DIY Stump Grinding?

[JayPowHound]

Long story short, we had to remove a tree last year that is near the street on the strip of land between me and the neighbor. Our tree was dying and we (my father and I) successfully took it down without clipping any power lines, hitting houses or killing any of the big bushes along the property line.

Score!

Just planted a birch to replace it which likely will fill in the space in the next 10 years or so.

I left about 2.5' of stump thinking I'd carve it into a chair for the kids to hang out in, but am now thinking I'd rather have it gone.

Stump is about 78" diameter.

I can take it down to ground level with the saw, but then what?

Would really like to avoid hiring a tree company to come in and grind it if I can figure it out. Goal is to plant grass over it that will blend in with the rest.

Roots definitely extend under both my and the neighbors driveway.

Is there something I can do to get it low enough to put in soil and sod and get grass growing there?

Tree poking through on the left for scale, couldn't find a better picture:



Stump:

[stealurface831]

rent a stump grinder from sunbelt or if you have access to a skid steer, rent an attachment. grinder rental will run you about $300 for the day but you should be able to knock that out in less than an hour. to get your money's worth, ask neighbors if they have any stumps and tell em you'll take care of them for $50 a pop.

burning the stump is a much cheaper option but my success has varied. the best way i have found is to get a 55 gallon metal drum. cut off the top and bottom and make a hole in the side near the bottom. feed a section of aluminum dryer vent duct into the hole. you will attach the other end of the duct to a leafblower to stoke the flames.

before you start to burn, drill a shit ton of holes at least 1/2" in diameter and as deep as your bit will allow all over the top and sides of the stump. pour gasoline into these holes. put drum around stump. fill bottom of drum with charcoal. ignite. let burn. replenish charcoal as needed. it will take awhile.

[::: :::]

[Bronco]

rent a stump grinder from sunbelt or if you have access to a skid steer, rent an attachment. grinder rental will run you about $300 for the day but you should be able to knock that out in less than an hour. to get your money's worth, ask neighbors if they have any stumps and tell em you'll take care of them for $50 a pop.

burning the stump is a much cheaper option but my success has varied. the best way i have found is to get a 55 gallon metal drum. cut off the top and bottom and make a hole in the side near the bottom. feed a section of aluminum dryer vent duct into the hole. you will attach the other end of the duct to a leafblower to stoke the flames.

before you start to burn, drill a shit ton of holes at least 1/2" in diameter and as deep as your bit will allow all over the top and sides of the stump. pour gasoline into these holes. put drum around stump. fill bottom of drum with charcoal. ignite. let burn. replenish charcoal as needed. it will take awhile.

This is all spot on. When asking the neighbors about grinding their stumps, mention you're considering burning it out over the course of several days as an alternative.

[I Skied Bandini Mountain]

ANFO

[MagnificentUnicorn]

Call a grinding service. I had a bunch of stumps and it wound up being cheaper to have someone come take care of it instead of renting. The grinder the guy brought was not like anything you can rent around here. He ground them below grade to 18”. Get them as close to the ground as you can before they show up.


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[PNWbrit]

Call a grinding service. I had a bunch of stumps and it wound up being cheaper to have someone come take care of it instead of renting. The grinder the guy brought was not like anything you can rent around here. He ground them below grade to 18”. Get them as close to the ground as you can before they show up.

This.

[Skistack]

Got a truck and a chain? Dig, chop, pull. Seriously, hiring a pro is the right call for stumps. Bring out a chair and a cooler and watch the show.


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[Rideski]

And ear plugs

[BCMtnHound]

That stump is calling you a pussy. You took its head, but its foot is taunting you. 78" across? Seriously? That needs a D8 or 300 series excavator to pull out. Or get funky with the pyrotechnics.

Get a professional grinder and go deep. Good luck.

[bodywhomper]

....get funky with the pyrotechnics.

^^my vote!



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[iriponsnow]

Drill holes in the stump & wait for rain.

After 3 months, hit it with a propane torch ($30 frame thrower from Harbor Tools) ; best a night.

[JayPowHound]

Local FD is less than 1/4 mile away, and I have a feeling they would frown on a long burn in a residential neighborhood.

I said 78" diameter. Meant circumference... #facepalm

Sounds like I need to price rentals vs a pro.

The amount of digging and root cutting I'd have to do is probably not feasible to yank it with a chain.

I know a few people in town who run tree companies, will probably have to go that route. Oh well..

Thanks guys, probably gonna have to bite the bullet on this one I guess. Just hate paying "pros" to do things I can manage myself. I guess in this case it's a matter of the right equipment for the job, and I just don't have it.

[beeeom]

Why you need grass on it?? Grass sucks - you'll just have to mow it. Just cut the stump flush with a chainsaw and forget about it!

[PNWbrit]

I know a few people in town who run tree companies, will probably have to go that route.

Obvious answer was obvious.

[Caucasian Asian]

ANFO

He’s not wrong


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[XXX-er]

Why you need grass on it?? Grass sucks - you'll just have to mow it. Just cut the stump flush with a chainsaw and forget about it!

this ^^ or you could leave it higher to be a planter

also if you drilll holes in it, fill them with fertilizer the wood will rot out faster

[nickwm21]

+1 for just hiring a local tree guy to do it.
+1 for reaching out to all the neighbors, economy of scale and all….

The cheap HD rentals are only good for smaller stumps.


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[snowaddict91]

I had a tree guy take care of one for me when he was here doing some other tree work and it was super reasonable, way less than renting a grinder from HD. He may have charged a bit more if he wasn't already here, but it still would have probably come in cheaper.

[hardkorps]

just rented a stump grinder for $135 in MT and took care of two medium size stumps in less than two hours. Super simple and cool machine. Impossible to get the trees guys over here lately so we dealt with it all on our own.

[Core Shot]

The affordable tree guys here don’t grind stumps. They hand out cards for the stump grinders.

My grinder is a fire fighter that grinds for extra money. And it’s not much. Ask around and find the one man operation. Might be the same price as the rental.

[stealurface831]

My grinder is a fire fighter that grinds for extra money. And it’s not much. Ask around and find the one man operation. Might be the same price as the rental.

a lap dance is a grinder rental.

[Core Shot]

a GAY lap dance is a grinder rental.

FIFY
And lulz

[stealurface831]

FIFY
And lulz

oh, i didn't realize you were of that persuasion. nttawwt.