Looking for a mixture, or chemical name to help break down a large stump that I can come back in a few months and dispose of easier. I'm in the city limits, for all the stump burning fans. Would prefer a chemical that would break the stump down.

AggieFabricator said:

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Looking for a mixture, or chemical name to help break down a large stump that I can come back in a few months and dispose of easier. I'm in the city limits, for all the stump burning fans. Would prefer a chemical that would break the stump down.

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From experience it takes a lot longer than you want it to...

Drill the holes, pour the chemicals, bury it, i sodded it and six years later I still have a grassy knoll.

I fell into it a couple months ago so I think it's ready for round one with the pick axe. Pretty sure round one will just lower the mound a few inches and I will have another few years until round two.

This was a massive pine tree.

Good luck, be patient or pay someone to grind it.

Grind it or use a bag of charcoal to burn it. I'm not sure what living in the city had to do with burning a stump. Granted I live outside of town so maybe I'm not in touch with random city ordinances.

Questions like this explain why sometimes when we don't know what to do we say we are "stumped".

Charcoal, just use a little, neighbors will never notice

I was hoping that in a few months it'd soften it more where the trunk could more easily but cut down. The trunk of this tree is so big I would have to cut the trunk down in slivers to make loading by hand manageable for myself. Guess this might just have to be how it is. Thanks for the insight.

We lost a palm tree in the hard freeze a couple years back and I went to remove the stump and the wife asked if I could just level it a few inches off the ground.

She has a flower pot almost the size of the stump and SHE likes it like that.

What's the diameter of your stump and how high was it left?

Get a stump grinder and be done with it. Why do you want to go chemicals in your yard where your or future owners' kids may play?

Chainsaw, Sawzall, ax, shovel, and bucket of dirt to fill back in. Done.

If it was in my front yard I would just have someone come grind it. You're going to waste a lot of time and at least some money attacking it any other way.

If it was in my back yard I would also have someone grind it. The only other way I would attack it is with charcoal. No one will bat an eye to charcoal. If you're really worried, just have a pack of hotdogs ready and tell them you're grilling.

Just look at grinding as free mulch too, already delivered. A large stump will produce a ton of mulch, especially if ground well below ground level.

AgResearch said:

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The Chainsaw, Sawzall, ax, shovel, and bucket of dirt to fill back in. Done.

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You forgot prybar, pick mattock, ben gay for your aching back, and most importantly a solid weekend depending on how dedicated you are. Oh yea, when you are done you will be the proud owner if a giant tree stump.

I used charcoal on a small stump. It worked like a charm. Took a while, though.

I took an old metal coffee can, cut out the bottom, and put it around the stump. Served as my "fire ring", as it was in an area with a lot of other trees, branches, leaves, etc. Left it to burn all day - took the full day - I monitored it about every couple of hours and added charcoal as needed.

Old RV Ag said:

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Get a stump grinder and be done with it. Why do you want to go chemicals in your yard where your or future owners' kids may play?

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Potassium Nitrate "stump remover" is 13-0-44. You also likely eat it routinely.

Other stump removers may use lye instead. Pour some acid on it afterwards to adjust pH? (I don't know if sodium levels will be an issue afterwards if it's sodium hydroxide instead of potassium hydroxide.)

I think charcoal is a good idea on paper, but be prepared for it to take a while. Might smoulder for days or even weeks. I've had partially burned pecan stumps reignite in drought conditions 5 months later, no exaggeration.

I've used charcoal on large stumps as well. To keep everything contained either make the stump concave with a chainsaw or get some steel roof flashing and make a fire ring the size you need it. I've used both methods with equal success. It does take a while to burn down though. Plan on starting it on Friday and hopefully it'll be done by the time the weekend is over.

If you burn the stump in some manner, which works great, be aware that the fire will slowly burn down the underground roots. I have had smoke/coals appear nearly 15' from large stumps. No big deal unless you have other healthy trees close by with intertwined roots or unless it crosses into a neighbor's yard.

I tried the stump remover stuff at Home Depot. Drilled holes and all that good stuff. Didn't notice a difference even years later. Either grinder or charcoal if you want to see progress.

https://www.taylorrentalplano.com/product/stump-grinder-20hp-self-propelled/

Dude, you can get a stump grinder cheap - I rented this one for a day - had 7 stumps to grind, I only needed for half a day cause it made quick work of the stumps..

https://www.taylorrentalplano.com/product/stump-grinder-20hp-self-propelled/

SWCBonfire said:

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Old RV Ag said:

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Get a stump grinder and be done with it. Why do you want to go chemicals in your yard where your or future owners' kids may play?

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Potassium Nitrate "stump remover" is 13-0-44. You also likely eat it routinely.

Other stump removers may use lye instead. Pour some acid on it afterwards to adjust pH? (I don't know if sodium levels will be an issue afterwards if it's sodium hydroxide instead of potassium hydroxide.)

I think charcoal is a good idea on paper, but be prepared for it to take a while. Might smoulder for days or even weeks. I've had partially burned pecan stumps reignite in drought conditions 5 months later, no exaggeration.

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Thanks for adding supporting material to getting a stump grinder and be done with it!

I had a similar problem, I didn't want to move a fence and tear up the yard with a grinder. I paid two guys from home depot each $100. They swung an axe literally all day and had it gone.

Stump grinder is in play. Thanks.