How to remove a stump — an overview of the best ways to get rid of a stump (80 photo ideas)
The formation of stumps on the land plot can be caused by both the natural death of green spaces and the cleaning of the territory for the construction of the object. The existing remnants from the tree will not only reduce the aesthetics of the site and make it impossible to erect buildings at this place, but also make it difficult to move around the yard area, occupy a useful space that can be used for planting other crops, will generate fresh shoots, will become an excellent refuge for summer pests.
Removal of stumps on the site can be done both on their own and using special transport. We will talk further about how to get rid of unnecessary wood bases with minimal effort, time and money, which method to choose for this.
Removing a stump from a sawn or fallen tree can be done in several ways. There are two main approaches to their destruction, there are methods:
- chemical;
- physical.
The first group includes methods involving removal without uprooting. In these cases, a variety of chemical compositions are used. By treating wood residues with a special reagent, it is possible to achieve their faster destruction.
Physical methods are based on the use of standard tools for uprooting. In such cases, getting rid of stumps occurs with the help of a basic set: a shovel, an axe, a crowbar and a saw.
Let's try to analyze each of the existing methods, talk about the advantages and disadvantages of one or another method.
Burning with saltpeter
A popular way to deal with stumps is to remove them with saltpeter. The essence of the method is the impregnation of wood residues with this chemical oxidizer and their subsequent burning. Saltpeter will ensure the complete combustion of the hemp, both its aboveground part and the powerful rhizome.
Preparation for removal by this method will consist of the following steps:
- drill several holes as thick and deep as possible in the tree;
- pour saltpeter into the resulting cavities, pour it with water, this will provide a more intensive impregnation of the trunk;
Close the holes with pre-prepared wooden stoppers of the appropriate size or, even simpler, tightly wrap the drilled surface with polyethylene.
In this form, the stumps must be left for the whole winter and spring, by the next summer they will be saturated with the chemical composition and dry out. And then a bonfire is built around them, it should burn until the absolute destruction of the stump. At the end of the process, the place where the wood skeleton was previously located is dug up.
The main advantages of this method are:
- minimum physical activity per person;
- complete disposal of the remains of the tree;
- ease of implementation;
- a guarantee of the absence of young shoots from the remaining rhizome in the future.
However, this method has a number of disadvantages:
- saturation of the soil with saltpeter, which is harmful to tuberous and some fruit-bearing crops;
- a long time interval between the beginning and the end of the work;
- the need to purchase a chemical reagent.
Removal with urea
The preparation of the wood frame when using this method will be identical to the previous method. The surface is perforated with large diameter drills, and the resulting cavities are filled with carbamide – urea. Next, it is necessary to fill the holes with water and cover the trunk with a polymer film.
Such a simple method of removing stumps will allow in one or two years to completely get rid of the tree bases and get a fertile layer of soil in their place.
The main advantages of this method are as follows:
- minimum physical work of a person;
- safety of the substance, the soil is not clogged with nitrates;
- absolute removal of the remains of the tree.
The disadvantages of this method can be considered:
- a large time interval for which the destruction will occur;
- additional expenses related to the purchase of chemical material;
- large consumption of reagent.
Safety information when working with chemicals
Having decided to deal with unnecessary wood residues by chemical methods, do not forget about following the basic rules, observe all precautions.
- First, be sure to use personal protective equipment when working. Choose clothes that cover all areas of the body, wear gloves.
- Secondly, in the cultivated area and around it, do not grow berries, plants, fruits or vegetables that will be eaten.
- Thirdly, remember that when burning hemp with saltpeter, plants planted within a meter radius of the treated area may also die. Therefore, it is better to transplant the crops that need to be preserved in advance.
Uprooting the stump
It is possible to perform the removal of stumps on the site by uprooting it. Specially rented equipment will help to do this quickly and with the least effort: a tractor, an excavator, however, such measures will be quite costly if only a couple of unnecessary stumps are located on the site.
It is quite possible to uproot tree skeletons on your own, the main thing is to adhere to the basic simple rules.
To begin with, carefully prepare for the procedure, clean the stump from the surrounding soil, this can be done in two ways:
Using a bayonet shovel, excavate a space with a radius of 0.5 meters around the former tree.
Also, using a shovel, dig a hole located one and a half meters from the skeleton, about a meter in diameter, about 50 cm deep, and making a groove to it from the removed wood base. After directing a powerful jet of water at the stump, the soil will begin to wash out, opening the approach to the root system.
Having the possibility of using a winch, it is possible to perform uprooting with its help. To do this, the stump along the trunk and rhizome is wrapped with a strong metal cable, which is stretched through a winch.
The cable passing to the winch from the sawn surface will be a kind of lever that will serve to quickly remove the skeleton from the ground. The winch is mounted on a pole or other tree.
Without a winch at your disposal, you can perform the usual mechanical removal, which is carried out by sawing off or cutting off the roots of the wood frame.
Having made a stump of the lateral root system, the central pillar will remain, it is quite difficult to approach it with a tool, therefore it must be "loosened" by applying physical force. With the help of active movements, tilts in different directions, turns of the stump around the axis, it is possible to make its final separation from the rhizome.
Speaking about the advantages of this method, we can highlight the following advantages:
- minimal financial losses;
- high speed of work, this method does not stretch for several months.
However, this method has significant drawbacks:
- the process of uprooting is very laborious;
- not complete removal of wood residues, the root system remains in the ground, which can hinder construction at this site;
- the need for helpers, to cope alone with a thick, massive trunk alone is quite difficult.
By cleaning the land from interfering wood residues, it is possible to increase the efficiency of its use. In addition to additional functionality, the improved territory will become more well-groomed and aesthetic. Therefore, do not leave wood "garbage" on the infield, be sure to clean the site.
Choose a more convenient way to remove stumps for your case, carefully study the detailed photo instructions for the chosen method and get down to business.
Photo tips on how to remove a stump