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Removing an old tree stump - help !
QUESTION:In clearing out some old unattractive hedging from the back of the garden I
have discovered an old tree stump. It is about 4 inches across standing 6
inches off the ground. Must be at least 10 years old.
I tried uprooting it at the weekend without much success - well I gave up
actually as it wasn't budging.
Any ideas so that I can remove it easily. It is hardly big enough to make a
"feature" of it and it will disrupt my master plan for planting the area
with low bedding plants.
ANSWER: Start digging down about 18-24" away from the stump, cutting through
any roots you come across with loppers or a pruning saw. Move around
circumferentially. Use a crowbar or mattock or pickaxe (gently, as a
lever). As you clear a space, you will probably be able to get closer
in to your stump, and with luck be able to hollow underneath it. If
you have a decent lever - say, an eight foot or more piece of sound
3x3, or a 5' crowbar and can give yourself a safe fulcrum (emphasise
safe) have a go at levering it out. If not, keep going around and
underneath and you *wiil* remove it. Padding for the knees is a good
idea. Some trees have a tap root, and once this is severed, the stump
will become a lot more mobile.
Should take 30-90 minutes. Take the radio.
Let us know how you get on.
I just noticed, in last weeks construction paper, that there is a new
variation on the attachment for grinding stumps. This new one attaches
to the front of a bobcat and will grind down 450mm in 15 mins on a 750mm
dia stump. This is not a particularly new idea but the performance is
worth noting. Obviously it would only be worth hiring one if you had a
lot to do, I doubt that one 4 inch stump would justify it! (unless you
really want to drive a skid steer loader which are great fun but do make
a mess of the lawn).
Not if you put down decking sheets first.
Which construction paper featured the machine-mounted
stump-grinder? I saw one at SED (or was it CMPE?) about 5 years ago.
Twas Construction News, April 19th edition, page 19, a picture
accompanied by these words:-
"On the Stump: Bobcat has launched a stump grinder attachment for its
wheeled and tracked skid steers, which it claims is more efficient at
removing tree stumps than pull behind grinders. Bobcat claims the SG60
can grind a 750mm diameter stump down 450 mm in less than 15 minutes"
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