It happens that a tree has to be felled due to declining vitality or lack of space in the garden. What remains is a tree stump, which is often an eyesore. There are several ways to remove the remains.

The best and most environmentally friendly way to remove a tree stump is mechanically

Table of Contents

Show all
  1. the essentials in brief
  2. Removal Methods
  3. Chemicals
  4. mechanical aids
  5. fertilizer
  6. Fire
  7. Kill with salt
  8. Ineffective and inappropriate
  9. Tree stump as a garden decoration
  10. frequently asked Questions

    11. the essentials in brief

    • There are basically four ways to remove a tree stump: dig it up, treat it with chemicals, treat it biologically, or have it removed by a professional.
    • A chainsaw and/or a router greatly facilitates mechanical removal; a winch makes it easier to pull out roots.
    • Yeast or compost will speed up the tree stump's natural decomposition process; Salt can also be used in small amounts.

    What methods are suitable for removal?

    The most effective solution is to dig up the old tree stump by hand. Anyone who has neither a mini excavator nor a cable winch is faced with a tedious task. Shallow-rooted trees can be exposed with relatively little effort. In the case of deep-rooted plants such as fir trees, it usually takes several hours. The job will be made a little easier if you only dig up the top part of the root system and cut through the roots with a chainsaw.

    You can invest some money and hire a horticultural contractor who will come up with a stump grinder. But you can also do it without digging. You can use chemistry to effectively kill tree stumps. However, the agents are harmful to the environment and not suitable for use in your own garden. You can also naturally speed up the rotting process of the tree stump in situ using biological means.

    advantage disadvantage
    by hand hardly any root residues in the ground tedious, tools necessary
    with chemistry efficiently and quickly environmentally harmful
    biological harmless to nature and health lengthy process
    hire companies done quickly expensive

    Chemicals

    The application of potassium nitrate causes the wood to decompose faster

    Potassium nitrate, which is sprinkled into the wood as granules, serves as a decomposition accelerator. Decomposition can take between three and twelve months, depending on the size of the tree and the type of wood. Compared to natural rotting, chemical agents ensure a great time saving. Since these products have a negative impact on people and the environment, you should think about alternatives. Children and pets should stay away from the tree stump after treatment. Health damage can occur if inhaled.

    This is how the remedy is used:

    1. Drill holes in the tree stump
    2. Sprinkle powder in the holes
    3. observe tree stump
    4. if it is soft enough, the wood can be chopped
    5. Repeat application if necessary

    mechanical aids

    If you don't have an excavator at hand and want to remove the tree stump without a tiller, patience and muscle strength are required. Smaller stumps can be removed with manual methods. For large root systems, consider alternatives. After getting the stump out of the ground, you should fill the hole with sawdust or clay. The material will settle over the coming weeks, so you will need to fill in fresh substrate regularly.

    trees method
    shallow roots Spruce, birch, chestnut, hazelnut, cherry Dig up and cut roots
    deep rooter Oak, walnut, fir, pine work with a stump grinder
    heart root Larch, hornbeam, maple, gingko rinse with a high-pressure cleaner (€119.90) and remove with a jack

    milling machine

    Stump grinders are ideal for removing root systems that grow to a depth of 30 centimeters. These can be rented in hardware stores. Stump grinders work hydraulically and shred tree stump and roots by rotating a blade disc. The device is placed over the tree stump so that the cutting knives gradually mill the wood and process it into small pieces. Finally, the wood residues are removed. You can reuse the substrate as a mulch (€239.00).

    With axe, shovel and jack

    This method is only suitable for shallow-rooted trees, as you cannot fully expose the root system of deep-rooted plants. Use a shovel to dig up and cut through the large roots. Depending on the strength of the root, you will need an axe, pruning shears or root saw to cut through.

    With a special root hoe, you can tear the underground runners out of the ground more easily. After all the roots have been cut, you can get the tree stump out of the hole. It is easier if you place a jack in the middle under the stump and lever it out.

    Winch or hand winch

    With these tools, you can also effortlessly remove stumps from deeper-rooted trees. Again, you'll first need to uncover some roots to make the tree stump lose some of its support.

    The winch is placed around a tree root and attached to a stable object. This can be a nearby tree. Then the rope is put under tension so that the tree stump moves slowly. Work the stump further with an ax and spade. Bare roots and clip until you can pull the root system out of the ground.

    Cable pull facts:

    • Steel cable with at least one ton of tensile force required
    • Cable pulls with a pulling force of two tons are common
    • Lever mechanism facilitates operation

    high pressure cleaner

    A pressure washer is ideal for exposing roots and easily loosening overgrown tree stumps. This method is particularly recommended for large trees with particularly strong roots. However, you need large amounts of water to wash away the soil. Mud is also formed, which you then have to remove with a shovel and wheelbarrow. You can get the tree trunk out of the hole with a cable winch or jack.

    fertilizer

    Old tree stumps are a great fertilizer for the soil

    Tree stumps are left standing in the forest so that nature can do its work. Mosses, bacteria and fungi naturally remove the tree stump. However, this process can take up to ten years. You can help and speed up the decomposition process with fertilizers. With regular use, the stump will decompose after a year. Drill enough holes in the tree stump and fill them with the appropriate substances.

    Suitable fertilizers:

    • compost: Microorganisms colonize the wood
    • calcium cyanamide: supplies microorganisms with important nutrients
    • yeast: accelerates decomposition and produces heat

    Fire

    Burning out old root systems only works superficially, because fire needs oxygen and therefore cannot penetrate to the roots. Nevertheless, the tree stump is badly damaged and the underground root residues are gradually decomposed by microorganisms. However, leftover wood covered with a layer of ash rots poorly.

    method

    Saw several slits in the tree stump to create an indentation. Fill the cavity with the scraps of wood you sawed out and layer paper between the wood. This way you can light the fire easily. Pay attention to the wind direction and repeat the burnout if necessary so that the stump does not burn on one side. Alternatively, you can arrange larger logs around a taller stump so that it is in the center of the fire.

    youtube

    What you should avoid

    Do not use the so-called root-ex method, in which mixtures of saltpeter or sodium nitrate and petroleum are burned. The substances cause a smoldering fire. If used incorrectly, petroleum can contaminate the soil. In addition, this method causes a lot of smoke and endangers not only the environment but also health. Alternatives with diesel or fuel paste are also not recommended.

    Caution is advised:

    • Observe community regulations
    • do not use fire accelerants
    • pay attention to surrounding vegetation

    Kill with salt

    Salt helps kill the tree, but is not good for the soil in large amounts

    If the tree stump is still alive and tending to sprout, you can kill it with salt. Table salt is unsuitable for this method, as it not only damages the tree stump and its roots, but also endangers the surrounding soil.

    Drill holes 20 to 30 centimeters deep in the stump and make sure they are evenly distributed. Fill the holes with salt, leaving some space at the top. Then drip candle wax into the hole to seal it. Cover the stump with an opaque plastic tarp to help the stump die faster.

    Suitable salts:

    • rock salt
    • Epsom salt
    • epsomite

    tips

    Use pure salt without additives, as these can endanger soil organisms.

    Ineffective and inappropriate methods

    Again and again there are adventurous tricks for removing tree stumps that you should better do without. Some measures damage the soil and the organisms living in it.

    acid

    Chemicals such as hydrochloric acid are highly hazardous to the environment because they denature proteins and kill microorganisms. Such funds not only ensure that the stump is killed, but also prevent the growth of vegetation in the future.

    copper sulfate

    Copper sulfate is a substance used to kill bacteria and is believed to speed up the rotting process of tree stumps. The duration of action is between three and twelve months. Since copper sulphate has a highly toxic effect on microorganisms and is a major hazard to water bodies, it is not advisable to use it in the garden.

    digression

    blue water nails

    Blue nails are considered secret weapons to remove an offending tree. Inside the tubes is a blue colored solution of copper sulphate and water into which a copper nail has been placed. This combination is said to maximize the toxic effects of copper. The effect on the tree is highly controversial. What is certain, however, is that the solution is harmful to the environment and can endanger water bodies.

    copper nail

    Copper nails damage the tree stump, but do not ensure that it dies off completely. The amounts of copper are too small to damage the wood. In the 1970s, several nails made of copper, lead, iron and brass were driven into trees. The wood reacted to copper and discolored at the wound. However, the trees did not die as a result.

    Alternative: Tree stump as a garden decoration

    Excavated tree roots do not necessarily need to be disposed of or burned. They are interesting decorative elements in shaded beds or moor gardens. If you have no way of getting the tree stump out of the ground, you can also integrate it decoratively into the garden.

    How to use the tree stump:

    • Stand for bird bath
    • Location for planted flower bowls
    • Climbing aid for climbing plants
    • feeding place

    A tree stump can be used decoratively and beautify the garden.

    Plant tree stump

    A planted tree stump looks pretty and gives it a second life

    Hollow out the tree stump with a hammer and chisel and seal the wood so that no moisture can penetrate later. Tree resin or linseed oil are suitable for this. You can then fill the cavity with soil and plant the desired plants.

    tips

    Many plants colonize decaying wood. If you do without the seal, you can plant the tree stump with shamrocks or wild orchids.

    frequently asked Questions

    Why does a tree stump need to be removed?

    The root system of deciduous trees lives on after felling, so that new shoots emerge. The roots also continue to grow, so that supply and drainage pipes or old masonry are endangered. The remaining roots are also capable of lifting pavers. The root system of shallow-rooted trees takes up space, so you can't plant a bed or sow a lawn in that area.

    Do I have to consider something when I want to remove a tree stump?

    You do not need a permit when removing a tree stump. However, there are regulations for removing trees. In Germany, trees may not be felled between March 1st and September 30th, as birds breed during this time. There is no prescribed period for removing tree stumps. However, you should weigh the methods against each other. It is not allowed everywhere to make a fire in the garden. Check with your local authority, as each state has its own regulations.

    How can I remove my lilac with tree stump?

    Lilacs have a strong tendency to sprout roots, which is why you have to remove the roots as completely as possible from the ground after felling. When felling, leave 100 to 150 centimeters of the trunk and then cut off the root area with a spade. This should be as large as the former crown diameter. You can then loosen the root ball with a digging fork. Move the trunk in all directions to loosen the roots in the substrate. With large trees you have to cut the roots. You can then pull the tree stump out of the ground.

    How can I remove the stump of a willow tree?

    Saw off above-ground logs to about 100 centimeters above the ground. Then dig up the roots so that the main roots are exposed. The root strands are completely severed. You can then pull the tree stump out of the ground with a hand winch.

    Have the tree stump removed by a company - how much does it cost?

    On average, you have to reckon with a workload of two hours, depending on the size of the tree stump. The companies also charge travel expenses, so you should hire companies in your area. Also consider that disposal by a company costs between 50 and 80 euros. There are no disposal costs when working with a tiller because you can use the material as mulch. Get offers from different companies to get the best price.

    Average labor cost per hour:

    • Excavating with the excavator: 70 to 80 euros
    • Removal with the stump grinder: 90 to 110 euros

Category:

Trees