Blinking tree stump !

[CompoSimmonite]

I used to have a Maple tree in the bottom corner of the garden but it grew too big so I chopped it down. Actually I was clever - removed the upper branches leaving the main trunk before tying a rope to the top so my son could direct it when I sawed through the bottom. What I should add it the "trunk" was around 15' high and 15" dia . Anyway when it came down it dragged my son, who was well away on the end of the very long rope, before somersaulting on top of my greenhouse thus flattening it .
The remains were then chopped up before being given to somebody I know who has a log burner and stump reduced as close to ground as possible without risking knackering the chain with soil.

Yesterday I wasn't having a good day (depression) and realised (a) I have too much "junk" (wifes term - to me it's all valuable treasure. Most of this treasure is buried under other treasure though so garage a no go area. That is home & lock-up garages ) & (b) a massive tidy up is needed.
This morning have woke up deciding to buy a decent "off the shelf" shed to at least start the home garage tidy up - then I can build my custom workshop behind garage at a later date.
The bottom of the garden, where tree was, is the intended site of the shed as the ground is dead anyway where not even grass grows - but a certain weed that I can't eradicate flourishes ! The ground slopes and building up the lower area isn't an option so that means lowering the upper area -and then the problem as remains of stump are there.
In the past I've looked at hiring a stump grinder but way too expensive. A sharpened edge of a grubbing mattock chopped some of it out but lack of strength due to health means I can only manage a couple of swings before I'm knackered for the rest of the day.

I'd like this stump gone asap before I loose the momentum to do anything and retreat to my bed (where I spend a lot of time sleeping during the day to escape the realities of life) so chemical means aren't an option. Stump grinder isn't an option either (around £100 a day). Impossible to dig out due to size / weight. No access to explosives .

How would other people tackle this stump bearing in mind my limited strength / energy ?


Cheers.

Paul H

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Get some Blocks, raise shed on blocks. You say the ground slopes, so it needs building up.
By building up you get air circulation under shed, extra stowage space for useful stuff.

To Kill the stump you can use stump killer, or make your own. All it is copper sulphate after all.

 

[Wendelspanswick]

Stump grinders were invented for a reason, any other method of removal (apart from a JCB) requires lots of effort or time.
I would get in a stump grinder and operator, shouldn't cost you more than £60 and save you a massive headache.
Just to add I have used a Tirfor winch to take out stumps but you need to leave at least 3' of the tree sticking out of the ground to act as a lever whereas yours is chopped flush with the ground, also it still takes lots of effort to operate the winch and chop through the roots as they become exposed.

 

[hunter27]

Do the cubs still have a bob a job week around your area? I remember when I was a cub leaving the people I had done jobs for a yellow sticker to put in their window.
Sorry if this doesn't help much

Could you dig a hole around the stump and build a fire using coke or coal, something to create a long lasting very hot fire ? I know the stump will be damp but eventually it should dry out and char or burn.
Most things burn eventually on our large bonfires when they are hot enough for long enough. Can't think of any other easy solutions.

Pete

 

[GW8IZR]

its like the old story, I wouldn't start from here! The mistake is cutting the stump off close to the ground, leave a few feet to act as a lever and dig round it to remove it... but that useful advice is for next time.

In this case I would definitely block up a base. It will be perfect for burying some of the less usefull treasure that you need to dispose of. Think of it as a wedge shaped skip which you can then top with a bit of soil/gravel/concrete to make a nice level damp free platform.

HTH

 

[WorkshopChris]

If you can leave the stump and put the shed over the top on piers and bearers, it will solve your problem and help to prolong the lift of the building. Sheds normally die from the bottom up as the air cannot circulate underneath, starting the rot.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Get someone in with a mini digger, dig the stump and level out the site in a oner. The small machines [some will go through a doorway] are very capable with a good operator on board and a job like that shouldn't take long.

You're still left with the root ball to dispose of - it'll be bigger than you currently imagine. Remember that in most cases, the extent of tree roots is at least the same as the canopy used to be......

 

[Peloquin]

Any mates with a land rover with a winch? Access?
We pulled a few using that method, along with lots of digging and chopping.

 

[colnerov]

Try burning it out, instead of sitting in the shed all day you sit watching the stump burn, out in the fresh air.

 

[Gareth0123]

Lots of deeply drilled 1/2" Ø holes: at least 6" and preferably 10"+ deep if possible, and then depending on what you either have to hand or can get easily, fill holes with an acid such as battery acid, but even distilled vinegar works extremely well and then plug the holes and forget it for 3-4 months.

Alternatively you can fill the drilled holes with Epsom salts which are cheap enough on eBay, then cover with a weighted down plastic sheet and leave for 3-6 months

 

[Wendelspanswick]

If you do decide to burn it out an old method was to drill some holes in the stump, pack them with sodium chlorate and cover with a plastic sack. Check the holes and periodically top up them up with more sodium chlorate.
After 6 months build a bonfire over the stump, the sodium chlorate, which has now saturated the stump and roots, acts as an oxidising agent and burns away underground.
The difficulty now is trying to get hold of sodium chlorate.

 

[Stueeee]

Stump grinders were invented for a reason, any other method of removal (apart from a JCB) requires lots of effort or time.
I would get in a stump grinder and operator, shouldn't cost you more than £60 and save you a massive headache.

Did hire a stump grinder and operator after cutting down some trees at my place. I was surprised to find that hiring the stump grinder for self use was about the same price as hiring one with an operator. Apparently, the self hire jobs are often returned with the (expensive) carbide tines b*ggered.

 

[I'm getting on a bit]

The difficulty now is trying to get hold of sodium chlorate.

Would that have been used as a weed killer year's ago ?

 

[Gareth0123]

The difficulty now is trying to get hold of sodium chlorate.

I thought it was banned too.............. but there's plenty for sale on ebay

 

[Brad93]

Banned by the EU as a herbicide. Still available to buy in "pure" form. Will be sold about 50% concentration with the rest being a fire depressant.