Stump removal

CAJUNLAWYER

CAJUNLAWYER

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I'm cutting down a ligustrum hedge and will be removing the stumps by first killing them with a liberal painting of 41% glyphosphate and afterwards drilling them out and applying either epsom salys or Potassium Nitrate to sped up the rotting. Anybody have any experience with this method? Comments? Which would work faster Epsom salts or salt peter. I want to try to have the stumps pretty much gone by the end of April so I can plant my Azaleas
 
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I'm partial to the "stump grinding removal suggestion.
Less labor and more cosmetically appealing in the short and long run.

I keep several gnarly old chains, a chewed up 25 inch chainsaw bar, and a modified Stihl MS660 for "stumping!"

Good luck!
 
I don't think anything will make the stumps rot that fast.

If you grind them you will only be grinding down 6" or so so you will still be dealing with the roots.

If you want to get rid of the stumps that fast the best way is to get a back hoe or excavator in with a root ripper IMO .
 
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I had several stumps that I tried the Salt Peter / Potassium Nitrate on and after six months those stumps were as happy as newborn pups. I eventually dug a deep trench around the perimeter and filled the pit with charcoal . Took two applications, but the stumps were gone.
 
I had 5 stumps and 3 trees dug out last Tuesday. The excavator had a thumb on the bucket and he pulled out the roots. I didn't get dirty or tired and making the money to pay him was easier than me doing any of the work. I have a 45 HP tractor with a loader but that excavator can do more work in an hour than my little tractor can do in a day. Larry
 
I agree with what "arjay" said (^^^^ above). If you want the stumps gone by the end of April I think your best bet is to yank them out with a chain or cable attached to whatever vehicle you can get close enough to do the job.

I don't think ligustrum/privet has a very deep root system, so yanking them out shouldn't be very hard.

BTW, if you do decide to yank them out, you can forgo cutting them and just take the plants out whole....and then dispose of them.

Don
 
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My only experience was removing a stump that was too close to the house and underground lines to be able to use a stump grinder. I used the commercial stuff (potassium nitrate) and bored a bunch of holes in the stump. Six months later it was still firmly in place so I gave it another treatment. After one year I was able to kick the stump out fairly easily. Its a long process.
 
If you can't get a machine or truck into the area to do the work with a chain.................

You might look into the use of a handy man Jack.
They can lift a lot of weight and go very high, in removing roots.
It is nice to have some help, if you can find it to balance the jack.
 
You didn’t say how many stumps but if you have very many hire a pro! Had a couple hundred pine stumps removed from a patch of East Texas piney woods last fall and it was worth every penny and left the soil enriched and plowed up enough to plant anything you want.
 
Cut them very slightly below grade. Drill a few holes and fill with Copper sulfate. Then top dress with dirt and plant grass seed. Then forgetaboutit.
They will be dirt in a couple years.
 
Save yourself the cost of glyphosate; cut them back to the stump, use a heavy application of regular de-icing salt around the stump and root system and liberally water it. That will kill the plant. Do you plan to let them rot, or are you going to dig up the stumps? Whatever you apply, it will still take a couple of years at least for the stumps to deteriorate. It's not a lot of fun, but digging the stump and major roots out is the best way to get rid of them. If you want to replant something in the same spot, don't even treat the roots with salt or anything else, just dig them out, or replant next to them if you can get the new plants close to where you want them. We do this all the time when revising a landscaped plat bed.
 
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