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How to Remove a Stump the Right Way

Sep 04, 2018
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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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Trees are pretty self-sufficient. Many species can live for decades if not centuries without much help from people. Because of this, and because we have so many beautiful trees in the Raleigh-Durham area, you may be tempted to ignore clear warning signs of unhealthy trees. Doing this can have disastrous effects though, like falling limbs and tipping trunks. Look over this list of 10 symptoms of a sick tree, and consider whether any of your trees may be suffering from the following. Cracking wood — If you start to see splitting and cracking, it may be a sign that your tree is not in peak health. As temperatures change, the tree can break in places if healthy and unhealthy areas warm and cold at different rates, after a thaw for example. Fungus growing — Funguses love to feed on the dead and decaying matter, including from trees. One common form of fungus around unhealthy trees is when you see mushrooms growing around the base of the trunk. Lack of leaves in warm months — Trees that have been thick with bright leaves every year and then all of a sudden aren’t may be in poor health. This is a sign that something has changed. It could be drought or abnormal weather, but it could also be a loss of vitality. Dead limbs — A single dead limb isn’t always a sign of a more significant problem. But, if this issue spreads to multiple branches, the health of the tree is definitely in question. Color changes in the trunk — There are many reasons a tree’s trunk may change color. Some of these include disease, damage, and age. Investigating a significant change in hue is wise. Insect infestations — Insects, especially termites and beetles, consume wood as their primary food source. They do not tend to bother with hard, live wood, however. When wood becomes soft and dry from decay, the risk of insect infestations increase. Their presence should then be a sign that decaying wood is likely to present. Cankers forming — Cankers are, not unlike canker sores in a person’s mouth, an indented open wound. These form in trees after disease grows in between the bark and the inner tree. When many of these forms, it is a sign that a disease is harming the tree. Wilting leaves — If when you look around at your trees, you see one that’s leaves are dry and wilting, this can signal ill health. There are many potential causes, but generally, they show the tree’s strength waning. No growth in stems, buds and flowers — Similarly, if a tree that has consistently grown flowers, stems and buds every year is now barren, this is a sign of weakening. Uprooting — When a tree’s root system dies, it no longer has an excellent anchor to the ground. If the soil around the tree starts to crack, and especially if the tree is visibly beginning to lean, the tree is likely in later stages of decay.  Henry’s Tree Service can diagnose unhealthy trees Reading through this list, you may have noticed one or more signs that are evident in your backyard. Don’t wait and hope for the best. Some problems, like lack of water, disease or pest infestation, can be handled and the tree saved if they are caught early. Those in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Cary, Morrisville and the greater Triangle area can call Henry’s to schedule a consultation at (919) 532-9141 .
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