Removing Stumps

People have been removing tree stumps from their yards for about as long as there have been yards. As such, the process hasn't really changed that much over time. Even now, the best solution for removing stumps from your yard is to get someone else to do it for you. By hiring a professional, you can be certain that the job will be done properly with little or no damage done to the rest of your property as well.

If you find yourself unable to hire someone else to do the work for you, there are a few things that you can do to remove the stump yourself.

• Inspect the stump. Prior to starting any stump removal, you need to first do an inspection. When you are inspecting the stump, there are a couple of things that you want to keep an eye out for. First, you want to make sure that the tree stump isn't near any concrete work. This is because removing any stumps that are close to concrete work can easily damage the concrete as you pull the stump out. In addition, when you are inspecting the stump keep an eye out for any bee, hornet, or wasp nests. For some reason these types of insects love to make old dead stumps into hives.
• Remove as much of the stump as possible. Before you begin pulling out the tree stump, try to remove as much of it as you possibly can. The easiest way to do this would be to use a chainsaw. If you are going to be pulling the stump out then leave about a foot of the stump behind so that you have something to grab hold. Otherwise, you should cut the stump down as close to the ground as possible.
• Grind the stump down. One of the easiest ways to remove a stump is to grind it down. You can rent a small stump grinder for as low as $50 and you can do your own work. Another option is to hire a professional to do the work for you, though they usually start their prices at about $100 and charge according to the type of tree and the size of the stump.
• Pull it out. Finally, you can always pull the stump out. This should always be done with some mechanical help (such as with a tractor or truck) to make the job as easy as possible, while also using some shovels to help make the job easier. First drill a large hole roughly six inches from the top of the stump and insert a chain into that hole. This hole and chain will allow you to use a truck or tractor to remove the stump. Before pulling out the stump, dig around the tree and cut as many of the roots as possible to reduce the strength of the tree's hold. Once you have cut as many of the roots as possible, begin pulling the tree out with your chain attached to the truck or tractor. Make sure that there is no one near your chain as you do this, since if the chain snaps it can easily hurt or kill someone.