How to Clear Land Stumps
Options for clearing stumps from your land abound, but many are costly and complicated. If you would rather not hire a professional landscaping or tree service, rent a powerful stump grinder or deal with potentially hazardous chemicals, you should be able to clear most tree, shrub or bush stumps manually without much trouble. All you will need are a few handy yard tools and enough time and energy to tackle a somewhat labor-intensive --- yet straightforward and satisfying --- project. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Heavy-duty spade
- Spud bar/landscaping bar
- Ax or mattock (optional)
- Metal file (optional)
Instructions
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Dig a trench. Use a sturdy, sharp landscaping spade to dig all the way around your stump. Make the trench deep and wide enough to allow clear access to the roots, but dig far enough from the stump so that you're not constantly having to battle the thickest roots.
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Cut through roots. When the trench is complete, you should be able to see many roots, which you can cut through with a heavy spud bar. The weight of the bar will do much of the work, so you may not have to use a lot of force. Angle the bar so that it cuts through the roots and into the dirt beneath the stump, rather than chopping vertically.
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Haul out the stump. As you work with the spud bar, press down on it regularly to pry up on the stump from below. This will help extract the stump from the ground and will strain the roots, making them easier to sever. Once you have made your way around the entire trench, you should be able to use the spud bar as a lever to tip the stump up and out of its resting place.
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Dispose of the stump. Depending on how large and sturdy the stump is, you can either chop it into firewood, grind or chip it to make mulch, have it hauled away or place it in an unobtrusive spot to decompose.
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Fill the hole. Most stumps will leave a sizable hole in your landscape, which you can fill with dirt or a mixture of wood chips and soil. Pack down the dirt firmly, and mound it up a bit higher than the surrounding land to allow for settling over time. You can then plant grass seed or do other landscaping on the site.
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Tips & Warnings
If the trunk is not already cut close to the land, cut it to a height of 4 feet or more. Once the roots are chopped, you will be able to push, lift or grip the trunk to help you remove the stump.
Check the edges of your digging and cutting implements for sharpness and, if necessary, use a metal file to sharpen them.
Be careful when digging or cutting with tools that are sharp and heavy. Always use protective gear such as work gloves, safety goggles and sturdy shoes or boots (with steel toes, if possible).
References
Resources
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