Removing a tree stump can be a bit of a task. So the team here at Stump eraser have made this handy guide for those of you looking to tackle the job yourself...

If you want to remove a stump yourself the best thing you can do yourself is to try and remove the stump by hand. This method is best for smaller tree stumps or a stump from an old or diseased tree. You'll need the right tools to do this yourself so make sure you have a chainsaw or limbing saw, a pickaxe, a shovel, a digging bar as well as an axe and a four-wheel-drive vehicle with a chain.

1. Remove the top portion of the trunk but leave enough to leverage.

2. Use the shovel, pick and digging bar to reveal the roots around the stump.

3. Use a hose to wash away the dirt and reveal more dirt.

4. Cut off the major roots with the axe.
5. Slowly push up the stump so more roots are exposed and cut them away with the axe until it is uprooted. If you can't uproot the stump like this wrap the chain around the stump and try pulling with the vehicle.


This is a simplified guide on how you can get rid of a stump, it can be a significant task so if you'd rather leave it to the experts contact a stump removal expert.

I personally believe that leaving the stump as a design feature makes better sense.
Placing a container on top of the stump creates visual interest.

Make lemonade...

Build a nice flower bed around the stump... train a vine up around the stump...

As the stump deteriorates it will slowly release nutrients into the surrounding soil.

I agree - mainly out of laziness.

stone said: I personally believe that leaving the stump as a design feature makes better sense.
Placing a container on top of the stump creates visual interest.

Make lemonade...

Build a nice flower bed around the stump... train a vine up around the stump...

As the stump deteriorates it will slowly release nutrients into the surrounding soil.

It makes sense if it is in a location to do that. Most of the time a tree is cut because it is in the way of construction or planting new things after it died ect, and you have to get the stump out. Also if it is not in an area that is in a location you can enjoy viewing, it doesn't make sense to take care of it or mow around it. Most of the stumps we took out here were for pouring new sidewalk, putting up outbuilding ect and we had to get rid of about 30 trees over all, we used a stump grinder, it is the best way if you have the space to use it. You can't get it into very tight spaces.
I have found that a reciprocating saw is very handy in the garden. I have used mine to cut out many roots. We tried burning some stumps out and that absolutely did not work for us. It might work for smaller stumps, but most of ours were huge.

I use tannerite and a rifle......much more fun.....

That sounds as it it could make a huge mess - exciting, nevertheless...

Small stumps, a foot wide or less, I dig out myself, sometime with the help of a small tractor. For large one I hire a stump grinder.

Frillylily said: It makes sense if it is in a location to do that. Most of the time a tree is cut because it is in the way of construction or planting new things after it died ect, and you have to get the stump out.

In which case... Leave the tree attached to the stump...
It's incredibly difficult to dig out a stump after the tree has been cut down...

It's usually very easy to take out the stump when the entire tree is there to provide some leverage...

Of course... you maybe couldn't get heavy equipment in there next to a house to push over a tree... Although... I did once ask the backhoe operator to take down a large pine next to my house... and wasn't nothing to it.

But... those smaller stumps... I can usually take them out with a mattock, shovel and pry bar... or attach a chain to my truck and pull them out after digging around tree / shrub and cutting through the laterals ... but you have to leave the entire plant attached! Cut it down first... at the peril of living with the stump...

One time I tore up my 4 wheel drive trying to take out a stump after some idiot cut the tree first... Not going to do that again... If they cut the tree down before calling me? The answer is 'no'.