Killing off a tree stump

[caiss4]

Had a sycamore cut down year before last. The tree surgeon reckoned he'd treated the stump with some chemicals that would kill it. Obviously didn't work as the tree sprouted last spring.

Can anyone recommend something I can put on it to kill it effectively?

It isn't in a critical area so just killing it off and letting nature take its course is fine. No need for mechanical stump removal.

[SeeFive]

I have a few stumps in the garden after a mad run with the chainsaw. I was going to try this when the weather improves a bit.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5686944_remove-stump-using...

[NiceCupOfTea]

Drill lots and lots of holes in it, pour a little weedkiller into the holes, rubber band a plastic bag over the top to stop wildlife getting at it, and sit back and wait.

It's worked for me on a couple of small stumps, a few months later they are rotten and are easily dug out.

[caiss4]

Thanks for the replies. Potassium nitrate may not be so easy to get owing to its potential use . But if a serious weedkiller can do the job then looks like a bit of drilling is in order.

[ClaphamGT3]

Pile salt (dishwasher salt is ideal) on the stump and cover with a plastic bag.

[netherfield]

Google SBK Brushwood killer

[sherman]

Non critical area you say

[Mojooo]

I did mine the old school way of digging around the stump, then using an axe to chop it away and cut off the roots.

It was satisfying but took a while.

[caiss4]

Mojooo said:

I did mine the old school way of digging around the stump, then using an axe to chop it away and cut off the roots.

It was satisfying but took a while.

I'd do that too except the stump has a 40cm diameter!

[Spudler]

Drills holes and pour in diesel.

[caiss4]

Spudler said:

Drills holes and pour in diesel.

No diesel in this household

[squicky]

caiss4 said:

Mojooo said:

I did mine the old school way of digging around the stump, then using an axe to chop it away and cut off the roots.

It was satisfying but took a while.

I'd do that too except the stump has a 40cm diameter!

That's not that big a root! Still, the chances are you'll be doing it anyway in the future when you want shot of the stump so might as well do it now!

Took me just under a week in the evenings to dig down, get all the roots (including the tap root) and roll it out of the big hole. Worth the hassle though.

[ribenavrs]

google ' stumpbuster '

seem to remember we were charged £30ish for a mahoosive tracked circular chainsaw that effectively ground the stump down to around 2' or 600mm below ground level

sorted

in fact just for you www.stumpbusters.co.uk

[Simpo Two]

If you keep cutting off the sprouts eventually it will run out of energy and die.

I chopped down an acacia 18 months ago and it suckered like a bd - but stay vigilant and you'll win. You just need to be smarter than a tree

[trv8]

caiss4 said:

Spudler said:

Drills holes and pour in diesel.

No diesel in this household

Go and buy some before it goes up again. Had two stumps to kill off in our garden and the diesel method done the job.

[nomisesor]

Simpo Two said:

If you keep cutting off the sprouts eventually it will run out of energy and die.

I chopped down an acacia 18 months ago and it suckered like a bd - but stay vigilant and you'll win. You just need to be smarter than a tree

Indeed - it is living on its reserves and if you cut off new shoots before their leaves can produce more food than was used to make them, it will eventually die. I waged war on japanese knotweed (coming up amongst plants we wanted to keep) and after a decade we've pretty well eliminated it - must get out in the garden soon to catch any surviving bits as they come up.

[Cogcog]

NiceCupOfTea said:

Drill lots and lots of holes in it, pour a little weedkiller into the holes, rubber band a plastic bag over the top to stop wildlife getting at it, and sit back and wait.

It's worked for me on a couple of small stumps, a few months later they are rotten and are easily dug out.

Yep, I did the same with a massive ivy root, within months it crumbled in the ground.

[Globs]

caiss4 said:

Mojooo said:

I did mine the old school way of digging around the stump, then using an axe to chop it away and cut off the roots.

It was satisfying but took a while.

I'd do that too except the stump has a 40cm diameter!

400mm = 16" - yes, a fairly big one!

[JVaughan]

go to a countryside store and get some glycophosphate systemic weed killer .. that stuff will kill anything ..

also, drill some nice deep holes with a 13mm drill and hammer some lengths of copper pipe into the holes.

Diesel has the same effect too but is messy and will actually preserve (but kill) the stump

Edited by JVaughan on Tuesday 25th January 00:48

[MOTORVATOR]

Had to remove one years ago in the back garden so took the Range Rover down the side and hooked it up with a set of five tonne chains I happened to have with me. Bit of a battle but it came in the end.

Thought the missus would be pleased with my handiwork but it took fecking forever for the lawn to recover.