clearing property for building

Tree stumps in your yard can make enjoying your property difficult. You have to avoid them when mowing your lawn, and you can't plant directly on top of them. Stumps that are low to the ground create an unsightly mound when you try to cover them with dirt and plant grass over them, and larger stumps are an eyesore no matter what you try to do with them. If you want to enjoy your landscape to its fullest, you need to get rid of your tree stumps for good. Here are 3 ways you can do that.   

Rent a stump grinder

A stump grinder is designed to be placed directly on top of your stump, using small rotating blades to tear the stump into smaller chunks for removal. You can rent a stump grinder from an equipment rental store. You can rent by the hour or by the day, and it can take several hours to remove a single large stump. You can rent a stump grinder for as little as $75, but larger stumps will typically cost more due to the amount of time they take to remove them completely.

Kill the stump

If you don't need your tree stump removed right away, consider killing it so you can weaken its root structure for safe removing later. Choose an herbicide with triclopyr or glyphosate in it, and saturate the stump completely using a paintbrush to reach all crevices and exposed roots. You can get deeper saturation if you saw off the top part of the stump that is drying out first. After a few days, you should notice the stump starting to break off and deteriorate. Re-apply the herbicide once a week for a few weeks to completely kill the stump. You can then easily remove the stump using a chain attached to a vehicle or ATV.

Dig out the stump

Smaller tree stumps can be simply dug out. Do this by cutting the roots of the tree stump first, then dig a circular hole several inches deep around the stump's base. Once you've gotten to the main root structure, place a heavy metal bar or shovel underneath the stump and apply pressure to uproot it. After the stump has been removed you can then refill the hole after chopping away remaining loose or broken roots.

You don't have to live with tree stumps in your yard. You can kill fresh stumps or remove older ones with a stump grinder or by digging them out. Once the stumps have been removed you can use the space they once robbed from your property and enjoy your landscape again. For further assistance in stump removal, contact local professionals, such as those from Brown's Tree Service.