If you have an annoying stump that has been sitting in your yard for a few years, this is the year that you need to get rid of it. Here is what you need to do to get rid of that annoying stump in your yard.
Inspect the Stump
The first thing that you need to do is inspect the stump. If the stump has been sitting in your yard for a couple of years, there is a good chance that the stump has already begun to decompose. Go out, push the stump around a little, and see whether it is still firmly in place or starts to fall apart when you apply pressure to it.
If the stump is ready to fall apart, then you can get to removing the stump. However, if the stump is firmly in place still, you are going to need to do a few things before you try to pull the stump out.
Kill the Stump
If the stump is solidly in place and doesn't look like it is going anywhere, it probably has a root system that is still intact and working. What you are going to need to do is kill the root system and the stump.
To kill the stump, you are going to want to take a drill with a long drill bit. You are going to want to drill holes into the tree stump. You should drill holes on the top of the tree stump and on the sides. The holes that you drill on the sides of the tree stump should be done at a downward angle and not vertically. You want to be able to pour substances into these holes. Ideally, make each hole as long as your drill bit will allow.
Once the holes are in place, you are going to need to add substances that will kill the tree off. Pour Epson salt or rock salt into the holes that you have created. Fill the holes up about three-fourths of the way full. Then add water to each hole. The salt should kill the stump and then the root system for the tree. It may take a few months for that to happen.
Remove the Stump
Once the root system is killed, you can remove the stump. You can remove the stump by digging up the dirt around the stump. You are going to encounter roots as you dig up the stump. Use an ax to break up any roots that you encounter as you dig around the stump. Once you expose the stump, you are going to need to try to dig under it. You are going to have to rock the stump back and forth to get it out. You may also want to use a chain saw to break the stump into smaller pieces once you dig it out.
Talk to a tree service if you would like to forgo this path and instead get professional help.
