Buzz
If you decide to remove a tree from your yard, you'll need to deal with the remaining stump after cutting it down. Removing tree stumps can be quite troublesome, especially for old trees with deep roots. However, there's a simple and cost-effective method: burning the stump. By taking steps to make the stump more flammable and burning it until it turns to ash, you can eliminate the unsightly stump without spending much time.
Steps
Making the Stump More Flammable
Clear flammable materials around the stump. Remove any wooden materials and structures near the stump. Use a rake to clear dry leaves or small branches on the ground around it.
- You might also consider setting up a wire mesh fence around the stump for added safety.
- Always keep a bucket of water or a hose nearby while burning the stump.
Drill a hole vertically into the center of the stump. Attach a 2.5 cm flat drill bit or another wood drill bit to your drill and create a hole at a 30-degree angle in the center of the stump. Drill to a depth of about 20-25 cm.
- If the stump is shorter than 20 cm, drill just deep enough to reach the roots.
- Remember to remove any debris from the drilled hole.
Drill additional holes across the top surface of the stump. After drilling the center hole, continue to make more holes across the top of the stump, spacing them about 2.5-8 cm apart.
- Similar to the center hole, each hole should be 20-25 cm deep. For shorter stumps, drill at least 8 cm deep.
- Clear out debris from all the drilled holes.
Drill holes around the sides of the stump if it protrudes above the ground. If the stump remains above ground after the tree has been cut, you’ll also need to drill holes around its circumference to improve airflow and make it more flammable.
- Like the holes on the top, space the side holes about 2.5 cm apart.
- Ensure these holes connect with the ones drilled from the top. Better airflow through the stump makes it easier to burn.
Use a shovel to pour potassium nitrate into each hole. This substance will help the stump burn more effectively. Fill each hole with potassium nitrate until it’s about 1 cm below the top.
- For safety, wear protective gear like gloves, a mask, and safety goggles when handling potassium nitrate.
- Wash your hands thoroughly after use. Store the chemical in a well-ventilated area and in a sealed container when not in use.
- Charcoal can be used as an alternative to potassium nitrate.
- Kerosene can also be used to make the stump more flammable, but you’ll need to wait a week for it to soak in before burning.
Pour hot water into each hole to dissolve the potassium nitrate. Fill a bucket with hot water and use a cup to pour it into the holes. Continue until all the potassium nitrate has dissolved.
- You can also use a funnel placed over each hole to pour water directly from the bucket.
- The water will spread the potassium nitrate throughout the stump, making it more flammable.
- No water is needed if using charcoal or kerosene instead of potassium nitrate.
Burning the Tree Stump
Arrange the firewood in a cone shape around the stump. Place one end of each log on the ground, with the other ends meeting above the stump to form a cone.
- This is a common fire-starting technique to ensure the wood burns efficiently.
- You can also place smaller wood pieces on top of the stump, though this may take longer to ignite.
Light the firewood and wait for the stump to catch fire. Use matches and kindling to ignite the wood from below. DO NOT use gasoline to start the fire.
- The time it takes for the stump to catch fire varies. It could take up to an hour for the stump to fully ignite.
- Dry leaves, bark, or even fabric scraps make excellent kindling. Any dry, easily torn material can be used as tinder.
Add more firewood to keep the fire burning if necessary. It may take several hours or even a full day for the stump to burn completely. Add more wood as needed to ensure the stump burns down to ash.
- For smaller stumps, additional firewood may not be necessary; the initial fire is often enough to burn it completely.
- If the stump takes a full day to burn, keep adding wood until midnight, then let it burn overnight. The fire will burn slower at night but should remain active.
Monitor the stump until all the wood turns to ash. Once the stump is smoldering and the wood has turned to ash, keep an eye on it to ensure the fire remains controlled and doesn’t need to be reignited.
- Be prepared to extinguish the fire with water or dirt if it grows too large or threatens to spread to surrounding areas.
- Choose a time when you’re free to supervise the burning process; it may take at least 1 to 2 hours to complete.
Clean up the burned tree stump
Use a shovel to break apart and remove the remaining tree stump. Once the stump has stopped smoldering and all the wood has burned away, use a shovel to break up any remaining root fragments or stump pieces in the hole.
- If the roots are still firmly in place and difficult to remove with a shovel, you can use a small axe to chop them into more manageable pieces.
Scoop the burned debris into a bucket or fire-resistant container. DO NOT dump the debris onto the surrounding grass, as the pieces may still be smoldering and could start a fire.
- Be cautious when handling ash and embers; you could get burned if the embers are still hot. Use heat-resistant gloves if available.
- Porous concrete or composite wood are fire-resistant materials you can use for this purpose.
Fill the hole with soil after burning the tree stump. Once all the ash and debris have been cleared, shovel soil into the hole left by the stump until it is level with the surrounding ground.
- Sprinkle grass seed over the newly filled soil to encourage grass to grow in the area.
Tips
- Remember to stay in touch with your local fire station when burning a tree stump. They will likely want to be informed if you plan to have an outdoor fire!
Warnings
- Exercise caution when handling and storing potassium nitrate, as it is a flammable and explosive chemical.
- Burning a tree stump can lead to wildfires. Avoid using this method during dry seasons or in areas where open burning is prohibited.
Things You'll Need
- Power drill
- Wood drill bit or spade bit
- Potassium nitrate
- Dry firewood
- Hot water
- Tree spade
- Shovel
