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How to Remove a Stump the Right Way

September 4, 2018
Forestry-Worker-Cutting

Tips on Properly Removing a Tree Stump

Stumps are not pretty. And sadly, they aren’t very easy to get rid of, either. With all the trees the Raleigh-Durham area has, we’re bound to have a few of these eye-sores around to deal with. Henry’s Tree Service removes stumps professionally and would be more than happy to remove any problem stumps on your property. That being said, there are a few ways to remove a stump if you are going to attempt DIY stump removal.


Digging it out


This is the old-fashioned way. Digging out a stump involves a lot of muscle, hard work, and time. You’ll need some basic tools like an axe, a shovel, and a crowbar. The instructions for this method are fairly straightforward:

  • Using the shovel, dig around the stump, removing rocks and dirt to expose the roots.
  • Using the axe, hack through the roots connecting to the stump.
  • Using the crowbar, pry upwards to loosen the stump and break the roots.
  • Repeat these steps and eventually, it will loosen enough to be removed.


Rotting the stump


If you are very patient, you can simply wait for nature to take its course and for the stump to rot away. You can also speed this process by using chemicals. A common method of stump rotting involves:

  • Cutting the stump as low to the ground as possible
  • Drilling holes in the stump
  • Filling the holes with water and nitrogen
  • Covering the stump with a tarp to trap moisture and accelerate the rotting process


Burning out the stump


While we do not recommend this–as it can be dangerous–there are chemical compounds available to assist in a stump

burning method. Applying this chemical to the stump makes it able to absorb accelerants like kerosene very efficiently. After the chemical has been applied, and the accelerant has also absorbed into the stump, a controlled fire is lit to eliminate the stump.


The “right way” to eliminate a stump — stump grinding


By far the best way to get rid of a stubborn stump is to use modern equipment. A stump grinder is a fairly large piece of machinery. It is not always easy for the novice to use, but it is the most efficient way of quickly eliminating a stump.

Rather than laboring for days with chemicals and fires and shovels, a stump grinder can make your stump a distant memory just one hour later. The grinder is brought over to the stump with the blade raised, then the blade is lowered onto the stump and turned back and forth until all the stump at that depth is turned to sawdust.

At that point, the blade is lowered again and the next layer of the stump is taken on. This is continued until at least six inches below the surface, at which point the hole is filled. The whole process takes under an hour for a typical stump.


Henry’s Tree Service knows stump grinding



Rather than renting a stump grinder and trying to pick up this new skill, trust an experienced arborist to do the job for you. Henry’s Tree Service has the equipment and trained professionals ready to go.

Those living in Raleigh, Durham, Morrisville, Apex, Cary, Chapel Hill and the surrounding areas who have stumps they want to go, give us a call at (919) 532-9141 and we’ll remove them immediately.

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One of the greatest joys of childhood is making fortresses with your friends and family that can bring a child’s imagination into a world of fantasy and adventure. The woods in Raleigh and Durham are perfect for building the king of all forts — the treehouse. Parents are a little more cautious these days though and maybe keeping a closer eye on these amateur backyard builders, but that’s probably a good idea. With safety in mind, parents often ask themselves, which common North Carolina trees are the best for building a treehouse? Maple trees — The Triangle area has many maple varieties, including red and silver maple. Their wood is hard and trunk thick, perfect for a treehouse. Hickory trees — The hickory is another hardwood deciduous tree. Its thick branches can easily support a treehouse. The shagbark hickory is especially prevalent in North Carolina. Oak trees — The English oak, red oak and white oak are all beautiful trees found across the state. Their strong nature makes an excellent choice for treehouses as well. Beech trees — These large, gray-barked trees make an impressive treehouse location. Their shiny leaves will give the fortress an almost mystical quality as light bounces off them. Tulip trees — A tulip tree is truly massive. They grow quickly and can reach almost 200 feet tall. Their sturdy trunks can support this size though and make good treehouse spots. Just be careful climbing too high! Commonalities You may have noticed that all of these are deciduous, meaning they are seasonal growers that lose their leaves for the winter. This is no coincidence. Deciduous trees tend to build sturdy, thick trunks and limbs. Their wood is hard and foundational roots are sturdy. North Carolina has a lot of pine trees. Our state tree is even the longleaf pine. But you’ve likely noticed these are very thin and tall with few branches until much higher up. Many evergreens, like pines, have softer wood and weaker branches. There are solid evergreens that make good treehouse trees, like the Douglas fir, but in general, it’s better to focus on deciduous hardwoods. Want a professional opinion? Henry’s can come to take a look! It’s always better to be safe than sorry. Henry’s Tree Service has the expertise in horticulture and tree care to know whether the tree species and the particular tree itself would be suitable for a treehouse. Those in Raleigh, Durham, Cary, Chapel Hill, Morrisville and the surrounding Triangle area, please call (919) 532-9141 today.
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