Argh! Stumps! Kill them with...

[curses]

..what? I took some really sharp-leaved bushes out today and have decided that the little area in front of my house would make a perfect vegetable garden. Unfortunately I'm left with some rather largish bush stumps (that's what she said). They're probably 4-5 in in diameter, and I have no chainsaw. What's the best way to get them out of the ground, o gardening types?

[Dingfod]

Dynamite!

No kidding, that's one recommendation here. (http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/tips/msg0412444421263.html)

[Watser?]

Hehehe, I was going to suggest that. :dynamite:

Seriously though, the way my parents always did it is dig out the roots and chop them off until you can remove the stump.

Then dig up the area and chop any large roots left into bits.

[Dingfod]

If you recall, Dynamite was also my solution to Plant Woman's neighbor problem. There's almost nothing that can't be solved by a liberal application of a fist full of Dynamite.

YouTube - A Fistful of Dynamite - Enhanced Theatrical Trailer

[curses]

Dynamite, hmm? Well, it's a bit close to the house. I might lose my front porch and my kitchen. On the other hand, I really HAVE been wanting a kitchen makeover...:chin:

[Qingdai]

I am a fan of dynamite, but the permit process is a bit tricky, unless you know a professional logger.

Chop the roots around it and dig it out, or alternatively use a truck and pull it out.

I'd chop the roots up first anyways. I've actually done this. I actually almost pulled my car over a steep hill doing this. Be careful.

[Dingfod]

I like one suggestion in that link in my first post:
My father owns some property with a lot of trees with one or two always dying. Once he cuts a tree down he places a 55 gallon drum with its bottom cut off over the stump. He then fills it with firewood and lights it. The hot embers from the firewood slowly work their way through the stump and follow the roots a foot or two into the ground. It takes a full day and he's also out in the middle of nowhere with no municiple restrictions. If you can do this it's definitely fast and effective.

Or you could rent a stump grinder (http://www.popularmechanics.com/home_journal/gardening/1273711.html?page=2).

[freemonkey]

Seriously though, the way my parents always did it is dig out the roots and chop them off until you can remove the stump.

Then dig up the area and chop any large roots left into bits.

We had to do that last fall with a large Japanese Maple and some shrubs. Had to be really careful because the roots were growing around the septic drain tile.

Get yourself an axe or a hatchet.

We also used one of these: Alligator Lopper (http://www.blackanddecker.com/ProductGuide/Product-Details.aspx?ProductID=9867#)

[cappuccino]

I have the same problem, we just cut off the ugly evergreen bushes in front of the new house's porch but the stumps and the roots are still there.

We've already tried the car and the rope option....that did not work out well.

I'd like to put in a mixed border of English roses and annuals, maybe some ornamental grasses too but so far I'm liking the newly bare look of the front porch, looks much cleaner and less cluttered.

[freemonkey]

Stump killin' (http://www.humeseeds.com/stump.htm)

[Smilin]

I like one suggestion in that link in my first post:
My father owns some property with a lot of trees with one or two always dying. Once he cuts a tree down he places a 55 gallon drum with its bottom cut off over the stump. He then fills it with firewood and lights it. The hot embers from the firewood slowly work their way through the stump and follow the roots a foot or two into the ground. It takes a full day and he's also out in the middle of nowhere with no municiple restrictions. If you can do this it's definitely fast and effective.

Or you could rent a stump grinder (http://www.popularmechanics.com/home_journal/gardening/1273711.html?page=2).
:yeahthat:

[Egor]

I just use our Kubota L2800 and a chain in first gear nothing stands in my way! (Except loss of traction) Usually I can rip up scotch broom with the bucket it's got about 1000lbs of lifting force. That's a bit of a large tool to rent though.

[Ymir's blood]

Tell the kittehs that under no circumstances are the stumps to be eaten.

[Dingfod]

Stump killin' (http://www.humeseeds.com/stump.htm)To kill a stump of a tree that grows new sprouts up from the roots, such as Bradford pear, maple, any sort of cottonwood, aspen or poplar, and others, I drill holes down into the stump with an auger bit and pour Roundup herbicide down the holes.

[curses]

Stump killin' (http://www.humeseeds.com/stump.htm)To kill a stump of a tree that grows new sprouts up from the roots, such as Bradford pear, maple, any sort of cottonwood, aspen or poplar, and others, I drill holes down into the stump with an auger bit and pour Roundup herbicide down the holes.

I was thinking about doing this but I want them dead soon so I can plant some bulbs before the first frost, which I think was yesterday :oops:

Looks like it's going to be the hatchet for the stump, don't think a Toyota Prius has enough power to remove anything larger than a clump of grass.

[Kevlar]

They make products that are supposed to accelerate the decomposition of a stump. Plus, it will kill the roots so nothing grows back. Speaking of which, if you pour some Roundup on the freshly cut stump, it will kill the stump and keep it from growing again.

But if you want it gone now, start diggin.

[Qingdai]

I had to resort to the "car and rope" method because of mis-application of round up.

Someone used it to try to kill the bind weed, which it did nothing to, and it killed the juniper instead, an excruciatingly slow death.

[curses]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/invisikitty/stump.jpg

Stumps r ded. Took about two hours, a pickaxe, shovel, and axe to remove. Stupid Georgia red clay.