have a stump that was left after our tree guys cut down
a big maple tree a few years ago.
Can anyone tell me the best way to kill it so it'll stop putting
our sprouts that I have to keep cutting off?
The stump has a hole in the center, is there something I can
pour in the hole that'll kill it once and for all?


LLAP

 

[rburke65]

I think there is a product called Stump Out. That I have tried but it seemed to take forever. I have drilled holes in a stump and poured diesel fuel on it then burned....took forever to make it "go away". The best plan is have it removed with a stump grinder. May Vostok ya some $ but ....GONE.

 

[yaidunno]

Rent or hire a stump grinder. Problem solved.

 

[DAVE VAN]

Dyn-0-Mite!

Ron, how are you doing?

 

[JonBoehman]

I have an oak that I took the stump down as far as I could to the ground. Would like to know if there is a non mechanical way of getting it to rot faster. I have heard 100% nitrogen fertilizer and a salt block but, am interested in what you guy have for ideas as well.

 

[D.J.]

Check out a product called Tordon might work read and follow all label directions.

 

[kaymccampbell]

Stump grinder. Burn it. Put some patent **** on it for years. Use grandma's secret stump killer.
I had well over 500 stumps to get rid of and I've tried all the tricks and the only one that got it done in my lifetime was the stump grinder. I've still got about 15 more to do, but it's the way to go.

 

[toplessHO]

if you drill a few holes in the side that intersect with the hole in middle you can burn it out in a day.

 

[ToolmanGary]

You can probably find a stump grinder guy on craigslist to grind it for $100

 

[CNGsaves]

Kill it first before you stump grind it.

Drill whole slew of holes (1/2" diameter AND deep as paddle bit goes) and fill with RoundUp and/or salt or Tordon. Keep the holes full and cover with tarp so can't be washed away by rain.

 

[Chaznsc]

Kill it first before you stump grind it.

Drill whole slew of holes (1/2" diameter AND deep as paddle bit goes) and fill with RoundUp and/or salt or Tordon. Keep the holes full and cover with tarp so can't be washed away by rain.

This - just did 5 Bradford pear stumps, now dead.

 

[Falcon67]

We use diesel around here to keep a mesquite from sprouting again. If you want a mesquite stump gone, you either grind it and cover with dirt or you go get a backhoe. If they rot, it must take centuries because I've never seen one rot away.

 

[ford33]

Stump out does work but it takes a long time.

Last October I used Bonide ready to use "Stump-Out" from Home Depot ($7) on a large 20 inch diameter tree stump. I followed manufacturers directions.

It's been 6 months now and the stump is still there but most of the exposed treated wood is very mushy and soft. Hitting the stump with a hand axe brings large pieces of wood off the stump. Problem is not all the wood is soft yet. Due to the hard wood there's still much work to do to remove the stump.

Stump-out states in its directions that once the product is used for some time, the user can apply BBQ charcoal and lighter fluid on the stump top and light it to burn the stump out. I have not done that and feel it isn't safe for my immediate area with kids and animals visiting frequently.

I cannot use a stump grinder for this situation. The stump is at the very edge of a water pond with soft mud on one side and a 5 foot retaining wall less than 2 feet from the stump on the dry side. I will just hack away at it and then drill more holes and apply more Stump-out. Mother nature will also take care of it for me eventually.

 

[PhilMeUp]

I was looking into this some time ago. Apparently trees don't like copper nails.

These might be worth considering:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009Q7SA9G/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[FullRaceMerc]

We had a stubborn stump years ago behind my dad's garage. Tried all sorts of stuff & it kept sprouting. We ended up covering it with a light proof tarp for months. No sunlight finally killed it.

Today we hire a stump grinder.

 

[jkwilson]

if you drill a few holes in the side that intersect with the hole in middle you can burn it out in a day.

Burning a stump can be dangerous. Long underground roots can set buildings on fire a good distance away.

 

[Pack Rat]

If it's fairly dry put charcoal briquettes in the hole, light the charcoal and burn it out.

 

[Showkey]

When the conservation people want to kill invasive trees like buck thorn ........cut it down and paint the stump with full strength round up.

 

[LifeLongWNYer]

I had a 17" dia locust stump to get rid of. I put a truck wheel over the stump, filled the wheel with charcoal, set it on fire. It smoldered for a couple of days, but eventually burnt the stump down enough so that I can grow grass over it.

The whole neighborhood was wondering who was bbqing, smelled pretty good.


Sorry, didn't read the question, and just now realized the OP wanted to kill the stump, not remove it.

.

 

[Kaizen]

Burning a stump can be dangerous. Long underground roots can set buildings on fire a good distance away.

guy down the street from me bought a lot with a 6 foot diameter tree. built his house, driveway, nice granite walkway. then had a company take down the tree. left him with the stump. he drilled that for days and dumped gallons of diesel in it. thing smoked for days. collapsed part of the road, driveway, and walkway. hell of a mess. to this day I still remember him sitting out there with a beer watching it burn with a smile. not so much after he got the repair bill

 

[FloydShine]

Check out a product called Tordon might work read and follow all label directions.

DJ. gave you a very good suggestion! Tordon is a very effective product. It is available at most farm and ag stores, Tractor supply etc. Comes in quart size and larger. Cut the sprouts, apply and let it work. I have had excellent results using Tordon.

 

[BLUE72CAMARO]

Cut all the sprouts off and coat every cut surface of the stump with this which is available at any farm supply store.

It will not sprout again.

 

[LonestarLando]

Copper Nails? http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009Q7SA9G/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[ironman70]

I rented a stump grinder for 8 hours and it cost me $100...took out 18 stumps so it was well worth it.

 

[jpcjguy]

Stump grinder all the way. Rented a tracked model at home depot - came with it's own trailer. Did the 4 hour rental at 5pm. Had all night to use it and had it back in the morning.

 

[Kaizen]

When the conservation people want to kill invasive trees like buck thorn ........cut it down and paint the stump with full strength round up.

while we're on the subject I have a tip for invasive vines. last year I cut the vine and put the cut end into plastic containers secured zip ties with 50/50 roundup. I had been spraying it for years and it would only kill that branch with others popping up 50 feet away. so I gave them this drink and left them. worked great. this year hooked the truck up to the main 2 inch stem and ripped it out.

 

[buddyboy]

stump grinder is the quickest

tordon will kill it

drill holes into the stump, pour dry sugar into the holes then watch the ants, bugs, skunks, *****, birds, whatever grind up the stump for you.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

If it's been cut down for a few years burn it out. Holding the heat in a steel barrel over it seems to help.

 

[LifeLongWNYer]

Burning a stump can be dangerous. Long underground roots can set buildings on fire a good distance away.

I guess burning a stump requires a little thought and care, just like using any other ( power ) tool.

I've burnt several, with no problems, but I wouldn't do it to a stump next to a structure, or any of the other mentioned things.



.

 

[ratdoggy]

I had a couple that I drilled out, poured Kero on and then took a truck rim and built a fire over it took a couple of days for a small stump probably 12" across

 

[Casey69]

I think there is a product called Stump Out. That I have tried but it seemed to take forever. I have drilled holes in a stump and poured diesel fuel on it then burned....took forever to make it "go away". The best plan is have it removed with a stump grinder. May Vostok ya some $ but ....GONE.

i tried the stump out (or some similar product) route & it was a disappointment. drilling into the hackberry stump dulled my bits & the product i used didn't work, or at least didn't work very quickly. see if your local rental shop has a stump grinder & get it done in a few minutes.

 

[Trey T]

if you want to lay grass/sod there, then you need at least 6" of top soil. I believe the best method is to rent a stump grinder (i.e. HD) and grind it out.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Even a "portable" stump grinder can take out a good size stump. HD rents them cheap, but getting it home is an issue.

Burning does work, but it take more than just pouring some gas/diesel on it and lighting it. If your check YouTube, the successful burns utilize some kind of blower to increase the oxygen going to the fire.

The best method is to dig down along one side and drill into the stump below ground level. Use some charcoal to get the fire started as low as possible. Once you get a good burn in under the stump, let the fire go out and then drill down from above into that chamber. Start another fire underneath. Use a blower until you are get a good burn going up through the vertical hole(s).

This process will take several days, but it really requires a minimal amount of effort.